One of Snapchat’s key features is the ability to quickly capture and share videos that delete after being watched once.
However, some users have noticed that the videos they send through Snapchat appear lower in image and video quality compared to ones shot directly on their smartphone cameras. This has led many to wonder if sending videos on Snapchat compresses or reduces the original quality.
In this article, we’ll examine if and how sending videos on Snapchat affects the image and video quality. We’ll look at how Snapchat compresses videos, the differences between image and video quality on Snapchat versus a smartphone camera, and tips for maintaining quality when sending Snapchat videos.
How Snapchat Compresses Videos
When you record a video directly within the Snapchat app, Snapchat compresses and downscales the video resolution before sending it. This compression is necessary to reduce file sizes so videos can be quickly uploaded and downloaded.
According to Snapchat’s support page, videos recorded on Snapchat are compressed to a maximum resolution of 720p HD at 30 frames per second. This is lower than the native resolution of most modern smartphone cameras. For example, many phones today record at 1080p or 4K resolution at default settings.
The amount of compression applied by Snapchat depends on your device, internet connection speed, and the length of the video. Longer videos require more compression to shrink the file size. This means video quality can degrade further for longer videos.
Snapchat states that this compression allows videos to be sent up to four times faster compared to uncompressed videos. So there is a tradeoff between video quality and upload/download speeds.
Image and Video Quality Comparison
Numerous tests have confirmed that Snapchat reduces the image and video quality of media captured in its app compared to recordings taken directly via smartphone cameras. Let’s compare some aspects of visual quality:
Resolution
Snapchat videos max out at 720p HD resolution. Smartphone cameras today record at 1080p, 4K, and even 8K resolution. Higher resolutions capture more detail and have a sharper, crisper picture. So Snapchat videos will be lower resolution than those taken directly on your camera.
Compression Artifacts
Heavy video compression can introduce visual compression artifacts – little glitches, pixelation, blotchiness, and other visual noise. Uncompressed videos shot on smartphone cameras will show less compression artifacts compared to Snapchat videos.
Bitrate
Bitrate refers to the amount of data used to store one second of video. Snapchat reduces video bitrates to shrink file sizes. Typical smartphone videos have higher bitrates. Higher bitrates allow for more visual detail and information to be stored in each second of footage.
Color Accuracy
Some tests have shown smartphone cameras capture colors more accurately and vividly than Snapchat’s camera and compression algorithms. The colors in Snapchat videos may look slightly duller or less accurate.
Low Light Quality
Snapchat footage tends to get noisier and grainier in low light conditions. Smartphone cameras are optimized to capture better quality video in low lighting by using larger image sensors and advanced processing.
Maintaining Quality in Snapchat Videos
While Snapchat video quality won’t match footage taken directly on your smartphone camera, you can take some steps to maximize quality:
Record Horizontally
Snapchat video is encoded in landscape format. Recording vertically and then having Snapchat convert it to landscape orientation can slightly degrade quality.
Tap to Focus
Before recording, tap the area of focus on the Snapchat viewfinder. This helps improve sharpness on your subject.
Optimal Lighting
Record videos in bright, outdoor daylight whenever possible. Low light will introduce more noise and graininess.
Avoid Digital Zoom
Snapchat has a digital zoom feature, but zooming degrades image quality. Move physically closer to your subject for optimal quality.
Use the Rear Camera
The rear, primary camera on your phone will capture better quality video than the lower resolution front-facing selfie camera. Use the rear camera and flip it for selfie videos.
Keep Videos Short
Shorter video lengths require less compression from Snapchat. So 10 second clips will have better quality than one minute long videos.
Does Sending on Snapchat Reduce Quality vs. Camera Roll?
Now you may be wondering, if I record a high quality video on my phone and then send it through Snapchat, will the quality reduce compared to just sending it from my camera roll?
The answer is no, sending a video from your camera roll via Snapchat will not reduce its original quality. Snapchat will compress and downsample videos recorded within the app, but videos from your camera roll are sent as-is when you attach them on Snapchat.
Snapchat states that videos sent from your camera roll go through a re-encoding process to make them viewable within the app. But this does not degrade quality compared to the original file saved on your camera roll.
