AV1 overtakes H.264 in surveillance video compression
The AV1 video codec is gaining widespread adoption in the video surveillance industry, replacing H.264 as the new standard due to its improved compression efficiency for 4K and 8K video. Supported by major technology companies and integrated into operating systems and browsers, AV1's open-source and royalty-free nature is driving its accessibility and affordability. This transition allows organizations to store more high-resolution video, minimize bandwidth, and enhance real-time video analytics capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- AV1 delivers 30% to 50% better compression efficiency for 4K and 8K video than H.264.
- Google, Netflix and Amazon are already deploying AV1 at massive scale, according to the article.
- Windows, MacOS, browsers like Google Chrome, and streaming sites like YouTube and Netflix now support AV1.
- Axis says AV1 support is reaching IoT edge devices, VMS and NVRs at scale in 2026.
- AV1 is open-source and royalty-free, unlike H.265’s more restrictive licensing model.
Why It Matters
For surveillance teams, AV1 means more 4K and 8K footage can be stored in the same footprint, while lower bit rates reduce bandwidth pressure on real-time video workflows. The broader signal is that the codec now spans browsers, operating systems, streaming services and security infrastructure, which lowers integration friction across the video stack. The next concrete marker to watch is how quickly AV1 support expands across IoT edge devices, video management systems and network video recorders in 2026.
Read full article at axis.smh.re
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