: A modern CPU (such as Intel Kaby Lake or newer, AMD Ryzen) or a dedicated GPU (Nvidia GTX 10-series or newer) that features built-in hardware decoding for 10-bit or 8-bit HEVC.

Older hardware lacks native, hardware-accelerated decoding for HEVC. If a user attempts to play an x265 file on an older computer or a basic smart TV, the system must rely on software decoding via the CPU. This can result in dropped frames, stuttering playback, heavy battery drain on mobile devices, or an outright failure to load.