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Download quality guide
What 4K, 1080p and 720p really mean, what to expect for each kind of post, and how to keep the best quality.
Quality is decided at the moment a creator uploads a video. A downloader can only hand back what the platform stores. This guide explains the levels you will meet, so you know what a good result looks like.
Why quality is simple with ReelGrab
Best available
We fetch the highest quality the platform serves for that post, with no choice you have to make.
Never upscaled
A 720p clip stays 720p. We do not stretch pixels to make a number look bigger.
Not re-compressed
The file passes through as served, so nothing is lost on our side.
Clean output
No watermark or logo is added by us, and the original audio stays in the file.
Understanding quality: 4K vs 1080p vs 720p
4K (2160p)
3840 x 2160 pixels
- Very fine detail on large screens
- Four times the pixels of 1080p
- Rare on social platforms
- Large files
Best for: Editing, big TVs and archiving
About 15-30 MB per minute
1080p (Full HD)
1920 x 1080 pixels
- Sharp on phones and tablets
- The usual top quality for short videos
- Plays on almost every device
- Moderate file size
Best for: Everyday viewing and sharing
About 8-15 MB per minute
720p (HD)
1280 x 720 pixels
- Good quality on a phone screen
- Works everywhere
- Small files
- Less detail than 1080p
Best for: Slow connections and small storage
About 4-8 MB per minute
Quality by Instagram content type
Instagram Reels
- Max quality
- Up to 1080p (1080 x 1920)
- Format
- MP4 video
- Frame rate
- About 30 FPS
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16 vertical
Instagram Videos
- Max quality
- Up to 1080p, higher only if uploaded higher
- Format
- MP4 video
- Frame rate
- 30 to 60 FPS
- Aspect ratio
- 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9
Instagram Stories
- Max quality
- Up to 1080p (1080 x 1920)
- Format
- MP4 or JPG
- Frame rate
- About 30 FPS
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16 vertical
Instagram Photos
- Max quality
- Up to 1080 px wide, sometimes more
- Format
- JPG image
- Frame rate
- Not applicable
- Aspect ratio
- 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9
Tips for the best quality
Do this
- Use Wi-Fi for large files so you do not burn mobile data.
- Choose the original upload, not a repost or screen capture.
- Compare file sizes. A larger file of the same clip usually carries more detail.
- Save it soon. Posts can be edited, replaced or deleted.
Avoid this
- Do not re-upload the saved file. Each upload compresses it again.
- Do not use screen recording. It adds interface clutter and lowers quality.
- Do not compress the file after saving unless you need the space.
- Do not save reposted copies. They are already compressed once.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get 4K downloads?
Only when the creator uploaded 4K and the platform serves it. We never upscale. If a clip is 720p at the source, the file you get is 720p.
What is the difference between HD and 1080p?
1080p is one kind of HD. People often call 720p HD too, and 1080p Full HD. Most short videos are served at 720p or 1080p.
Is quality lost when I download?
Not on our side. We pass the file along exactly as the platform serves it and do not re-encode it. Any loss comes from the original upload.
What quality do reels have?
Usually 1080 x 1920 or 720 x 1280 vertical video, depending on what the creator uploaded and what the platform keeps.
Can I choose the quality?
Where a platform offers several versions we show them, for example HD and SD on Facebook. Otherwise we give you the best one.
Is quality different on phone and computer?
No. The platform serves the same files either way. What changes is how big the screen is and how much you notice detail.
What about photos?
Photos come as JPG at the largest size the platform shares publicly. It is the same picture you see in the post, at its stored size.
Save in the best quality available
Paste a link and we fetch the highest quality file the platform serves.
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