AVIF Support for Images (-63% Size Reduction Compared to an Optimized PNG)

Using images increases the load on Brainscape’s server, resulting in longer flashcard download times for end users and higher mobile data usage.

To explore this impact, I conducted a test comparing 10 images (resolution: 1200 x 1200 px) in three formats: native PNG, optimized PNG, and AVIF.

Here are the results:

• 10 native PNGs: 1.43 MB (143 KB per image)

• 10 optimized PNGs: 490 KB (49 KB per image)

• 10 optimized AVIFs: 179 KB (18 KB per image)

As you can see, the difference between an optimized PNG and its AVIF version is significant, while the visual difference is… none.

Currently, AVIF is supported by approximately 95% of browsers, which is substantial: https://caniuse.com/avif