H.264 or H.265 Video Codec on Xiaomi: What is it, What is the difference and Which is better?

If you've ever looked at Xiaomi's camera settings or tried to optimize your smartphone video recording, you've probably faced a choice between H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC) codecs, which are acronyms that hide video compression technologies that directly affect image quality, file size, and even battery life. But what do they mean in practice? Why is it H.264 in some Xiaomi models, H.265 in others? And most importantly, which codec to choose for your tasks - shooting 4K, streaming in TikTok or archival video storage?

In this article, we will look at how H.264 and H.265 differ in terms of specifications and user experience, analyze their support in Xiaomi devices (from budget Redmi to flagship Mi and POCO), and provide clear recommendations for choosing a codec for different scenarios. Spoiler: H.265 is not always better – in some cases, H.264 can be a more practical solution, especially if you actively share videos on social networks.

What H.264 and H.265 are: In simple words

Video codec is an algorithm that compresses video to reduce file size without critical quality loss. H.264 (Advanced Video Coding, AVC) and H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC) are two of the most common standards used in modern devices, including Xiaomi smartphones.

H.264, which was introduced in 2003, has become the de facto standard for Full HD video. It is supported by almost all devices, from older TVs to modern smartphones. H.265, released in 2013, offers twice as much compression at the same quality, allowing you to record video in higher resolution (like 4K) without huge files.

• 📅 H.264: standard since 2003, optimized for Full HD (before 1080p).
• 🔍 H.265: standard 2013 yearly support 4K/8K, video-compress 2 more effectively.
• 💾 File size: with the same video quality H.265 It takes up about 50% less space.
• ⚡ Processor load: H.265 More resources are needed for encoding/decoding.

In Xiaomi devices, codec selection is usually available in camera settings (Video Resolution → Codec or Additional → Video Format).However, not all models support both standards - for example, the budget Redmi Note is often limited to only H.264, while the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 or POCO F5 offer a choice.

Comparison of H.264 and H.265: specifications

To understand which codec works best for your tasks, compare them by key parameters. The main difference is compression efficiency. H.265 uses more advanced algorithms such as:

• 🧩 Coding units: in H.265 They can be the size of 64×64 pixels (vs. pixels) 16×16 into H.264), better to preserve details.
• 🔄 Vector Prediction: Improved motion compensation algorithm reduces artifacts.
• 🎨 10-bit color depth: H.265 Supports up to 10 bits per color channel (H.264 — 8 bits, which is important for HDR-video.

In practice, this means that H.265 video will look better than H.264 at the same bitrate, or it will take up less space at the same quality.

⚠️ Note: Not all devices and platforms work properly with H.265. For example, some versions of Android before 10 may not support hardware decoding. HEVC, Before choosing a codec, check compatibility with your gadgets!

Support for H.264 and H.265 in Xiaomi devices

Xiaomi smartphones and action cameras support both codecs, but with reservations.

• 📱 Budget models (Redmi) 9/10/Note 11): usually H.264 videotape, H.265 may be absent or operate with restrictions (e.g., only for the purpose of 1080p).
• 📱 Mid-segment (POCO X4/X5, Redmi Note 12): support H.265 for 4K, but sometimes without hardware acceleration (coding goes to the CPU, heater).
• 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi) 12/13/14, POCO F4/F5): Full support for both codecs, including hardware encoding/decoding H.265 for 4K@60fps.
• 🎥 The Xiaomi Mi Action Camera 4K): H.265 default for high resolutions, H.264 — compatiblely.

To find out which codec your device supports:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Go to Settings. → Video resolution.
3. If you have a Codec or Format option, your device supports both standards.

Important: Even if your Xiaomi supports H.265, it doesn’t mean that all apps can play it correctly, like some versions of Instagram or TikTok automatically convert HEVC to H.264 when downloaded, negating the benefits of the codec.

Which codec should I choose: H.264 or H.265?

The choice depends on your tasks. Here are some clear recommendations:

When is the best time to use H.264?

• 📤 Social networks and instant messengers: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp optimized for H.264. Downloading HEVC It can lead to artifacts or long processing.
• 🔋 Battery savings: encoding in H.264 less resource intensive, which is important for long-term shooting.
• 🖥️ Compatibility: if you watch videos on older devices (TVs, media players without them) HEVC).

When to use H.265:

• 🎥 4K-video: H.265 Save space on the memory card without loss of quality.
• 💾 Archival storage: if the video is on the shelf (e.g. family records).
• 🎮 Professional processing: HEVC Better to save details for color correction.

💡

For most users, Xiaomi is the best choice — H.264 for social media and H.265 personal archive 4K-video.

If you're in doubt, do a test: record the same video in both codecs and compare file size and quality. For example, a minute video in 4K:

• H.264: ~400–500 MB.
• H.265: ~200–250 MB (same bitrate).

H.265 Issues on Xiaomi and How to Solve Them

Despite the benefits, H.265 can cause complications:

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi devices (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) entry H.265 high-resolution (4K@30fps) This can cause the camera to overheat and be forced to shut down due to the lack of hardware acceleration of coding on budget chips (e.g. Snapdragon). 732G).

Typical problems and solutions:

If you encounter a video error when recording in H.265, try:

1. Update the firmware of the camera through Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Format the memory card in FAT32 or exFAT (H.265 may not work on NTFS).
3. Reset the camera settings to factory settings (Camera Settings → Reset).

💡

Before a long record in H.265, close all background applications and turn on the aircraft mode - this will reduce the load on the processor and reduce the risk of overheating.

How to Convert Videos Between H.264 and H.265

If you've recorded a video in an uncomfortable format, you can convert it.

• 🖥️ HandBrake (free, cross-platform): supports batch conversion, bitrate settings and resolutions.
• 📱 Video Converter Android (for smartphones): simple interface, but slower than PC solutions.
• 🌐 Online-Convert: Easy for single-use tasks, but limited to file size (usually up to 100 MB).

Example of a command to convert via FFmpeg (for power users):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -crf 28 -preset fast -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4

Where:

• -c:v libx265 is the H.265 codec.
• -crf 28 - quality (the less, the better, the range 18-28).
• -preset Fast – Balance between speed and compression.

⚠️ Note: Conversion from H.265 into H.264 If you want to save the parts, increase the bitrate by 1.5-2 times (for example, from 10 Mbps to 15-20 Mbps).

The Future of Video Codecs: What Will Xiaomi Users Expect?

While H.265 remains the current standard, its successor, H.266 (VVC), is on the horizon, promising even more efficient compression (up to 50% better than HEVC), but mass adoption of VVC in Xiaomi smartphones is unlikely until 2026-2026 due to high hardware requirements.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are focusing on optimizing current codecs, such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which uses an improved H.265 encoding algorithm with support for 10-bit color and Dolby Vision, which allows you to shoot video in a professional quality.

Also worth noting is the development of AV1, an open source codec from the Alliance for Open Media (Google, Netflix, Amazon), which is already supported on some Xiaomi devices (for example, for streaming on YouTube), but is not yet available for recording video from the camera.

FAQ: Frequent questions about H.264 and H.265 Xiaomi