Qualcomm should finally adopt the AV1 codec for its next high-end chip. An important change that could accelerate a transformation of online video.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. // Source: Qualcomm
Like the egg and the chicken, the technology renewal cycle often faces a paradox to create its own virtuous circle. Here is a telling example: for the cinema industry to adopt Blu-ray, the general public must be equipped with Blu-ray players, and for the general public to be equipped with Blu-ray players, the cinema industry must adopt this format. It’s sort of the same situation when talking about codec.
A codec is the tool or algorithm used to encode (and usually compress) video to a particular format. To read this format, it is best to have a chip capable of handling it physically. This avoids the CPU to take care of it and greatly reduces the consumption of the device. The industry’s new large format, the AV1, is still in the adoption phase, but Qualcomm might just give it a boost.
AV1 arrives on smartphone
The Protocol media was indeed able to find out about the adoption of AV1 by the industry and we learn that Qualcomm will adopt a decoding of AV1 with its next flagship, probably the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. here of a chip that should not arrive before 2023, and whose code name is Qualcomm SM8550.
It must be said that Qualcomm is a latecomer on the subject, MediaTek and Broadcom both manage the decoding of AV1 on their chip, as well as Samsung now with its Exynos 2200 used in the Galaxy S22.
Why AV1 Matters
It is more and more common to see the AV1 in the news, for example when Netflix announces its adoption or when Google wants to force its support on Android TV products. This open and free format should be an alternative to the H.265/HEVC format already used, but proprietary and paying.
Major players such as Google, Netflix, Facebook, Microsoft and Mozilla are promoting this format, which represents the future of online video. It is also a format that should improve cloud gaming with better video compression. Google Stadia already adopted this codec at the end of 2020.
If Qualcomm really integrates AV1 into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it means that the vast majority of 2023 flagships will finally be able to decode this format. This should necessarily accelerate its adoption.
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