tech
HP and Dell disable HEVC support built into their laptops’ CPUs
Some Dell and HP laptop owners have been befuddled by their machines’ inability to play HEVC/H.265 content in web browsers, despite their machines’ processors having integrated decoding support.
TL;DR
- Dell and HP have disabled HEVC hardware decoding on some of their laptops, even though the processors support it.
- Affected HP models include ProBook 460 G11, ProBook 465 G11, and EliteBook 665 G11.
- Dell's support page indicates HEVC streaming is only supported on configurations with specific hardware or software like discrete graphics cards or 4K displays.
- Both companies suggest purchasing third-party software from the Microsoft Store for HEVC support on affected models.
- The move may be an effort to minimize costs related to HEVC licensing fees and royalties, which are set to increase.
- Users express frustration with this feature degradation on expensive, modern machines, especially as HEVC adoption grows in professional applications.