Microsoft’s Edge browser has added a new feature called “Video Super Resolution” to enhance the video viewing experience for its users. This built-in upscaler uses Microsoft Research’s AI technology to improve low-quality videos to high quality, providing a clearer visual experience for viewers.
Video Super Resolution (VSR) is similar to “RTX Video Super Resolution” released by NVIDIA and can be useful for many users who suffer from narrow network bandwidth and low video quality. Edge’s VSR uses machine learning to remove block compression artifacts and upscale the final resolution on streaming platforms such as YouTube, resulting in an improved viewing experience.
However, there are some limitations to using this feature. To use Video Super Resolution, users need a discrete graphics card from NVIDIA (RTX 20 series or later) or AMD (RX5700 or later). If a user has a laptop with integrated and discrete graphics cards and wants to try VSR, they need to change the graphics settings so that Edge uses the discrete graphics card. Microsoft has promised support for automatic switching between integrated and discrete graphics cards in a future update.
Additionally, VSR cannot be used with DRM-protected videos, as browsers cannot process such video frames when unplugged from AC power.
According to Microsoft, the new video upscaling is rolling out to 50% of users on the Canary Channel. However, users can explicitly enable Edge’s new Video Super Resolution by turning on the edge://flags/#edge-video-super-resolution flag.
Though there are some limitations to using this feature, it can be useful for users with limited network bandwidth and low-quality videos. As Microsoft continues improving its browsers, we can expect to see even more exciting features added.
