VeriSilicon VC9800D adds AV2 decoding, pushing next-gen codec adoption
VeriSilicon's VC9800D Video Processing Unit (VPU) IP now supports AV2 decoding, expanding its multi-format video codec portfolio for next-generation video and streaming applications. This integration aims to accelerate the adoption of the AOMedia AV2 standard across intelligent consumer and multimedia devices. VeriSilicon has already shipped the VC9800D with AV2 support to multiple global customers.
Key Takeaways
- VeriSilicon's VC9800D VPU IP integrates AV2 decoding capabilities.
- The VC9800D supports single-core 8K@30fps and dual-core 8K@60fps processing performance.
- In addition to AV2, the IP supports AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266, AVS2, AVS3, VP9, and AV1.
- VeriSilicon is updating the IP based on the AV2 V1.0 specification and shipping to global customers.
Why It Matters
VeriSilicon's early integration of AV2 decoding in its VC9800D VPU IP signals a crucial step toward commercialization of the next-generation codec. This move provides device manufacturers with ready-to-deploy hardware support, accelerating AV2's path from specification to widespread use in consumer and multimedia products, especially for high-resolution streaming. The key signal to watch is the subsequent adoption rate in new smart TVs and mobile devices throughout 2026 and 2027.
Additional Context
The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) finalized the AV2 specification and bitstream in late 2025, with AV2 promising compression efficiency gains of approximately 30% over AV1 for 4K, 8K, and VR content (FlatpanelsHD, June 2026). While the AV2 v1.0.0 specification was publicly released on May 28, 2026 (VideoCardz.com, June 2026), widespread adoption is still contingent on mature encoders, decoders, and integration into broader ecosystems including browsers, streaming platforms, and hardware acceleration from GPU, mobile, and TV chip vendors (Linuxiac, June 2026). Historically, AV1 took about two years from final specification to first consumer decode hardware and four years for hardware encoding across major GPU vendors (VideoCardz.com, June 2026). The AV2 encoder received its 1.0.0 release in late May 2026, though it remains unoptimized, indicating that widespread support in mainstream devices and streaming services will take time (OC3D, May 2026). For context, Netflix reported in 2025 that AV1 powered nearly 30% of its streams and that 88% of large-screen devices submitted for Netflix certification over the past five years supported AV1 (Streaming Media, January 2026). This prior generation's adoption trajectory suggests AV2 is still in its nascent stages, with companies like VeriSilicon laying foundational hardware support.
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