AV1 Decoding on Android TV: Which SoCs Actually Support It?

Updated 2026-10-21

Comparing the video decoding capabilities of different Android TV SoCs for AV1 support

Your new 4K TV promises a cinematic experience, but your current Android TV box feels sluggish. Streaming high-bitrate 4K content causes stuttering, or worse, the app crashes entirely. You check your device’s specifications, and everything looks perfect on paper: a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a glossy “4K Ultra HD” label. Yet, when you try to play a high-quality AV1 stream on YouTube or a niche media server, the playback fails.

The culprit is rarely the CPU speed or the amount of RAM. It is the video decoding hardware. Specifically, the lack of an AV1 hardware decoder. As AV1 becomes the standard for high-efficiency video compression, older Android TV devices are left behind. This article breaks down exactly which System-on-Chips (SoCs) handle AV1 natively and which ones struggle to keep up.

The AV1 Bottleneck: Why CPU Matters Less Than You Think

To understand why your device struggles, you must distinguish between software and hardware decoding. Software decoding uses the main CPU cores to process video data. For AV1, which is significantly more complex than H.264 or even H.265 (HEVC), software decoding is incredibly demanding. It causes high power consumption, generates excess heat, and often leads to frame drops because the CPU is too busy handling other tasks.

Hardware decoding, handled by a dedicated block within the SoC (often part of the GPU or a separate video processor unit), is designed specifically for this workload. It is efficient, cool, and seamless. If your Android TV SoC lacks a dedicated AV1 hardware decoder, it cannot play AV1 streams smoothly. This is not a software update issue; it is a physical limitation of the silicon.

The transition to AV1 is critical for the future of Android TV. With AV1 offering roughly 50% better compression than H.265, it allows streaming services to deliver higher quality video over the same bandwidth. For users with limited internet speeds or those watching local media files, AV1 hardware support is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for a stable viewing experience.

The Current Landscape: Which SoCs Support AV1?

Not all Android TV chips are created equal. The market is currently split between older generations that never received AV1 support and newer chips that include it. Here is how the major manufacturers stack up regarding AV1 hardware decoding capabilities.

Amlogic: The Leader in Recent Years

Amlogic has been the most proactive in integrating AV1 support into its mid-to-high-end chips. If you are buying a new Android TV box, Amlogic is currently the safest bet for immediate AV1 compatibility.

Amlogic S905X4: This is the first Amlogic chip to introduce hardware AV1 decoding. It supports up to 4K at 60fps with 10-bit HDR. If you see a box powered by the S905X4, you can expect smooth AV1 playback.
Amlogic S922X: Used in high-end devices like the NVIDIA Shield TV (older models) and various premium Android boxes, the S922X includes robust AV1 support. It handles 8K video decoding and provides excellent performance for heavy media servers like Plex or Jellyfin.
Amlogic S905X3: While a popular chip, it does not support AV1 hardware decoding. Many budget boxes still use this chip. It handles H.265 perfectly but will struggle or fail with AV1 streams.

MediaTek: A Mixed Bag

MediaTek has historically been slower to adopt AV1 in their TV-focused SoCs, though this is changing rapidly.

MediaTek MT96xx Series (e.g., MT9669): The latest generation of MediaTek’s TV chips, found in many modern smart TVs and newer Android TV boxes, includes hardware AV1 decoding. However, you must verify the specific model number.
MediaTek MT8696 / MT9602: These older chips, found in many devices from 2018-2020, do not support AV1 hardware decoding. If your Android TV box was purchased before 2021, there is a high chance it relies on the MT9602 or similar, meaning AV1 playback will be impossible via hardware acceleration.

Qualcomm and Rockchip: Niche Players

Qualcomm: Older Snapdragon SoCs used in Android TV (like the 670 or 660) generally lack AV1 hardware support. Newer enterprise-grade chips are beginning to include it, but consumer Android TV devices rarely use them.
Rockchip: The RK3566 and RK3568 are common in budget Android TV sticks. The RK3566 does not support AV1 hardware decoding. The newer RK3588 does, but it is less common in consumer Android TV boxes compared to Amlogic.

Concrete Trade-offs: Buying New vs. Keeping Old

When deciding whether to upgrade your Android TV device for AV1 support, consider these trade-offs:

Performance vs. Cost: Devices with AV1 hardware decoding (like those with the S905X4 or MT9669) are often priced slightly higher. However, the cost is negligible compared to the frustration of buffering and poor image quality.
Software Updates: Newer SoCs with AV1 support tend to receive longer software support windows. Older chips, even if they could theoretically support AV1 via software, rarely get the necessary updates to maintain stability.
App Compatibility: While most major streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix) still default to H.265 or VP9 to ensure compatibility, local media players (like Kodi or VLC) and media server clients will benefit immensely from AV1 hardware decoding. If you watch a lot of high-bitrate remuxes or 4K HDR files, AV1 support is crucial.

How to Check Your Device’s Capabilities

You do not need to be an engineer to find out if your Android TV supports AV1. Here is how to verify your SoC and its capabilities:

Install a System Info App: Download an app like “Device Info HW” or “CPU-Z” from the Google Play Store.
Check the SoC Model: Look for the “SoC” or “Chipset” name. Note that some chips have multiple variants (e.g., S905X3 vs. S905X4). Ensure you have the exact model number.
Verify AV1 Support: Search online for the specific SoC model plus “AV1 hardware decode.” If the manufacturer’s datasheet does not explicitly mention “AV1 4K60 10-bit” or similar, assume it does not support hardware decoding.

The Verdict: Don’t Buy Old Hardware

The era of AV1 is here, and it is reshaping how we consume video. For Android TV users, the message is clear: avoid older SoCs like the S905X3, MT9602, or RK3566 if you want future-proof media playback. Instead, invest in devices powered by the Amlogic S905X4, S922X, or MediaTek MT9669. These chips offer the hardware acceleration needed for a smooth, stutter-free, and high-quality viewing experience.

By choosing the right SoC, you ensure that your Android TV box can handle the demands of modern video formats, saving you bandwidth and preserving your device’s longevity. Don’t let outdated hardware hold you back from the best that streaming has to offer.