A Comparison of H.264 vs H.265 : Which Codec is Right for You?

As we delve into the realm of video streaming, it becomes imperative to understand the crucial role played by video quality on regional preferences and consumption patterns. For instance, the Middle East region records a significantly lower average daily playtime as compared to Europe or the Pacific, owing to differences in video quality(H.264 vs H.265). Interestingly, these regions exhibit a similar average buffer ratio.

With user engagement, another important metric to consider is the average bitrate. Higher video quality results in increased consumption rates. To better understand this phenomenon, let us compare the average bitrate levels for VOD with the average number of daily titles per user and service. Some observe that high-quality videos often lead to consumers watching more episodes per day.

However, while streaming online videos, movies, or sporting events, any disruption in the stream quality can lead to user dissatisfaction. A sudden screen freeze or loss of video quality can be extremely frustrating, even if they previously watched the content in high quality. This abrupt loss of quality can significantly impact user experience.

To tackle this issue, recent technology has emerged as H.264 (AVC – advanced video coding). It has proven to be highly effective in resolving various video quality issues related to broadcasting. In this guide, we will explore H.264 video encoding, it’s working, its advantages, and the differences between H.264 vsH.265.

So, let’s delve into the fascinating world of video encoding and understand the nuances of H.264 technology.

Introduction

Video production has come a long way since the days of bulky, expensive cameras and magnetic tapes. Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone can record high-quality videos and share them with the world. However, as video technology advances, the file sizes of these videos become larger and more challenging to store and transfer. This is where codecs come in.

Codecs are a critical component of video production, and they compress the video file, making it easier to store, transfer, and playback. H.264 vs H.265 are the two most popular codecs, and they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the differences between the two codecs is essential for choosing the best one for your specific needs.

Understanding Codecs

A codec is a software program that compresses and decompresses video files. Codecs are used to reduce the size of the video file, making it easier to store, transfer, and playback. There are two types of codecs: lossy and lossless.

Lossy codecs, such as H.264 vs H.265, compress the video file as much as possible while maintaining an acceptable level of quality. Lossless codecs compress the video file losing no information, resulting in a larger file size.

Read More : H.265/HEVC Codec: How To Choose Best Compression Standard For VOD & Live Streaming

What is a Video Codec?

A video codec is a software program that compresses and decompresses digital video signals. The purpose of a video codec is to reduce the size of a video file, making it easier to transmit over the internet or store on a device.

Introduction to H264 and H265 Codecs

H264, also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC), is a popular video codec that was introduced in 2003. It is widely used in various applications, including video conferencing, online video streaming, and broadcasting.

H265, also known as High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), is a newer video codec that was introduced in 2013. It is designed to provide better compression and higher video quality compared to H264, with the same or less bandwidth requirements.

What is H.264 Codecs?

H.264, also known as AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is a video compression standard that was first released in 2003. They widely used it in video production and streaming services, including YouTube, Vimeo, and Netflix. H.264 is known for its high-quality compression, making it an excellent choice for online streaming.

Advantages of H.264 

H264 has been around for almost two decades and has become the industry standard for video compression. It has widespread support and is compatible with almost all devices and software applications. It is also less demanding to process power, making it suitable for older devices or devices with limited processing power. H264 also provides good video quality at lower bitrates, making it suitable for video streaming services that need to deliver video over the internet.

Disadvantages of H.264

One of the main disadvantages of H264 is its lower compression efficiency compared to H265. This means that it requires more bandwidth to deliver the same quality of video as H265, which can be a problem for video streaming services that need to deliver high-quality video over the internet. H264 also does not support higher-resolution video, which means that it may not be suitable for devices with higher display resolutions.

Use Cases for H.264

H.264 is an excellent choice for online streaming, video conferencing, and video surveillance applications. Hardware and software platforms widely supported it and provide high-quality compression.

What is H.265 Codecs?

H.265, also referred to as High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) or MPEG-H Part 2, is an advanced video compression standard that serves as an upgrade to H.264. Although it was introduced in 2013, it is still striving to attain the same widespread popularity as AVC.

Because of its superior efficiency, HEVC demands more sophisticated and costly hardware compared to its predecessor. As a result, it remains primarily used by professional broadcasters and streamers rather than the public.

They benefits from extensive support from various video streaming protocols in use today, including HLS, MPEG-TS, and RTSP. This compatibility ensures its compatibility with a wide range of streaming platforms and technologies.

H.265 stands as a promising video compression standard, offering improved efficiency over H.264. While it may currently be more prevalent among professional users, its influence and adoption within the consumer market are expected to grow in the future as hardware becomes more accessible and affordable.

Advantages of H265

One of the main advantages of H265 is its ability to deliver better video quality at a lower bitrate. This means that it is more efficient in terms of bandwidth usage, which is crucial for video streaming services that need to deliver high-quality video over the internet. H265 also supports higher-resolution video, making it future-proof for devices with higher display resolutions.

