AOMedia’s New AV2 Video Codec Is Coming, and Here’s Why You Should Care

Streaming in Kenya isn’t cheap. Between pricey data bundles and patchy Wi-Fi, every megabyte counts. That’s why AOMedia’s announcement of AV2, the successor to AV1, is a big deal.

AV1 already powers YouTube and Netflix, squeezing video files smaller than old codecs like H.264 or H.265/HEVC. Now, AV2 promises even better compression, improved AR/VR support, and sharper screen-sharing. And if it delivers what it promises, we’re looking at smoother streaming, smaller file sizes, and better video experiences all around.

A Quick Recap of the Codec Landscape

Before AV1 came along, most of us were stuck between H.264 (the granddaddy of video compression) and H.265/HEVC, its younger, more efficient but royalty-encumbered sibling. Google tried to break the cycle with VP9, which found a comfortable home in YouTube but never quite achieved global dominance.

Then came AOMedia’s AV1, open-source and royalty-free, boasting up to 30% better compression than VP9 and leaving H.265 in the dust. Netflix, YouTube, and even Microsoft Teams quickly adopted it. By 2025, AV1 is everywhere. From YouTube streams on your phone to Zoom calls in your office.

But AV1 has its quirks: encoding complexity, patchy hardware support, and sometimes sluggish performance in live or immersive settings.

Enter AV2: What’s New?

AV2, announced during AOMedia’s 10th anniversary, isn’t just a minor upgrade. It promises:

• Significantly better compression than AV1, which itself already outperformed H.265 and VP9.
• Smarter support for AR/VR and next-gen immersive content.
• Better handling of screen content (think: screen shares, slides, text-heavy feeds).
• Multi-stream support for split-screen feeds or multi-camera angles.
• Flexibility across visual ranges, from 144p on shaky Airtel network to buttery 8K HDR on Safaricom fiber.

Basically, if AV1 was a sleek Toyota, AV2 is the electric upgrade with autopilot.

So what does this mean for Kenya? Well, data in Kenya is still expensive, and Wi-Fi access is patchy once you leave urban centers with only 0.6% of Kenyan rural homes having access to fixed internet. That means every MB counts.

• YouTube streams in AV1 already use less data than H.264 or VP9, so AV2 will shrink that even further.
• Netflix and Showmax could deliver higher quality without forcing you to buy bigger data bundles or switch to higher and costlier Wi-Fi plans.
• Remote learning and Zoom calls will be sharper when screen-sharing, without wrecking your connection.
• And when AR/VR inevitably becomes mainstream here, AV2 ensures our networks don’t collapse under the load.

Interestingly, just as AOMedia rolls out AV2, Kenya has only now raised the bar on video standards at home: as of July 1, 2025, the Communications Authority’s new DVB-T2 regulations made Full HD the baseline for all new set-top boxes and digital TVs, with premium boxes required to support 4K-ready decoding via H.265/HEVC. While this does put Kenya a step behind the global curve since the world is already embracing AV1 and preparing for AV2, the lag makes sense given the country’s broadcast-first ecosystem, where terrestrial TV still dominates over streaming. It’s more of a catch-up move than a leap forward, but it ensures local broadcasts remain compatible and affordable, while quietly laying groundwork for a smoother eventual transition to the newer codecs streaming platforms are betting on.

Of course, there are caveats:

• Device support will be critical. Without hardware decoders, AV2 videos might stutter or drain your battery.
• Compatibility issues exist, where older apps and players may not recognize AV2, though support is growing.
• Adoption speed: While AOMedia says 53% of members plan to adopt AV2 within a year and 88% after two years, the real-world rollout could lag.

While codec upgrades don’t make headlines like new smartphones, they quietly shape how we consume media. AV2’s arrival means smaller files, better quality, and less data stress. And with Google betting big on AV1 (and soon AV2) with Pixel 10, the ecosystem is clearly shifting.

If you love streaming but hate buffering or watching your data bundles vanish, keep your eye on AV2. It might just be the most important tech upgrade you never knew you needed.