YouTube streams may look better and buffer less as soon as early 2027

Earlier this year, the Alliance for Open Media released the definitive specs for the AV2 codec, which is expected to be about 25% to 32% more efficient than AV1. That means you get higher-quality streaming for the same bitrate or comparable quality at a lower bitrate. The benefit is that the codec can reduce the amount of bandwidth you’re consuming. YouTube is expected to adopt AV2, and it could arrive sooner than you would expect.

While partners like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple have been quiet on rollout plans, it appears that YouTube isn’t quite as shy. According to FlatpanelsHD, YouTube has revealed that it is looking to roll out the codec in early 2027. The plan is to initially launch AV2 for the web version of the platform.

In a quote, Engineering Director at YouTube Des Keane said:

YouTube champions open codecs that deliver the best quality video with the fewest playback interruptions. As of March 19, 2026, over 90% of YouTube’s catalog (weighted by watch time) is available in AV1. And we’re excited to begin streaming in AV2, which brings even better video quality to users and unlocks new multi-video capabilities. YouTube AV2 streams will be available for Web as soon as early 2027.

Adding to this update, Engineering VP of Chrome Jim Bankoski hints that adoption could have benefits for multi-view experiences:

We’re encouraged by the momentum around AV2, with partners like YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video exploring the format and showing strong support for the technology. Beyond faster, higher-quality streaming, AV2 lays the groundwork for new browser experiences, from better multi-view video to higher-resolution, more efficient video conferencing.

While YouTube appears to be gung-ho about rolling out AV2, it may take a while before other platforms and hardware manufacturers follow suit. Keep in mind that AV1 launched in 2018 and we didn’t see the first smartphone with AV1 encoding until the Pixel 10. Wide adoption will ultimately depend on hardware and software support, but you’ll have a hard time finding any devices or media players that support AV2 right now.