Disadvantages of H.265

One of the biggest disadvantages of H265 is that it requires more processing power to encode and decode the video compared to H264. This means that it may not be suitable for older devices or devices with limited processing power. H265 also has less widespread support compared to H264, which means that it may not be compatible with all devices or software applications.

Use Cases for H.265

H.265 is becoming increasingly popular in the mobile device market, where efficient compression and smaller file sizes are essential. It is also an excellent choice for high-resolution video production and streaming.

Read More: What is Bitrate, Audio Quality, Audio Codecs, Sample Rate & Bandwidth?

Key Differences between H.264 vs H.265

The primary difference between H.264 vs H.265 is the level of compression they provide. H.265 can compress the video file up to 50% more than H.264 while maintaining the same level of quality. This means that H.265 can produce the same quality video as H.264 but with a smaller file size, making it more efficient for storage and transmission.

H.265 also includes a range of new features and improvements over H.264, including support for higher resolutions, improved noise reduction, and better color accuracy.

Criteria	H.264	H.265
Compression Ratio	Good (average 50%)	Better (average 60-70%)
Quality	Good	Better
File Size	Larger	Smaller
Processing Power	Low	High
Resolutions	Limited	Higher
Noise Reduction	Limited	Improved
Color Accuracy	Good	Better
Supported container formats	mkv, mp4, qtff, asf, avi, mxf, ps, ts, m2ts, evo, 3gp, f4v	mkv, mp4, qtff, asf, avi, mxf, ps, ts, 3gp
Recommended bandwidth for video encoding	480p — 1.5 Mbps 720p — 3 Mbps 1080p — 6 Mbps 4K — 32 Mbps	480p — 0.75 Mbps 720p — 1.5 Mbps 1080p — 4 Mbps 4K — 15 Mbps
Required bandwidth for 4K broadcasting	32 Mbps	15 Mbps
Compatibility	Widely supported	Less widely supported
Use Cases	Online streaming, video conferencing, video surveillance	Mobile device market, high-resolution video production and streaming
Intraframe prediction	9 modes	35 modes
Motion compensation technology	Vector prediction	Advanced vector prediction
Color depth	8 bit	10 bit

Note:

After examining the data presented in the above table, it is apparent that H.265 outperforms H.264 in several ways. H.265 requires only half the bandwidth of H.264 for both encoding and broadcasting, while still maintaining the same video quality. It has significantly more intra-frame motion prediction modes, boasting 35 compared to H.264’s 9, and uses more advanced prediction technology. These factors result in a much more efficient video compression process.

Despite H.265’s superior performance, it’s important to note that this codec has some significant drawbacks. The processing power required for HEVC to operate is high, which means the hardware needed to use it is costly. Because of this, the codec’s popularity is still limited. H.265’s device and browser compatibility are relatively restricted, further widening this gap. Reports show 30% of the devices that support AVC, and fewer video file formats support HEVC than AVC only supported that HEVC.

Last, suppose you plan to use an online video content management system to host, manage, and distribute your content. In that case, you should know most online video platforms only support H.264, limiting your ability to use H.265’s superior features.

While H.265 outperforms H.264 in several areas, it still has some significant drawbacks, such as high processing power and limited device and browser compatibility. However, if you’re willing to invest in the hardware and can work within the limited compatibility, H.265 can provide a much more efficient video compression process.

Choosing Between H.264 vs H.265 Codecs: Which One is the Best?

If you are planning to start live streaming from the comfort of your home, you may wonder which codec is best for your needs – H.264 vs H.265. If you work for a large broadcasting company and are looking for a more efficient streaming process, you might be curious about which one will give you the most value for your investment.

For selecting between H.264 vs H.265 codecs, the answer is not straightforward as both have their strengths and weaknesses. H.264 is a reliable and widely used codec that has been an industry standard for several years now. H.265 provides better compression and reduces bandwidth usage by up to 50%, but it requires more processing power, which may not be workable for some systems.

If you are a content creator looking for a simple and reliable solution, then H.264 is the better choice. It is a well-established and widely-supported codec that can deliver excellent quality video at a lower bitrate. However, if you are a broadcasting company looking for a more efficient way to stream high-quality video, then H.265 may be a more viable option as it can significantly reduce bandwidth usage.

At Webnexs, we recognize the importance of providing the best streaming platform experience to our publishers while also minimizing costs. While H.265 may seem like the superior choice, we use H.264 as our industry-standard codec because of its reliability, compatibility, and efficiency. By doing so, our publishers can save on storage space without compromising the viewing experience of their audience.

Join Webnexs today and start streaming high-quality videos without worrying about compromising on storage space or video quality.

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