Abstract: Examples of apparatuses and methods for performing a joint RD optimization operation are described herein. A method may include successively encoding a macroblock using a plurality of coding modes. The method may further include determining a corresponding rate-distortion cost to encode the macroblock based on a corresponding coding mode of the plurality of coding modes. The method may further include determining a corresponding estimated rate-distortion cost to encode one or more macroblocks affected by encoding the macroblock using the corresponding coding mode. The method may further include selecting a coding mode of the plurality of coding modes having a lowest corresponding joint rate-distortion cost. The corresponding total rate-distortion cost comprises the corresponding rate-distortion cost to encode the macroblock and the corresponding estimated rate-distortion cost to encode the one or more of the affected macroblocks.