Will HEVC/H.265 Be Replaced by AV1 and AVS3?

Will HEVC/H.265 Be Replaced by AV1 and AVS3?

The video codec landscape is experiencing a significant shift as major technology companies reconsider their support for HEVC/H.265, potentially accelerating the adoption of open-source alternatives like AV1 and China’s AVS3 standard.

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Major Players Retreat from HEVC

Dell and HP are not the first technology companies to adjust their strategies regarding video codec support. Last year, network-attached storage manufacturer Synology announced it would discontinue support for HEVC and H.264/AVC video transcoding in its operating systems. Synology justified this decision by noting that smartphones, computers, and other endpoint devices now possess robust video encoding and decoding capabilities, making server-side transcoding an unnecessary waste of resources.

Industry observers suggest that if more manufacturers follow this trend, HEVC’s position in the mainstream market could gradually be supplanted by open-source alternatives like AV1.

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The Rise of AV1

AV1‘s development traces back to 2013, building upon Google’s VP9 codec technology. In 2015, the Alliance for Open Media took the lead in its development, integrating technical achievements from Google’s VP10, Mozilla’s Daala, and Cisco’s Thor projects. Through an industry collaboration model, the alliance pursued compression efficiency exceeding commercial standards while maintaining decoding feasibility.

The codec reached a significant milestone in 2018 with the official release of its 1.0 standard specification. In January 2021, the video/AV1 MIME type was defined, standardizing its application for real-time transmission protocols. This open-source codec offers royalty-free licensing, making it an attractive alternative for companies seeking to avoid patent licensing complexities.

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China’s AVS3 Standard Emerges

AVS3 (Audio Video Standard 3) represents the third generation of audio and video codec technology developed by the AVS Working Group.

This domestically developed Chinese encoding standard has been in development since 2002 under the guidance of the National Radio and Television Administration.

AVS3 aims to provide more efficient and advanced video compression and transmission technology, distinguishing itself as the world’s first video coding standard specifically designed for 8K and 5G industrial applications.

Specifically engineered for 4K/8K ultra-high-definition video, AVS3 incorporates multiple advanced encoding technologies, including highly efficient video compression algorithms, advanced image processing techniques, and optimized motion estimation and compensation methods.

The standard boasts higher encoding efficiency, superior video quality, broader support for various resolutions and color spaces, lower latency, higher fault tolerance, and better compatibility and scalability compared to its predecessors.

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The Patent Problem Driving Change

The shift away from HEVC is largely driven by its complex patent licensing structure. HEVC’s intellectual property is controlled by multiple patent pools, creating uncertainty and potentially significant costs for manufacturers.

This complexity has made open alternatives increasingly appealing, particularly as these newer codecs offer comparable or superior compression efficiency without licensing burdens.

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What This Means for the Future

The convergence of several factors—increasing device processing power, the maturity of open-source alternatives, and the desire to avoid patent complications—suggests that the video codec ecosystem is entering a transitional period.

While HEVC remains widely deployed in existing infrastructure, the momentum appears to be shifting toward AV1 in Western markets and AVS3 in China.

For consumers and content creators, this transition promises both opportunities and challenges.

Open standards could lead to more widespread compatibility and lower costs, but the coexistence of multiple competing standards may create temporary fragmentation.

As the industry continues to evolve, the success of AV1 and AVS3 will largely depend on their adoption by major platform holders, device manufacturers, and content delivery networks.

The question is no longer whether HEVC will face serious competition, but rather how quickly the transition to these next-generation codecs will occur.

Will HEVC/H.265 Be Replaced by AV1 and AVS3?