Understanding video resolution is about more than just knowing the difference between 720p and 4K. Understanding video resolution can have a significant impact on outlining a content delivery strategy in order to make the most of the available resources. In reality, resolution impacts every aspect of the content delivery pipeline, from bandwidth efficiency and storage requirements to user satisfaction and playback compatibility. High resolution streams are impressive, but if it means 30 seconds of buffering, it can greatly undermine user experience and damage a content provider’s reputation. As such, mastering the balance between video quality and delivery performance is key. 

In this article, we’ll take a general look at the world of video resolution, why it matters in live streaming, and how System73 ensures the right resolution for the right context for your viewers. 

‍

Video resolution: More than pixels

When we talk about video resolution, we are often referring to the number of pixels displayed on a screen, for example, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K, and now even 8K. These figures indicate the pixel dimensions of a video frame, where, generally speaking, more pixels translates into a sharper, more detailed image. But resolution is only one piece of the content delivery puzzle. A 1080p video with poor compression or low bitrate can easily look worse than a well-encoded 720p stream. Aspect ratio also plays a key role. The most common today is 16:9, but variations like 4:3 or cinematic 21:9 affect how content fits on different screens.

It is equally important to understand how resolution interacts with bitrate, compression and encoding. Higher resolutions require more data to maintain such high levels of detail, but without an adequate bitrate or efficient codec, this data can become bloated or inefficient. Compression techniques exist to help reduce this data footprint, but compress it too much and you could end up with visual noise and blurring, among other side effects that reduce the benefits of a high resolution. 

‍

Why video resolution matters in live streaming

In live streaming, video resolution is directly tied to performance, reach and user satisfaction. Unlike on-demand content, live streams must be encoded, packaged, and delivered in real time, which leaves very little room for inefficiency. If the resolution is too high for a viewer’s device or connection, it can lead to buffering, dropped frames or outright stream failure. On the other hand, too low a resolution can result in a poor viewing experience, especially on larger screens, where compression artifacts and lack of detail become more apparent. Both cases can have a direct impact on user satisfaction and even churn.

But context is everything. In 2024, 27% of all live streams were watched on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In these cases, ultra-high resolutions offer little visual benefit given the smaller screen size, and can lead to excessive data usage, as well as draining the device’s battery. As such, optimizing content for mobile environments often involves prioritizing lower resolutions and bitrates that still maintain clarity on smaller screens. What’s more, live events require a flexible and adaptive resolution strategy, as viewer network conditions can change from one minute to the next. This means that delivering a fixed resolution stream to all users is no longer viable. This is where intelligent content delivery strategies come in.

‍

How System73 proposes a resolution-ready content delivery strategy

At System73, our guiding principle is to deliver the highest possible quality for each viewer, no matter where they are watching, while minimizing cost and complexity for content providers. To achieve this, we leverage Edge Intelligence, a core component of our Data Logistics Platform, which combines AI-driven network diagnostics with peer-to-peer (P2P) network broadcasting. Edge Intelligence continuously monitors CDN paths, ISP routing, and viewer devices to dynamically select the optimal route to serve the maximum bitrate, tailored in real time to each user’s conditions. 

This approach provides granular control over resolution and is infinitely scalable, without needing to consider spending on infrastructure add-ons. In fact, during major live events such as the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América final, Edge Intelligence enabled us to maintain 95% of viewers on the highest rendition their device supported*, with 1080p as the peak level of our bitrate ladder, ensuring maximum QoE. The result was a stable, resolution-appropriate viewing experience for almost every viewer, even in unpredictable conditions and regions with poor CDN infrastructure. 

‍

For more insights into trends in live streaming and content consumption or to find out more about our content delivery solutions, visit system73.com.

‍

View our Case Studies for more information about how we helped deliver the CONMEBOL Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia in 2024. 

‍