Digital Event Horizon
Despite their laptops' built-in support for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Dell and HP have disabled this feature, leaving many users frustrated and unsure how they will access the standard's benefits. The reasons behind this move are unclear, but it is speculated that both companies may be seeking to minimize costs associated with HEVC licensing and royalties.
Dell and HP have disabled built-in support for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) in their laptops' CPUs.Users with 4K displays and Dolby Vision are affected, as HEVC is required for smooth video playback.The issue is related to increasing licensing fees for HEVC/H.265, set to rise from $0.20 to $0.24 per unit in January.Dell suggests purchasing a third-party app, while HP has disabled hardware acceleration for HEVC/HEVC.Users may experience decreased system performance and limited features like background blurring.
In a puzzling turn of events, two prominent laptop manufacturers, Dell and HP, have been found to have disabled the built-in support for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) in their laptops' central processing units (CPUs). This move has left many users bewildered, particularly those who have purchased high-end models with advanced features such as 4K displays and Dolby Vision.
The issue at hand pertains to HEVC/H.265, a widely adopted international video compression standard that has been the subject of increasing licensing fees in recent years. According to patent pool administration VIA Licensing Alliance, royalty rates for HEVC are set to rise from $0.20 each to $0.24 each in January. While both Dell and HP have issued statements assuring customers that there is no problem with their machines' ability to decode or encode HEVC content, internal documentation reveals that the built-in hardware support has indeed been disabled.
The affected laptops include various models from both manufacturers, such as the HP ProBook 460 G11, ProBook 465 G11, and EliteBook 665 G11, as well as certain Dell systems. HP notes in its data sheets for these devices that "Hardware acceleration for CODEC H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is disabled on this platform." Meanwhile, Dell suggests customers purchase an affordable third-party app from the Microsoft Store to access HEVC content.
This unexpected move has caused frustration among users who have grown accustomed to smooth and seamless video playback in web browsers. For those with older hardware, the problem did not arise, but newer machines present a different challenge. System administrators have reported issues such as decreased system performance and limited features like background blurring in conference programs.
The reasons behind Dell and HP's actions remain unclear, although it is speculated that both companies may be seeking to minimize costs associated with HEVC licensing and royalties. In an era where video content adoption continues to grow, this development highlights the complexities involved in maintaining optimal performance across diverse hardware configurations.
Furthermore, this move underscores the evolving landscape of video compression standards and their ongoing impact on technology consumers. The increasing costs associated with HEVC licensing have prompted some companies, such as NAS firm Synology, to reassess their support for various codecs. As consumers navigate this new terrain, they must carefully weigh the pros and cons of different technologies and their associated costs.
With Dell and HP's laptop manufacturers issuing confusing statements on the matter, it remains unclear how users will be able to access HEVC content. Until more information becomes available, those seeking high-quality video playback may need to explore alternative solutions.
Related Information:
https://www.digitaleventhorizon.com/articles/HEVC-Support-Aborted-The-Mysterious-Case-of-Dell-and-HPs-Laptops-deh.shtml
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus/
https://tech.yahoo.com/computing/articles/hp-breaking-video-playback-windows-212241738.html
Published: Thu Nov 20 18:32:42 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
