H.264 vs. H.265: Video Encoders Compared

H.264 is a highly compressed digital video codec standard proposed by the Joint Video Team (JVT) jointly formed by the ITU-T Video Coding Expert Group (VCEG) and the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) . It can filter out many redundant detailed data that human eyes cannot perceive through calculations, reducing the amount of data. At the same time, its encoding is based on the difference between the front and rear frames, so the compression rate is very high. H.264 streaming encoder supports up to 2048×2048 resolution images, so for common resolutions, it supports up to 1080P (1920×1080) and cannot support 4K.

H.265 streaming encoder is an upgraded version of 264 algorithm. Under the same image quality, the compressed data volume only needs half of H264, or the image quality of H265 is twice as good as H264 under the same amount of data. H265 can support up to 8K video compression.

H.265 vs. H.264 Comparison

The H.265 codec compresses information more efficiently than H.264, resulting in files with equal video quality but about half the size.

The benefits of this are twofold: H.265 video files don't take up as much storage space and require less bandwidth to transfer. This is a great advantage, especially when storing and streaming 4K video and other high-resolution video content.

The reason for this difference lies in the way each video compression standard handles frames. H.264 uses so-called macroblocks, processing units that span 4x4 to 16x16 pixels. H.265 uses a new block structure called Coding Tree Unit (CTU), which can handle sizes up to 64×64 pixels.

H.264 vs. H.265: Which Is Better?

The whole point of H.265 is to inherit H.264. So why isn't everyone using it?

H.265 delivers the efficiency it needs for processing power. Advanced hardware is required not only to create H.265 video files, but also to decode them for playback. This limits the ability to benefit from H.265's remarkable efficiency to those with the right equipment. That's why H.264 is still the codec of choice for many.

That said, H.265 encoding is an advantage in many current video applications, especially those involving 4K. Additionally, the number of content consumers with H.265 hardware continues to grow. It is only a matter of time before H.265 fulfills its purpose and replaces H.264.

Orivision video encoder hardware also have HDMI streaming encoder at custom selections.