So if you want to maintain full smartphone camera video quality on Snapchat, it’s best to record the videos directly to your camera roll first, then attach and send them from there. Just be aware of file size limits when attaching camera roll videos.
Does Sending Snapchat Videos Reduce Quality vs. Other Social Media?
Sharing videos on any social media platform will involve some amount of compression to make the files smaller and quick to upload. Here’s how Snapchat compares to other popular social media apps:
Snapchat vs. Facebook
Facebook re-encodes and compresses videos before posting them to your timeline. When uploading to Facebook, you can choose between high, medium, and low quality options. High quality uploads will have better quality than Snapchat’s camera recordings.
Snapchat vs. Instagram
Instagram video quality is similar to Snapchat. Default resolution is 720p at 30fps. Longer videos require more compression. Overall quality is comparable between Snapchat and Instagram.
Snapchat vs. Twitter
Twitter has fewer constraints on video uploads, supporting resolutions up to 1080p HD. Video bitrates can be 2x higher than Snapchat’s maximum bitrates. Twitter video quality tops Snapchat’s in-app recordings.
Snapchat vs. TikTok
TikTok has higher maximum video resolution of 1080p compared to Snapchat’s 720p cap. TikTok also has a larger maximum bitrate at 4Mbps vs. Snapchat’s 1.5Mbps. So TikTok video quality can surpass Snapchat.
Conclusion
Sending videos through Snapchat degrades image and video quality compared to recordings taken directly on your smartphone camera. Resolution is lowered, compression artifacts are introduced, colors are less accurate, and quality drops further in low light conditions.
However, sharing camera roll videos on Snapchat does not reduce their original quality – but recording them first on your native camera app will yield better quality than Snapchat’s built-in camera.
While Snapchat compresses videos more heavily than some other social platforms like Twitter and TikTok, the quality tradeoff allows for quick sharing of ephemeral video messages. If high video quality is your priority, recording directly to your camera roll before sharing on Snapchat is recommended.
| Platform | Resolution | Bitrate | Quality vs. Snapchat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapchat Camera | 720p | 1.5 Mbps | Lowest quality |
| Snapchat Camera Roll Upload | No change | No change | Higher quality |
| 720p – 4K | Higher | Potentially higher quality | |
| 720p | Similar | Similar quality | |
| 720p – 1080p | Higher | Higher quality | |
| TikTok | 720p – 1080p | Higher | Higher quality |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sending a video through Snapchat immediately reduce its quality?
Yes, videos recorded and sent directly within the Snapchat app will be compressed and have reduced resolution, introducing artifacts and noise compared to your camera’s default settings.
Is Snapchat video quality worse than my phone’s camera quality?
Absolutely. Snapchat video quality is lower than your smartphone’s native camera resolution and quality. Video is compressed and limited to 720p on Snapchat. Your phone likely records higher resolution video with less compression by default.
Should I avoid sending long videos on Snapchat to maintain quality?
Yes, shorter video clips will have better quality on Snapchat compared to long, minutes-long videos. The longer the video, the more compression is required, which reduces quality. Keep Snapchat videos under 30 seconds if possible.
Does Snapchat reduce quality when sending camera roll videos?
No, Snapchat does not alter the original quality or resolution when you attach and send a video from your camera roll. But videos recorded on Snapchat’s camera will be compressed.
Does quality reduce when I download a Snapchat video to my phone?
No, downloading a video from Snapchat to your camera roll will retain the original quality it was uploaded at. Snapchat videos don’t get re-compressed when saving them.
Should I use the rear or front camera when recording Snapchat videos?
Use your rear camera whenever possible. Rear smartphone cameras have higher resolution sensors and lenses compared to front-facing selfie cameras. The rear camera will capture better quality video.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s video compression algorithms prioritize fast sharing over visual quality. So footage recorded natively in the app will have lower resolution, more artifacts, less accurate color, and suffer in low light compared to your phone’s camera capabilities.
However, you can maximize quality by filming horizontally, tap to focus, use optimal lighting, avoid digital zoom, use the rear camera, and keep clips short. Sending videos from your camera roll avoids compression entirely. While quality is reduced, Snapchat’s ephemeral video messages remain popular for quick social sharing. Just move footage to your camera roll first if visual quality is a priority.