| Scenario | Recommend | |----------|-----------| | 4K HDR movie on a modern TV | x265 (no alternative) | | 1080p movie on Plex to multiple users | x264 (wider compatibility) | | Storing a large library on a small NAS | x265 (saves space) | | Watching on a laptop with Intel Celeron | x264 | | Anime with flat colors (e.g., Makoto Shinkai) | x265 10bit (banding reduction) | | Archiving a favorite movie forever | x264 10bit or x265 10bit crf 16 | | Mobile phone with limited data | x265 720p crf 23 |