We’re in an age where anyone can become a creator. Mobile phones now make capturing high-quality video simple, transforming what was once the realm of professionals into a part of everyday life.
Samsung Electronics has developed the APV (Advanced Professional Video) codec, a technology that facilitates high-quality video editing, and has made it available as open source. This codec debuted with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, launched in March, establishing a new standard for mobile video creation. APV ensures minimal image quality loss during editing, allowing for precise and professional-grade video production.
In an interview with Samsung Newsroom, developers from the Visual Solution Team of the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics shared insights into the development of APV, including the technical challenges they encountered and the ideas that guided its creation.
Q. What led to the development of the APV codec?
Yoo: Traditional video codecs often lose data during compression to reduce file size, leading to noticeable image degradation, especially with repeated editing. To address these issues, we collaborated with Samsung Research. They led the standardization of APV, and MX business worked over the past three years to support its integration into the Android standard.
Q. What is the APV codec, and what are its key advantages?
Yoo: APV is a video codec standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It’s optimized for editing, maintaining as much data as possible while offering excellent compression efficiency. It can reduce file size by over 10 percent compared to similar codecs without compromising quality.
Min: It offers refined color reproduction using YUV 4:2:2 and achieves a visually lossless image quality level, even after multiple editing rounds.
Q. Why did you choose to release APV as open source?
Yoo: We made APV open source to promote wider adoption and build an ecosystem through standardization, bringing the technology’s benefits to more users. Without widespread use, even the most advanced technology becomes obsolete.
Q. What were the key priorities in implementing APV codec on a mobile device?
Min: Transitioning from standardization to commercialization posed significant challenges. We focused on thermal management and system-level optimization to process UHD and 8K video in real-time on mobile devices. We collaborated with Samsung Electronics’ Memory Business to ensure data storage stability, testing Samsung portable SSD models extensively to secure stable data transfer performance under high-load conditions.
Yoo: Building the APV ecosystem required collaboration with a variety of partners, including chipset manufacturers and developers of editing tools and video players.
Q. How does it feel to see the APV codec debut on Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Yoo: With more expert-level users like YouTubers and influencers, we aimed to make video production accessible without professional equipment. The Galaxy S26 Ultra includes four built-in cinematic LUTs, allowing users to create film-like visuals easily.
Min: Developing a dedicated pro kit for the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a camera accessory specialist was particularly meaningful, enhancing the quality and laying the groundwork for its use in professional video production workflows.
Q. As a developer from the Visual Solution Team, what are your plans going forward?
Yoo: We aim to continue enhancing the codec for greater value in Galaxy-based video editing, hoping the Galaxy S26 Ultra will one day be used in film production environments.
Min: Our goal is to simplify creating professional, cinematic content for everyday users while expanding the APV ecosystem through partner collaboration.
With the APV codec, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is setting new standards in mobile video production. It opens up possibilities for users to shoot, edit, and share content at a professional level, all from a single device.
