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Qualcomm released the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in November 2022, and also it’s powering the top-end smart devices from a range of brand names. One significant multimedia-related enhancement is AV1 decode/playback assistance.

Why AV1 playback issues

The AV1 codec is a royalty-free, open-source video clip codec that supplies far better video clip top quality and also approximately 30% smaller data dimensions than the High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC) made use of by numerous firms and also material solutions today. More particularly, you need to anticipate either the very same top quality with the smaller data dimension or far better top quality for the very same data dimension.

These benefits have actually led to mobile chipsets from Samsung, Google, MediaTek, and also currently Qualcomm all providing AV1 decode/playback assistance. Furthermore, Netflix and also YouTube have actually been providing AV1 video clip streams to sustained Android phones given that 2020, utilizing this codec to conserve transmission capacity for customers.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and also chipsets from various other brand names still count on the older HEVC codec for recording videos on phones however, however will we really see AV1 inscribe (e.g. recording) abilities pertain to mobile chipsets? Unfortunately, it seems like you should not hold up for Qualcomm to apply this attribute.

Qualcomm to avoid AV1 encoding?

Qualcomm vice head of state of item administration for video cameras Judd Heape recommended to Android Authority that the business will certainly avoid AV1 encoding for a future video clip codec.

“I don’t see AV1 encode getting a lot of traction in mobile, let me put it that way,” Heape kept in mind in a meeting, including that the business believed VVC (Versatile Video Codec) will certainly be far better than AV1 in regards to inscribing performance.

There’s not that much need for it (AV1). And in mobile, I assume our following codec that we will possibly carry out will certainly not be AV1 inscribe. It will certainly be something else like VVC, yes. I can not inform you when, I can not inform you the items, however I assume overall, Qualcomm is extremely thinking about VVC moving forward.

Heape likewise clarified that the AV1 encoder is “pretty complicated” which the “cost versus return” for it most likely isn’t as luring on mobile contrasted to the existing HEVC inscribing assistance.

The Qualcomm depictive kept in mind that it will certainly use AV1 inscribing assistance in various other item sectors, however that the heritage H. 264 and also HEVC encoding abilities “are gonna last us for a few more years” on mobile.

It appears odd for Qualcomm and also various other chipmakers to stay clear of AV1 inscribing now, offered its totally free and also open-source nature. However, HEVC still appears to do a respectable task currently. Furthermore, Heape’s remarks pertaining to performance recommend that your phone’s battery life may be affected by tape-recording a video clip with AV1 encoding.

What’s the bargain with VVC?

There is undoubtedly a brand-new codec in the jobs referred to as VVC or H. 266. This pledges to supply the very same video clip top quality as HEVC at half the data dimension. Furthermore, it’s declared that VVC will certainly make it possible for 4K video clip web content shipment at data dimensions presently made use of for HD web content. In stating so, VVC isn’t a cost-free and also open-source codec (unlike AV1), so firms will certainly require to pay to utilize it.

Nevertheless, we’re eager to see smart devices and also SoCs embracing this codec in the future, as it must make it possible for a lot smaller data dimensions when tape-recording video clip. This codec is especially essential taking into account mobile phone video clip growths like 8K recording, 4K/120fps video clip, and also various other innovative video clip alternatives.