4K (2160p) at 30 fps with AV1: What You Need to Know
Whether you are a streamer, filmmaker, or content creator, working with 4K (Ultra HD / 2160p) at 30 fps using AV1 encoding comes with specific storage and bandwidth considerations.
4K Ultra HD delivers four times the pixel count of 1080p, producing stunningly detailed footage. It has become the standard for professional production and is increasingly expected by audiences on large screens and smart TVs. This resolution is particularly favored by high-end YouTube channels focused on visual storytelling.
At 30 frames per second, video appears smooth and natural for most content types. It is the default for the vast majority of online video platforms and provides excellent compatibility across all devices.
The AV1 codec offers best-in-class compression efficiency with roughly 50% savings over H.264, and it is completely royalty-free. AV1 represents the future of video compression. YouTube, Netflix, and all major browsers now support it. While encoding is demanding, the bandwidth savings are substantial — especially valuable for creators paying for CDN delivery.
With these settings, a 10-minute clip weighs approximately 1.23 GB, while a full hour reaches 7.39 GB. You will need a minimum upload speed of 26.5 Mbps for reliable streaming. The total video bitrate for this configuration is 17.5 Mbps.