720p

Glossary

What is 720p?

720p is the first high-definition (HD) video format where each frame contains 720 horizontal lines displayed progressively (denoted by the "p" at the end). In simpler terms, 720 is the height of the video.

Progressive videos draw the entire video frame each time, which helps avoid combing artifacts and simplifies slow-motion and frame-rate conversion.

In practice, 720p most commonly refers to a resolution of 1280x720 pixels in a 16:9 widescreen format (≈approximately 0.92 megapixels). There can also be rotated or vertical video variants, such as 720x1280 (9:16), which are common for mobile and social video.

Some examples of applications of 720p Video Resolution

  • Sports & fast-action content: 720p at 50 or 60 fps provides good motion smoothness, which many producers favor for live events. It is clearer than 480p while maintaining modest bitrates, which allows for faster load times.

  • Good quality for mobile & mid-tier devices: 720p videos look crisp on phones and small tablets without the battery/CPU demands of 1080p (Full HD).

  • Adaptive Bitrate Streaming ladders: A key rung between 480p and 1080p so players can adapt quality to a viewer's bandwidth. Education, gaming, explainers: Text and finer details in a 720p video look much sharper compared to 480p or 360p videos, making it suitable for games or educational videos.

Advantages and Limitations of 720p

Advantages of 720p Video Resolution

  • True HD at moderate cost: 720p (1280x720) videos carry almost 2.25 times the pixels of a 480p video (≈854x480) for clear text and UI. Yet, it encodes and streams with far less overhead than 1080p, making it an ideal balance between the two extremes.

  • Excellent motion handling: Progressive scan and the standard 50 or 60 fps options enhance clarity in fast scenes.

Limitations of 720p Video Resolution

  • Poorer quality compared to 1080p: The lesser amount of details in fine textures becomes more evident on larger screens.

  • Higher bandwidth than SD/ED: Relative to SD/ED content, 720p requires higher bandwidth. For equivalent perceptual quality, 720p typically demands 1.5 to 3 times the bitrate of 480p under the same codec and encoding settings. However, with more efficient codecs (e.g., HEVC compared to H.264), the actual bitrate required may be significantly lower while maintaining the same quality.

720p vs Other Video Resolutions

  • 480p or Extended-Definition: 720p packs ~2.25x more pixels, giving sharper text and cleaner edges while staying bandwidth-friendly compared with 1080p.

  • 1080p or Full HD: Approximately 2.25 times more pixels than 720p, better for large displays or premium assets, but requires more bitrate and compute.

  • 4K or Ultra HD: This resolution offers maximum detail and reframing latitude. However, it is heavy on storage, encoding time, and network capacity. Its usage is still picking up as devices and networks improve.

Conclusion

720p delivers true HD with excellent motion and manageable bandwidth, making it a workhorse for live streams, sports, mobile-first experiences, and the middle rung of modern adaptive bitrate streaming. When you need extra detail or big-screen polish, keep 1080p or 4K masters, but include a 720p rendition to maximize reach and playback stability.

You can use ImageKit's Video API to generate and deliver 720p renditions, or set up adaptive bitrate streaming so the player automatically switches among 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p and beyond based on each viewer's connection.