Explainer · 3 min read
X video quality explained: 1080p vs 720p
1. The quality ladder
X transcodes every upload into several MP4 renditions (usually 1080p, 720p, 480p and 360p) so it can pick the right one for your connection. TwGrab lists every rendition it finds, biggest first.
2. Why 1080p is sometimes missing
The top rung only exists if the original upload was at least 1080p and came from the app or the web uploader. Older posts and screen recordings often top out at 720p.
In-content
3. Which one to download
1080p for anything you will re-watch or edit. 720p is the sweet spot for sharing in chats. 480p and below only when you are on a slow connection or need a tiny file.
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4. Bitrate matters more than resolution
Two 720p files can look very different: the one with the higher bitrate has less blocking in fast motion. The file size next to each button is a good proxy for bitrate.