Differences between video formats: Which one is best for you?

How many times have you wondered what .AVI or .MOV files are and what the difference is between them? Why do some videos open in your usual player and others don't?

At Energy Sistem we are going to try to clarify this somewhat cumbersome issue so that the next time you are faced with any of these files you know how to act and which one best suits your needs.

The most commonly used video formats are AVI, MOV, MP4, and FLV . We'll start with the video format par excellence, AVI. As you know, it plays in excellent quality, although it may have the drawback that the file sizes are usually quite large, making them difficult to transfer between devices or download.

If you're looking to save or edit a video that showcases every detail and is viewed in the highest quality, this is the format for you. However, if you're just looking to send it to all your friends, this may not be the best option because it will take a long time to send.

Although one point in their favor is that .AVI videos can be viewed on most devices and with most players.

We've all had a .mov video on our computer or mobile device at some point. They have great image quality, just like AVI, but their size depends largely on the codec they're encoded with. The biggest drawback of this format is that you must have QuickTime installed to play it.

As for .MP4 files, we can say they've gained significant popularity in recent years. They shouldn't be confused with the classic MP3, which is only an audio file. The MP4 format is capable of playing files up to Full HD with a very small file size. It doesn't reach the quality of AVI or MOV, but it's a great format if you want to store movies on your tablet or mobile phone without taking up too much memory space.

If we're talking about the FLV format, YouTube and Google use it because it's very lightweight, allowing their content to load faster on the web without lag. Although files in this format can also be found, it's more common on websites.

That's all for our brief overview of the different video archives we can find. Interested in learning more? Leave your comment on this post and we'll be happy to help.