AV2 Video Codec: The Next Generation of Open Video Compression
By Daniel Walker
AV2 is the next-generation, royalty free video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media to succeed AV1. Designed for modern streaming and immersive media, AV2 targets substantially better compression efficiency, improved handling of screen and multi-stream content, and new features aimed at AR, VR, and split-screen streaming scenarios. As streaming platforms and device makers prepare for higher resolution and interactive media, AV2 promises to reduce bandwidth needs while preserving or improving perceived quality.
Part 1. What Is AV2 Video Codec?
AV2 is a successor to AV1 created by the Alliance for Open Media to offer improved compression, modern feature support, and broader visual quality options. It is intended to be a royalty free standard that reduces bitrate requirements for equivalent visual quality and introduces tools to better handle screen content, multi-view streams, and immersive media formats. AV2's design focuses on more efficient prediction, refined entropy coding, and new features that help streaming services deliver high resolution and interactive content with less bandwidth. Early briefings from AOMedia and industry partners position AV2 as a meaningful step forward for streaming, real time delivery, and next generation media experiences.
Part 2. What Advancements Does AV2 Bring as the Next-generation Codec?
AV2 brings several technical and practical advancements that address the limits of current codecs and modern streaming demands. It aims to offer lower bitrates for equivalent quality, better support for complex content types, and features that ease multi-stream and immersive delivery.
Better compression efficiency to reduce required bitrate for the same quality.
- Improved intra and inter prediction for cleaner motion handling and fewer artifacts.
- Enhanced handling of screen content, text, and UI captures for streaming applications.
- Built in support for multi-stream and split-screen delivery for live and sports use cases.
- Features to support AR, VR, and 3D or multi-view media experiences.
- Better decoder and implementation guidance to help hardware and software adoption.
- Early test reports show measurable gains over AV1 in high resolution content, especially 4K and beyond, though exact gains vary by content type and encoder implementation.
Part 3. What are the Differences Between AV1 and AV2 Video Codec
AV2 is an evolutionary but substantial upgrade of AV1. It keeps the royalty free philosophy while adding new tools and optimizations aimed at modern media.
| Comparison Aspect | AV1 | AV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release status | Widely used since late 2010s, growing hardware support | Successor, specification finalized late 2025, early adoption phase |
| Compression efficiency | Significant improvement over older codecs | Further bitrate reduction versus AV1, varies by content |
| Feature focus | General streaming and high efficiency | AR/VR, multi-stream, screen content, split-screen |
| Encoder complexity | High encoding cost, many optimized encoders exist | Designed to improve efficiency while managing encoder complexity |
| Adoption | Supported by many streaming platforms and browsers | Major industry members signaled fast adoption plans |
| Royalty model | Royalty free via AOMedia | Royalty free under AOMedia initiative |
Part 4. What Are the Use Cases of AV2 Video Codec?
AV2 is designed to serve a wide set of modern video needs. Typical and expected use cases include:
- High resolution streaming for 4K, 8K and beyond where bandwidth savings matter.
- Live sports and multi-view streams using split-screen and synchronized multi-stream delivery.
- AR and VR content where immersive, low-latency, high quality frames are required.
- Screen sharing, remote desktops, and game streaming where screen content and text must compress well.
- Video conferencing and low latency streaming where efficiency and predictability help scale services.
- Archival or high quality on-demand assets where better compression reduces storage costs.
Further Reading. Best Tool to Convert AV1/AV2 Video into Other Formats
If you need to convert AV1 or AV2 files for editing or playback, a versatile video converter helps bridge the gap until broad native support lands in all devices. HitPaw Univd is a practical desktop option that combines format conversion with basic editing and batch processing. It lets creators convert modern codec files into widely supported formats for editing, sharing, or playback across platforms.
- Support for a wide range of input and output video formats and containers.
- Built in basic editor for trim, crop, filters, and timeline adjustments.
- Hardware acceleration to speed up conversion while preserving visual fidelity.
- One click conversion profiles optimized for common devices and platforms.
- Preview and quick compare tools before exporting final files.
- Simple UI with drag and drop import, plus converted file management.
Step 1.Install HitPaw Univd Video Converter on your computer, then launch it and open the Converter tab. Click Add Video to import your AV1 or AV2 file.
Step 2.Click the Convert All to button and choose the format and preset you want to convert the AV1/AV2 file into.
Step 3.Press the Convert All icon to start the conversion. When finished, find your converted files in the Converted tab.
Part 5. Frequently Asked Questions on AV2 Video Codec
YouTube currently uses AV1 for many high resolution and bandwidth sensitive streams. AV2 is newly standardized and may see adoption by platforms in the coming months and years.
AV2 is primarily a lossy video compression codec optimized for perceptual quality at low bitrates. As with other codecs, lossless profiles or modes may be possible for specific workflows, but the main use case is lossy streaming.
Yes. AV2 targets far better compression and modern feature support than VP9. It also follows AV1's royalty free approach while adding next generation improvements. Real gains depend on encoder builds and content.
Early tests and industry briefings report that AV2 delivers measurable bitrate savings for the same perceived quality versus AV1, particularly on high resolution and complex sequences. Results will vary by encoder and content.
Conclusion
AV2 is the next open video codec from the Alliance for Open Media that targets improved compression, modern feature support for AR, VR, multi-stream and screen content, and a continued royalty free model. Early industry backing and benchmark reports suggest meaningful gains versus AV1, but real-world adoption will depend on encoder implementations, hardware decoders, and streaming platform rollouts. For creators needing to convert AV1 or future AV2 files today, robust converters like HitPaw Univd Video Converter can bridge compatibility gaps until native playback becomes widespread.
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