Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n
Put simply, a codec is an algorithm for compressing and decompressing digital media. It consists of two parts: an \u201cencoder\u201d that compresses the data to create a smaller file and a \u201cdecoder\u201d that reads the compressed file for playback. Video codecs vary in how they balance quality and file size; some are also royalty-free, while others require licensing fees.<\/p>\n
On paper, the best codec produces the smallest file size without a noticeable drop in video quality, but the reality is more complicated. As complex algorithms, codecs require significant processing power. Many older devices and even some modern media players lack CPUs powerful enough to decode complex codecs in real time, resulting in sluggish playback. Even on devices with capable CPUs, the high power consumption of software decoding can be impractical \u2014 a major concern for battery-powered devices. For this reason, smooth playback typically requires a device to have a dedicated hardware accelerator for the specific codec in question.<\/p>\n
This is why H.264 is still the most widely used codec, even though it was released in 2003. It may not be the most efficient algorithm for compressing videos, but nearly every device has hardware support for decoding it. Its successor, H.265, has grown in popularity in recent years as it offers roughly 50% better compression at the same quality. While hardware support for H.265 might not be as ubiquitous as for H.264, the gap has closed significantly since H.265\u2019s initial release in 2013. It\u2019s even used by default in the Pixel Camera app<\/a> for recording videos, though Google warns that it \u201cmay not be supported on some platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n Mishaal Rahman \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n The “store videos efficiently” setting in the Pixel Camera app allows you to store videos in the H.265 codec.<\/p>\n Indeed, due to its restrictive licensing, H.265 is not nearly as widely used as H.264. That\u2019s why Google created the VP9 codec in 2013 as a royalty-free alternative. VP9 offers roughly the same efficiency gains as H.265 but without the licensing requirements, which is why it\u2019s used extensively by video platforms like YouTube<\/a> and is supported by most major web browsers. However, hardware acceleration for VP9 is less common than for H.265, which has limited its adoption outside of these streaming ecosystems.<\/p>\n Finally, there\u2019s AV1, a newer royalty-free video codec that offers even better efficiency than either H.265 or VP9. Videos encoded in AV1 are about 25-30% smaller than their H.265 or VP9 counterparts, despite offering the same perceptual video quality. Devices with hardware support for decoding AV1 videos are becoming more common thanks to a push from Google and other major industry players. Google even recently pushed an over-the-air update to Android devices that enables AV1 playback using a highly performant software decoder<\/a>, eliminating the need to wait for hardware support to become more widely available.<\/p>\n While there are now a sizable number of mobile devices that can efficiently decode both VP9 and AV1 videos, there are few that can efficiently encode videos in both formats. Qualcomm\u2019s Snapdragon 8 Elite<\/a> chip, for example, does not have a hardware-accelerated encoder for either VP9 or AV1. Samsung\u2019s new Exynos 2500<\/a> chip has a hardware-accelerated encoder for VP9 but not AV1. Meanwhile, Google\u2019s Tensor G3, G4, and G5 chips offer both, but none of the devices with the Tensor G3 or G4 chips actually use these encoders in the camera app.<\/p>\n With the new Google Pixel 10, however, you can actually record videos in either VP9 or AV1, making use of the hardware-accelerated encoders in the Tensor G5<\/a> chip. Google\u2019s spec sheet for the Pixel 10 series mentions both VP9 and AV1 as supported video recording formats, and when we asked the company whether both codecs are available to use in the Pixel Camera app on the device, a spokesperson simply told us, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to record 4K videos for longer on your new Pixel 10, then you\u2019ll want to switch to AV1 from the default H.265 in the Pixel Camera app. Just be warned that some media devices and platforms won\u2019t be able to play them back or embed them.<\/p>\n Google Pixel 10<\/a> Google Pixel 10<\/p>\n Very promising battery specs \u2022 6.3-inch display \u2022 Loaded with Google AI features<\/p>\n Baseline excellence.<\/p>\n The Google Pixel 10 is the 6.3-inch base model of the in-house Android phones from Google. With plenty of high-speed storage options, a good amount of RAM, and the all-new Tensor G5 processor, it should blow through your mobile computing tasks with ease. A triple camera system includes standalone ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a 50MP main sensor.<\/p>\n Google Pixel 10 Pro<\/a> Google Pixel 10 Pro<\/p>\n Top-tier specs with small display \u2022 Satellite SOS \u2022 Powerful AI tools \u2022 Bright display<\/p>\n More power in the smaller form-factor<\/p>\n The Google Pixel 10 Pro marks a new trend. As the medium model in the Pixel 10 line, it offers top-tier specifications with the smaller 6.3-inch display. Diverging from previous Pixel series’ trend of the medium phone being a large display with low-tier specs. We’re excited for the Tensor G5 chipset, high-resolution display, UFS 4.0 storage options, big 16GB of RAM, and the AI-powered triple camera setup with 50MP main sensor.<\/p>\n Google Pixel 10 Pro XL<\/a> Google Pixel 10 Pro XL<\/p>\n Biggest non-folding Pixel phone \u2022 Best specs and AI features<\/p>\n Ultimate power from the Pixel 10 line<\/p>\n The most powerful option from the Pixel 10 line is the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. With a 6.8-inch display, Tensor G5 shipset, 16GB of RAM, UFS 4.0 storage options, a powerful triple camera setup, and a battery in excess of 5,000mAh, you should be able to power through any task in your day.<\/p>\n![\"Store](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Store-videos-efficiently-setting-in-Pixel-Camera-app.png\"\/ "\\"Store")
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The hardware-accelerated VP9 encoder in the Tensor G3 and later![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Google-AV1-hardware-encoder-on-Pixel-8-Pro.png\"\/ "\\"Google")
The hardware-accelerated AV1 encoder in the Tensor G3 and later<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/clearbuy-cloud.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/media\/11540\/custom_filename.jpg\"\/)
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