4K (2160p) at 60 fps with AV1: What You Need to Know
When working with 4K (Ultra HD / 2160p) video at 60 fps using the AV1 codec, understanding your storage and bandwidth requirements is essential for a smooth production workflow.
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 professional filmmakers and cinematographers.
Doubling the frame rate to 60fps delivers noticeably smoother motion, especially in scenes with fast movement. Viewers on 60Hz+ displays will immediately notice the fluidity compared to 30fps content.
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 2.45 GB, while a full hour reaches 14.72 GB. You will need a minimum upload speed of 52.7 Mbps for reliable streaming. The total video bitrate for this configuration is 35.0 Mbps.