AVCHD is a format for High Definition (HD) video (for recording and playback) that uses 3.2" mini-DVD discs. Data is compressed using a codec based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 standard. AVCHD discs can store video at many different resolutions and frame rates, including 480i at 60fps, 720p at 24, 50, or 60fps, 1080i for 50fps and 60fps, and 1080p at 24fps.

Since Apple claimed supporting AVCHD video in iMovie 8 in August 2007, it has already released the iMovie'09 and iMovie'11 with better compatibilities with AVCHD camcorder models. However, even the updated version, iMovie 11 still can't recognize all the AVCHD camcorders.