Is AV1 Hardware Decoding Worth It? Content, Power and Selection
AV1 has appeared on TV box specification sheets frequently over the past two years, but what it actually changes is not widely understood. Judging whether it is worth it means looking at three things: whether content uses it, whether decoding is hardware or software, and how much power it saves.
What AV1 is and why platforms push it
AV1 is the royalty-free next-generation video codec, saving roughly 20–30% of bitrate at equivalent quality compared with H.265. For streaming platforms that means lower bandwidth cost, which is why AV1’s share of catalogue content keeps rising. For endpoint devices a problem follows: a box without AV1 hardware decoding must either decode in software — high CPU load, more heat, dropped frames — or simply cannot play the content.
The difference between having hardware decoding and not
Software AV1 decoding is essentially impractical on quad-core A53 class platforms; even 1080p struggles. So the phrase “supports AV1” hinges on whether it is hardware decoding.
The HS89 PRO 15 box runs RK3539 quad-core Cortex-A55 @1.92GHz with Mali-G310, supporting HDMI 2.1 output and AV1/VP9/H.265 hardware decoding, with storage options of 2+16G, 4+32G or 4+64G, plus USB 3.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi 6. The HS89 T15 TV stick is the same platform in stick form — 100×33×13mm, Type-C powered, also with AV1 hardware decoding.
The real difference in power
Hardware decoding hands the work to a dedicated unit, letting the CPU stay at low frequency. For a box that is powered on year-round, that lowers chassis temperature and fan noise while reducing the likelihood of long-term throttling. It shows most clearly in summer or in installations with ordinary cooling.
Another route is newer silicon. The X88 PRO X5M box uses a 6nm Amlogic S905X5M (quad-core Cortex-A55 @2.0GHz) with Mali-G310, supporting HDR10+/HDR10/HLG alongside AV1 and optional Dolby Vision, with HDMI 2.1b output at 4K@60fps.
Conclusion
If the device only plays a fixed set of local content, AV1 matters little. But wherever streaming platforms are involved and the procurement cycle runs two years or more, AV1 hardware decoding belongs in the specification as a hard requirement — it determines whether the device still works as content evolves. Specifications are on the HS89 PRO 15 product page.
