Every downloader asks the same question: which size? Bigger is not always better. A 4K file on a small phone only fills the memory. This guide explains video resolution in plain words, so you can choose in a second.
What the numbers mean
A picture on a screen is made of dots, called pixels. The number in "1080p" is the height of the picture in pixels. More pixels show more detail, and need more space.
| Name | Pixels | Also called | About 10 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360p | 640 × 360 | SD | 30 to 50 MB |
| 480p | 854 × 480 | SD | 50 to 80 MB |
| 720p | 1280 × 720 | HD | 90 to 150 MB |
| 1080p | 1920 × 1080 | Full HD | 150 to 300 MB |
| 1440p | 2560 × 1440 | 2K, QHD | 400 to 700 MB |
| 2160p | 3840 × 2160 | 4K, UHD | 700 MB to 1.5 GB |
The sizes are averages. A calm interview needs less than a football match, and a video with 60 pictures a second needs about half as much again as one with 30.
Which resolution for which screen
- Phone: 720p looks sharp on most phones. Take 1080p for a large, new screen.
- Laptop and tablet: 1080p.
- Television and big monitor: 1080p at least, 4K if the screen is 4K.
- Slow connection or little memory: 480p is watchable and tiny.
What "p" and "60" stand for
The "p" means progressive: every picture is drawn whole. A number after it, as in 1080p60, is the frame rate: 60 pictures a second instead of the usual 30. Games and sport look smoother with it. For talk and music it makes no visible difference.
A higher number cannot repair a bad source
A video that was uploaded in 480p stays 480p. Tools that promise to "upscale to 4K" only blow the picture up. Always look at what the platform itself offers: AIOVideoDL lists exactly those sizes, no more and no less.
To learn why one size appears with different labels, read MP4 vs WebM vs MKV.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1080p enough, or do I need 4K?
On screens smaller than about 40 inches most people cannot tell them apart. 1080p is enough for phones, tablets and laptops.
Why is 2K called 1440p?
Because the picture is 1440 pixels high. "2K" is a rough name for its width of about 2,500 pixels.
Does a higher resolution use more mobile data?
Yes. A 1080p download is about twice as large as the same video in 720p, and 4K is five to ten times as large.
