1080p, 720p, 480p (Standard Video Resolutions)

These are the most common standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) video resolutions, defined by their vertical pixel count (the “p” stands for progressive scan, meaning all lines of the image are displayed sequentially, unlike interlaced scan “i”). They differ in pixel density, visual quality, and use cases across streaming, broadcasting, and consumer media.

1. Core Resolution Specifications

Resolution	Full Name	Pixel Dimensions	Total Pixels	Aspect Ratio	Classification
480p	Standard Definition (SD)	854×480 (16:9) / 640×480 (4:3)	~0.41 MP (16:9) / ~0.31 MP (4:3)	16:9 (widescreen) / 4:3 (legacy)	SD
720p	High Definition (HD)	1280×720	~0.92 MP	16:9	HD (HD Ready)
1080p	Full High Definition (FHD)	1920×1080	~2.07 MP	16:9	FHD

Key Notes:

480p Aspect Ratio: Legacy 4:3 (640×480) was standard for old TVs/VHS; modern 480p uses 16:9 (854×480) for widescreen compatibility.
Pixel Count: 1080p has ~2.25x more pixels than 720p, and ~5x more than 16:9 480p—directly impacting sharpness and detail.

2. Visual Quality & Use Cases

2.1 480p (SD)

Quality: Basic clarity, suitable for small screens (phones, old monitors) or low-bandwidth scenarios. Noticeable pixelation on large displays.
Use Cases:
- Legacy content (VHS, DVD rips, old YouTube videos).
- Low-bandwidth streaming (e.g., mobile data with limited plans).
- Background video (e.g., security footage, non-critical web content).
- Older gaming consoles (e.g., PlayStation 2, Wii).

2.2 720p (HD)

Quality: Sharp enough for most consumer uses, balances quality and file size. No visible pixelation on screens up to 32 inches.
Use Cases:
- Standard HD streaming (Netflix/YouTube “HD” tier, Twitch streams).
- Broadcast TV (over-the-air HD channels, some cable/satellite).
- Mid-range smartphones/tablets (screen resolution or video recording).
- Gaming (e.g., Xbox 360/PlayStation 3, casual PC gaming).

2.3 1080p (FHD)

Quality: Crisp detail for large screens (32–55 inches), ideal for high-quality video and gaming. The de facto standard for modern consumer media.
Use Cases:
- Premium streaming (Netflix/Disney+ “FHD” tier, Blu-ray discs).
- Modern TVs/monitors (24–55 inch displays).
- High-end smartphones/action cameras (video recording).
- Gaming (Xbox One/PlayStation 4, PC gaming at 60fps+).

3. Bandwidth & File Size Requirements

Video resolution directly impacts bandwidth (for streaming) and file size (for storage), assuming the same codec (e.g., H.264) and frame rate (30fps):

Resolution	Recommended Streaming Bandwidth (H.264)	File Size (1 hour of video)
480p	1–2 Mbps	~0.5–1 GB
720p	3–5 Mbps	~1.5–2.5 GB
1080p	5–8 Mbps	~2.5–4 GB

Notes:

Newer codecs (e.g., H.265/HEVC, AV1) reduce bandwidth/file size by ~50% at the same quality.
Higher frame rates (60fps) or HDR increase bandwidth requirements by 30–50%.

4. Display Compatibility

480p: Compatible with all displays (SD/HD/FHD/4K), but stretched or letterboxed on widescreen displays if using 4:3 aspect ratio.
720p: Displays natively on 720p TVs/monitors; upscaled to 1080p/4K with minimal quality loss (modern displays handle upscaling well).
1080p: Natively supported on FHD/4K displays; downscaled to 720p/480p on smaller screens (may appear overly sharp or pixelated on very small displays).

5. Key Differences Summary

Aspect	480p	720p	1080p
Best For	Low bandwidth/small screens	Everyday streaming/gaming	Large displays/high-quality content
Screen Size Sweet Spot	<24 inches	24–32 inches	32–55 inches
Streaming Quality	“SD”	“HD”	“FHD”/”Full HD”
Gaming Performance	Low-end devices	Mid-range devices	High-end devices