YouTube switched to the AV1 codec, which helps increase video quality without consuming a lot of data

Recently, YouTube started encoding videos using the AV1 codec to improve video quality, especially at lower bitrates. This means users will be able to watch higher quality videos without using a lot of data.

According to a report by Android Police, this YouTube change will help users using 4G no longer worry about consuming a lot of data when watching YouTube videos.

However, because AV1 is a more complex codec than the ones YouTube typically uses, switching to AV1 may have the downside of requiring more processing power to decode. This may result in some users experiencing increased battery drain, especially those with older devices lacking hardware decoding capabilities for AV1.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1781102627683446792

Google isn't the first company to use AV1, Netflix has also been using AV1 for its Android app for a while.

So it can be said that the move to AV1 is part of a trend in the video streaming industry.

So, to put it simply, YouTube's switch to AV1 codec helps users enjoy higher quality videos without consuming a lot of their data packages. However, this may slightly affect the battery life of older devices.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 22 April 2024