H.265 (also known as HEVC, High-Efficiency Video Coding) is a massive improvement over H.264 (AVC, Advanced Video Coding) for several reasons:

1. Better Compression Efficiency: H.265 uses more advanced compression techniques than H.264, which results in roughly 50% better data compression at the same video quality. This means that with H.265, you can achieve the same quality as H.264 but at half the file size, or you can get better quality at the same file size. This efficiency can significantly reduce storage costs and bandwidth requirements.

2. Improved Video Quality at Higher Resolutions: H.265 was designed with high-definition and ultra-high-definition (UHD) video in mind, such as 4K and even 8K. It can handle these high resolutions more efficiently than H.264. H.265’s ability to compress larger frames without significant quality loss makes it well-suited for these modern, high-res formats, which are increasingly in demand in security camera systems.

3. Greater Bit Depth and Color Range Support: H.265 supports bit depths of up to 10 bits per color channel, whereas H.264 typically supports only up to 8 bits. This added bit depth allows for more accurate color representation, which is especially beneficial for high-quality video content or in surveillance when details like color accuracy can be critical.

4. Efficient Motion Compensation:

H.265 introduces more refined motion compensation techniques, which allows it to more effectively encode scenes with significant movement. This is particularly advantageous for security footage, where tracking movement is key.

5. Flexibility for Future Tech and Storage Needs:

H.265 provides a more flexible framework for further improvements in compression and processing, making it better suited for long-term storage and future-proofing as video standards evolve.