YouTube is preparing to use AV2, a video compression format, on the web. The announcement concerns a deployment timetable and a technology: it does not guarantee the same improvement on every device or for every video.
What’s been announced for 2027
In AOMedia’s press release of 22 October 2026, Des Keane, YouTube’s director of engineering, announces AV2 streams on the web from early 2027.
The scope is worth keeping in mind: the web, according to the announced timetable. This should not be taken to mean that all mobile apps or all televisions will receive the change at the same time.
The alliance also presents playback demonstrations in Chrome and evaluations by several services. Chrome is a browser, while YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video are video services: their roles in adopting the format are different.
A codec affects data, not just resolution
MDN’s video codec guide explains their purpose: to compress images so they can be stored and transmitted, then decode them for playback.
A video image depends on several factors. Its resolution, frame rate, movement and scene details affect the volume of data and the challenges of compression. The choice of codec and its settings also matter.
Two videos advertised at the same resolution can therefore look different. The number of pixels alone does not describe how well details are preserved after compression.
Consider the claimed improvement alongside its limitations
AOMedia claims compression efficiency around 30 % higher than AV1. This is a claim by the organisation developing the format, not a measurement by LETZVIEW of YouTube videos.
Greater efficiency can be used to reduce the data needed for a comparable result, or to improve the picture within a given bitrate. It does not mean that every video will be « 30 % more beautiful ».
MDN also highlights the importance of compatibility when choosing a codec. For viewers, the practical impact will depend on the stream offered and whether it is supported by their browser or device. The format announcement is therefore one step; its on-screen benefits will be judged by what is actually available to use.
*Illustration: Santeri Viinamäki / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.*
