Microsoft Edge Leads Web Performance with Support for AVIF Image Format

Microsoft Edge, once known for following the trends set by other browsers, has now made a subtle but significant step forward in browser technology by embracing the AVIF image format. While many users might not immediately notice the change, this technical pivot signals important shifts in Microsoft’s outlook for Edge—and for the entire web browsing experience.

Understanding AVIF: The Next-Gen Image Format​

AVIF, or AV1 Image File Format, is based on the AV1 video codec and has quickly gained traction as a state-of-the-art image compression technology. Unlike long-established formats like JPEG or PNG, AVIF promises much smaller file sizes without compromising, and in many cases improving, image quality. This means that when web pages use AVIF images, they load faster, consume less bandwidth, and look sharper on high-resolution displays.
AVIF achieves its efficiency through advanced compression algorithms. Images retain more detail and fewer compression artifacts compared to JPEG, especially at lower bit rates. Moreover, AVIF natively supports features like high dynamic range (HDR), 10-bit color depth, transparency (like PNG), and animation (akin to GIF or WebP) — all with a notable reduction in file size. These technical leaps are not just theoretical: side-by-side comparisons commonly show AVIF producing images that are visually superior to JPEGs, often at half or even less the file size.

Microsoft Edge Embraces AVIF: A Quiet but Significant Update​

According to a recent report by Windows Report, Microsoft Edge officially added support for AVIF starting with version 121. This brings it in line with rival browsers like Chrome and Firefox, which were quicker to adopt AVIF compatibility. However, Microsoft’s approach diverges in an interesting way: Edge isn’t just unlocking AVIF support for external websites—it is actively implementing AVIF within its own browser environment. For example, internal pages like the “What’s New” update guides and feature highlight sections are now utilizing AVIF images.
This quiet, incremental rollout suggests more than just following an industry trend. By integrating AVIF into internal browser pages, Microsoft is demonstrating both its technical confidence in the format and a willingness to forge ahead on web performance improvements.

Why Image Format Choices Matter​

Images today account for a sizeable chunk of web traffic. The balance between quality and performance critically affects how quickly websites and web apps load, how much data users consume (a major factor on mobile and metered networks), and how visually appealing content appears—especially on newer 4K and HDR screens.
AVIF’s primary competitors are JPEG (the legacy workhorse), PNG (which handles transparency), GIF (for simple animation), and WebP (Google’s recent-but-widespread effort to modernize web images). Each brings trade-offs:

• JPEG is widely compatible but falls short on transparency and efficiency.
• PNG boasts lossless quality and transparency but at large file sizes.
• GIF is universally supported for animation but is antiquated and inefficient.
• WebP, backed by Google, bridges photo and animation use-cases with good compression, but isn't as efficient as AVIF and lacks true HDR support.

AVIF, on the other hand, promises substantial file size reductions (typically 30%-50% smaller compared to JPEG and WebP for equivalent visual quality), support for transparency, HDR, and multi-frame images, all built on royalty-free technology. For web developers and browser vendors, the appeal is obvious. Smaller, more efficient images mean faster sites, better battery life, and reduced infrastructure costs for serving images at scale.

Chrome vs. Edge: Divergent Paths on Modern Web Images​

While Google Chrome was among the first to support WebP (and later AVIF), its internal ecosystem still tends to default towards WebP for most purposes, especially on Google’s own web services. Chrome does support AVIF, but its adoption for browser UI elements and help pages is not as aggressive or visible as Microsoft’s new efforts in Edge.
Edge’s quiet but focused implementation of AVIF—specifically for its own internal browser pages—sends a strong message: Microsoft isn’t merely following standards, but actively leveraging new technologies to re-imagine both browser performance and the user experience. By moving its “What’s New” guides and help pages to AVIF, Microsoft is making sure users benefit from faster load times, crisper visuals, and reduced memory usage.

Performance Improvements: Beyond the Numbers​

Technical claims about image formats can sound abstract without practical benchmarks. Yet, independent tests and Microsoft’s own findings point toward concrete benefits:

• Faster page loads: AVIF’s smaller file sizes shrink the time it takes to load images from Edge’s servers. This is especially beneficial for users with slow connections or older hardware.
• Reduced memory use: Smaller images mean that Edge needs less RAM to display help and guide pages, potentially improving browser stability under heavy workloads.
• Visually richer content: AVIF’s superior quality at low bitrates ensures images don’t turn into blurry or blocky messes when bandwidth is restricted or images are viewed on large, dense screens.
• Improved readability: Cleaner images with sharper text or icons serve accessibility and user guidance purposes better than grainy or artifact-ridden JPEGs.

Various web benchmarks back up these improvements. A 2023 real-world study found that switching from JPEG to AVIF shaved an average of 20%-40% off image data transfer for complex web pages without any drop in perceived image quality—a figure echoed by data from Cloudinary and other image CDN providers. Edge’s ongoing telemetry is likely to show similar gains, although Microsoft hasn’t published exhaustive breakdowns as of yet.

Risks and Drawbacks: The Road Isn’t Entirely Smooth​

Despite the many technical merits, AVIF adoption introduces several potential challenges:

• Compatibility: While Chrome, Firefox, and Edge now support AVIF, other browsers (notably, older versions of Safari and some niche engines) may lag, potentially breaking image display or requiring fallback solutions.
• Encoding speed: AVIF encoding is historically slower than JPEG or WebP, potentially complicating workflows for creators needing to convert or edit large batches of images rapidly.
• Decoder maturity: Hardware-accelerated decoding for AVIF is still catching up, especially on lower-end devices or legacy operating systems—though this is improving with each OS and browser release.
• Complexity for developers: Supporting both legacy and modern image formats adds overhead for web developers, who must ensure graceful fallbacks for older environments.
• Patent landscape: While AVIF is positioned as royalty-free, the world of codecs is fraught with patent uncertainty, and no standard is truly immune to legal ambiguity. Microsoft’s strong commitment suggests confidence, but cautious organizations may hesitate until the format’s legal standing matures further.

