AOMedia freezes AV2 version 1.0.0

The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) finalized and officially released version 1.0.0 of the AV2 video compression format on June 9. This standard is designed to improve video efficiency and is backed by major tech companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, and Samsung.

AV2 replaces AV1 with similar licensing rules

AV2 succeeds AV1, a video compression format launched in 2018. Like AV1, AV2 allows members of AOMedia to license their patents freely for use in the format. However, this does not apply to external patents, which may still require payment.

Sisvel creates a patent pool for AV2

Sisvel, a company not part of AOMedia, announced in December 2025 a patent pool for AV2, similar to what it did for AV1. This could lead to device manufacturers paying royalties through this pool in the future.

AV2 improves compression efficiency

According to AOMedia, AV2 reduces video file size by about 30 percent without sacrificing quality. Tests by Netflix researcher Andrey Norkin showed gains of 28.6 percent using the PSNR-YUV metric and 32.6 percent using the VMAF quality measure.

AV2 supports advanced video features

Beyond compression, AV2 can handle multiple video streams or viewpoints in one file, such as stereoscopic video or layered images. It also targets on-demand video, video conferencing, and immersive content. A professional 12-bit profile for cinema and HDR is also under development.

AV2 requires new hardware decoding

Unlike AV1, AV2 uses a new binary stream that older AV1 decoders cannot read. This means devices need a new, hardware-specific decoder built into their chips, which cannot be updated later.

New Apple TV 4K lacks AV2 support

The new Apple TV 4K, released on October 13, includes a hardware AV1 decoder but does not mention AV2 support. This is likely because its A19 chip was designed before AV2’s final release.

AV2 decoding demands more processing

According to Jean-Baptiste Kempf of VideoLAN, decoding AV2 requires about five times more computation than AV1. This may make hardware decoding in consumer devices like televisions challenging, especially for 4K content.

AV2 adoption is progressing slowly

At CES 2026, AV2 demonstrations were limited. VideoLAN showed playback on a MacBook, while Google streamed a video on a gaming laptop. YouTube plans to launch AV2 streams on its web platform in early 2027, but no dates have been set for mobile apps or televisions.

Hardware and software development is underway

Companies like VeriSilicon and Chips&Media are developing AV2-compatible decoding technology, while VideoLAN and Intel are working on software solutions. However, it will likely take several years before AV2 is widely supported in consumer hardware.