AV1 is 30-50% more efficient than H.264 at the same quality. The catch was always encoding cost (until SVT-AV1 matured) and decoder ubiquity. By 2026 both have shifted enough that AV1 is the right default for new live streaming workflows.
Decoder reach
Hardware AV1 decode: iPhone 15+, Android 12+ flagship, all 2024+ TVs, Chrome/Firefox/Safari. Software fallback works on older devices but spikes CPU. Decoder reach is no longer the blocker.
Encoder cost
SVT-AV1 (Intel): 30-50% slower than x264 at same quality. libaom: 5-10x slower (research-grade). Hardware AV1 encoders (NVIDIA Ada+, AMD RDNA3+, Apple M3+): real-time at high quality. Live use is feasible.
Where to ship
VOD streaming: AV1 saves 30%+ on egress at the cost of ~2x encode time, easy win. Live streaming: AV1 on hardware encoders, H.264 fallback for older receivers. Real-time conferencing: still H.264/VP9 for now.