XVideos Downloader / SD vs HD
XVideos SD vs HD
The result page can offer two kinds of download: the SD quick file, a single smaller MP4, and the HD stream in up to four qualities. Here is how to choose.
The short answer
- Pick the SD quick file for a small, simple download: one file, no joining step. It suits phones low on memory and small screens.
- Pick 720p for a sharp picture on phones, tablets and laptops at a moderate size.
- Pick 1080p for large monitors and TVs, when the video has it and you have the space.
- Pick 480p or 360p for long videos on a phone, or to save space while staying on the HD stream.
What the two options are
SD quick file
This is the single MP4 file the video site's player uses at standard definition. Because it is already one file, it saves without any joining step. It is a smaller file, and the result page shows its estimated size next to the HD options, so you can compare for the actual video.
HD stream
The HD stream is an HLS stream. In plain words, the video is split into many short pieces listed in a playlist, with a separate set of pieces for each quality. The tool lists whichever of 1080p, 720p, 480p and 360p the video has, and many videos top out at 720p or 480p. Your browser fetches the pieces from the video site's servers and joins them into one MP4.
Both options end up as MP4 files with sound on your device. Neither is re-encoded, and no watermark is added. The format is described in XVideos to MP4.
Side-by-side comparison
| Point | SD quick file | HD stream (360p–1080p) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | One MP4 file the site's player uses at standard definition | An HLS stream of short pieces, one set per quality |
| Qualities | Standard definition | Whichever of 1080p, 720p, 480p and 360p the video has |
| Joining step | None; saves as one file | Pieces are joined into one MP4 in your browser |
| File size | Smaller | About 2.5–3.5 MB per minute (360p) up to about 15–25 MB per minute (1080p) |
| Phone memory | Light | Long 1080p videos can fail with little free memory |
| Screen size | Phones and small windows | Tablets, laptops, monitors and TVs |
| Format | MP4 with sound | MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio |
Sizes vary by video. The result page shows the estimated size of each option for the actual video.
Speed
Speed depends on your connection and on the video site's servers. On the same connection, a smaller file finishes sooner, so the SD quick file and the lower HD qualities finish well before 1080p.
For the HD qualities, the page fetches a few pieces at a time in parallel and joins them into one MP4. The SD quick file comes down as a single file, so there is nothing to join.
File size and storage
Bitrate is the amount of data each second of video uses; bitrate times length gives the file size. Higher qualities use a higher bitrate, so the size climbs fast:
| Option | 10-minute video | 30-minute video |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | about 150–250 MB | about 450–750 MB |
| 720p | about 80–120 MB | about 240–360 MB |
| 480p | about 40–60 MB | about 120–180 MB |
| 360p | about 25–35 MB | about 75–105 MB |
| SD quick file | Shown on the result page | Shown on the result page |
If storage is tight, 480p takes roughly a quarter of the space of 1080p, and the SD quick file is another small option.
Phone memory
On phones, the whole file is held in memory until the download ends. A very long video in 1080p can fail on a phone with little free memory. Picking 720p or 480p fixes that, and the SD quick file, a smaller single file, is light as well. Keep the page open until 100% whichever option you pick.
Where the file goes afterward is covered in the iPhone and iPad guide and the Android guide.
Screen size
Resolution is the size of the picture in pixels. More pixels only help when the screen is big enough to show them:
| Screen | Sensible choice |
|---|---|
| Phone | SD quick file, 480p or 720p |
| Tablet | 720p, or 1080p on a large tablet |
| Laptop | 720p or 1080p |
| Desktop monitor or TV | 1080p when the video has it |
More on the top quality and what limits it in XVideos 1080p download.
FAQ
What is the SD quick file?
It is the single MP4 file the video site's player uses at standard definition. It is smaller and saves as one file, with no joining step.
Is the SD quick file lower quality than 720p?
Yes. It is standard definition, while 720p and 1080p are high definition. Pick an HD quality when you want a sharper picture.
Which option should I pick on a phone?
For long videos, the SD quick file, 480p or 720p. A very long 1080p video can fail on a phone with little free memory, because the whole file is held in memory until the end.
Do both options have sound?
Yes. Both save as MP4 files with sound, and neither has a watermark.