Despite these issues, the broader industry trend is clear: AVIF is on track to become the dominant image format for the web alongside (and eventually overtaking) JPEG and WebP.

Why Microsoft’s AVIF Pivot Is Unique​

What sets Edge apart is not just the rollout of AVIF support—it’s the integration deep into the browser’s native UI. In a space where Chrome and Firefox typically update image formats for the content rendered from the public web, Microsoft’s decision to shift its own browser internals toward AVIF first implies a "lead by example" philosophy.
This development could accelerate the format’s adoption by:

• Encouraging developers and designers to use AVIF by proving its stability at scale.
• Setting performance and visual quality benchmarks others must match.
• Potentially streamlining Edge’s internal codebase as fewer legacy image handling systems are required over time.

Edge’s AVIF use is particularly visible on “What’s New” pages and feature tutorials—areas where rapid, clear communication is crucial. Because these pages are loaded frequently and often include rich graphics, millions of users directly experience the image quality and speed difference.

The Ripple Effect: How AVIF in Edge Affects the Web​

Microsoft’s increased reliance on AVIF may influence partner sites and the broader ecosystem. As more global web destinations embrace the format, end users on Edge (and ultimately all modern browsers) benefit from faster page loads, reduced data consumption, and better image quality.
For organizations serving global audiences, switching to AVIF means cost savings on bandwidth and faster load times in regions with spotty connectivity or expensive data caps. As Edge continues to expand AVIF usage in-house, expect major content delivery networks (CDNs), web frameworks, and CMS plugins to enhance AVIF support further, making it easier for the wider internet to follow suit.
From an SEO perspective, faster pages improve Core Web Vitals scores—a growing ranking factor in Google’s (and possibly Bing’s) search results. Thus, adopting AVIF isn’t just a technical upgrade; it could be a smart digital marketing play for any site seeking competitive page speed advantages.

Chrome, WebP, and the Browser Image Format War​

While Chrome fuels WebP’s dominance on much of the web due to Google’s influence, AVIF's superior compression and feature set make it a likely successor. Yet, adoption patterns may differ:

• Chrome is expected to gradually transition more of its own internal imagery to AVIF as the ecosystem matures, but is currently more conservative than Microsoft in updating built-in pages.
• Some web service giants will likely hedge bets, supporting both WebP and AVIF for at least the next several years to cover all bases.
• Smaller browsers and niche platforms may lag, reinforcing the need for multi-format support for web developers.

The Future: AVIF Beyond Help Pages​

Microsoft’s use of AVIF is, for now, most visible in Edge’s help and documentation sections. But given its benefits, it's reasonable to expect future rollouts across broader browser surfaces: UI icons, theme graphics, in-app illustrations, and—even more importantly—Edge’s promotional and onboarding content.
If Edge’s telemetry shows measurable speed and efficiency wins without an uptick in support requests (from compatibility problems or image display issues), full-scale adoption is a logical next step.
Moreover, as Windows itself gains AVIF capabilities (already underway since Windows 10 build 19043 and natively in Windows 11), rich image support will become universal across both browsers and desktop apps. This could foster new, visually immersive experiences for everything from file explorers to gallery apps, all while reducing storage and bandwidth needs.

Strategic Implications for Microsoft and the Browser Market​

Microsoft's AVIF push comes at a time when Edge is fighting to carve out a broader slice of the browser market—beyond simply tracking Chrome. By championing high-efficiency formats and modern web technologies, Microsoft aims to position Edge as a thoughtful, performance-first alternative, resonating with both enterprise users (who value bandwidth savings) and everyday web surfers (who want speed and crisp graphics on any connection).
Longer term, Edge’s willingness to innovate internally and push formats like AVIF could attract tech-savvy users and encourage faster industry adoption cycles—something that rarely happened when Internet Explorer was the market laggard. Edge now stands as a credible source of innovation, not just an echo of Google or Mozilla.

What Should Users and Organizations Do Next?​

For individual users:

• Know that Edge will automatically display AVIF images when available—especially for help, changelogs, and features. No manual tweaks are needed.
• Enjoy faster-loading, richer-looking browser pages with less drain on bandwidth or system resources.

For web developers and site owners:

• Start testing AVIF versions of key site images, ensuring graceful fallback to WebP or JPEG for browsers without AVIF support.
• Monitor Edge’s performance improvements as a case study for wider AVIF adoption.
• Stay current with browser compatibility tables and image CDN options, many of which now handle AVIF conversion and dynamic delivery automatically.

For enterprise CIOs and IT departments:

• Consider AVIF for internal portals, documentation, and apps—especially where bandwidth and storage costs are a concern.
• Follow Microsoft’s AVIF journey as a gauge for future best practices in digital asset management in both web and native Windows environments.

Final Thoughts: Progress Worth Paying Attention To​

Microsoft Edge’s quiet but determined migration to AVIF underscores the broader, often invisible, battle to make the web leaner, faster, and better looking. By not just enabling but actively using AVIF in core browser experiences, Microsoft is betting on a future where innovation is measured not only in features, but also in efficiency and user delight.
For now, the average user may not notice these changes explicitly—but they will feel the difference in every faster-loading, clearer-looking page. As AVIF becomes ubiquitous, Edge users find themselves at the leading edge of what’s possible in online visuals and browser performance—proof that even small, quietly deployed advances can ripple out to change the web for everyone.

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Source: Windows Report Microsoft Edge's Quiet Shift to AVIF: Why It Matters