H264 hardware encoding support

[jvgelder]

Describe the component you'd like

I'd like support for H264 encoding

What are your use cases for this component?

This is a building block to support proper video streaming using for example RSTP or webrtc

Is there a public datasheet, documentation and/or schematics?

https://developer.espressif.com/blog/2025/07/esp-h264-use-tips

Anything else?

Once we support encoding we can work on a WebRTC or RSTP server and build high resolution ~30fps IP cams !

Boards:

• https://www.waveshare.com/esp32-p4-wifi6-poe-eth.htm
• https://www.waveshare.com/esp32-p4-eth.htm

Related discussions:

• https://community.home-assistant.io/t/rtsp-on-esp32-cam-wih-esphome/444107

Some what related:

• Modular Camera Framework with MIPI-CSI support esphome#7639 (closed :( Pr )
• [esp_video_camera] Add ESP32-P4 esp_video (V4L2) camera platform esphome#16944
• [rtsp_server] Add RTSP server component for esp32_camera streaming esphome#17990

[jvgelder]

have been vibecoding a prototype with CSI and 1080p https://github.com/jvgelder/esphome/tree/feat/h264-prototype

[jvgelder]

added pr to my own fork to prevent polluting the pr list jvgelder/esphome#1

[jvgelder]

also added a rtsp server and improved processing can now stream 1920x1080@~27FPS over Ethernet

[jvgelder]

new pr can now be found here : esphome/esphome#18352