YouTube is planning to transition to the AV2 video codec by 2027. The new format is expected to provide approximately 30% more efficient compression compared to the current AV1 standard, allowing for either reduced data consumption or improved visual quality at the same bandwidth.
The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) announced progress on AV2 implementation four months after finalizing the codec specifications. Currently, YouTube relies heavily on AV1, which accounted for over 90% of the platform's watch time as of March 2026, according to engineering director Dees Keen.
The AV2 codec introduces support for higher frame rates, HDR, and multi-view video. Google has already showcased AV2 playback within a beta version of the Chrome browser, though a release date for the stable version remains unannounced. Chrome engineering vice president Jim Bankowski noted that the codec aims to optimize video conferencing and multi-view streaming.
Intel is contributing to the project by developing the SVT-AV2 software implementation, building on its previous work with AV1. While the 2027 launch target for YouTube refers to the web version, the timeline for mobile apps and smart TV integration is not yet defined.
Widespread adoption of AV2 depends on hardware support, as hardware-based decoding is essential for reducing processing load and improving energy efficiency on mobile devices. AOMedia has not yet provided a schedule for when AV2 support will arrive in consumer-grade processors and graphics cards.
