Video Streaming With the AV1 Video Codec in Mobile Devices

Today, Meta, Vodafone, and Google launched a white paper, “Video Streaming with the AV1 Video Codec in Mobile Devices,” detailing the advantages of the AV1 codec, a sophisticated video compression approach, to boost the streaming video expertise on cellular gadgets. 

The white paper recommends that:

• Vendors of core processors (SoCs) ought to consider the adoption of AV1 {hardware}.
• In situations the place this isn’t an possibility, distributors ought to think about using a software-based AV1 decoder, which may also help with the transition to AV1 in low/mid-tier gadgets.

Today, video content material represents between 70-80% of all cellular knowledge visitors. And low- and mid-tier handsets account for round 75% of handset gross sales globally. AV1 decoding might be applied in smartphones in each {hardware} and software program. Our testing has proven that growing the usage of AV1 in low- to mid-tier smartphones can ship video high quality on par with premium handsets and release community capability whereas optimising computing energy and storage. 

Why We Recommend AV1 for Streaming Video on Mobile

At Meta, we’ve already applied AV1-compatible codecs into our applied sciences. Along with different giant expertise firms, like Google, we’ve discovered that AV1 codecs can improve video compression by 30% in comparison with prior requirements like H.264 and VP9, making it appropriate for many sorts of video format.

However, most of the cell phones in use in the present day are lower- and mid-tier handsets that lack the required codec, notably built-in {hardware}, to decompress recordsdata with AV1 to ship a buffer-free video expertise. 

Despite the advance in user-experience, smartphone chipset assist for such codecs in the present day stays restricted to increased tier merchandise. Advanced video compression expertise in mid- and low-tier smartphones would improve the viewing expertise for extra individuals. 

This is a chance to additional collaborate amongst content material suppliers and community operators to align with chipset producers and system working system builders to ensure the highest quality of expertise to end-users, whereas making certain optimum utilization of community assets with lowered congestion.

The Advantage of AV1

AV1 has matured sufficient to assist operators cope with the growing quantity of video visitors to cellular gadgets whereas additionally saving on compute, edge cache assets, and power prices. Greater adoption of AV1 would assist cut back community capability for cellular operators whereas additionally serving to them meet growing person demand.

AV1 might be applied both as a smartphone software program improve or embedded in cellular gadgets’ core processors (SoCs) for higher battery effectivity and efficiency for finish customers. As highlighted in the white paper, AV1 {hardware} can provide smartphone producers superior energy-efficient compression positive factors in comparison with different methods, with out compromising connection speeds.

Download the White Paper

“Video Streaming with the AV1 Video Codec in Mobile Devices“