--- title: "How much space does 4K video take?" description: "How much space does 4K video take on iPhone? Rough per-hour figures from third-party tests, why video files get so big, and how PicWay can shrink them." url: "https://picway.app/guides/how-much-space-does-4k-video-take-iphone/" lang: "en" type: "guides" updated: "2026-11-01" published: "2026-11-01" keywords: "how much space does 4K video take on iPhone" --- # How much space does 4K video take? URL: https://picway.app/guides/how-much-space-does-4k-video-take-iphone/ Markdown: https://picway.app/guides/how-much-space-does-4k-video-take-iphone/index.md Last updated: 2026-11-01 Third-party tests put an hour of 4K 30 fps video in HEVC at roughly 10 GB, and 4K at 60 fps at roughly 24 GB. Apple says faster frame rates and higher resolutions make larger video files. In PicWay, Standard or Strong compression makes a smaller copy of a video you already have. ## How to do it {#steps} 1. **Check what your iPhone records now**: Open Settings, tap Camera, then tap Record Video. Note the resolution and frame rate that are selected. If you are not sure, open Camera in Video mode and tap the values at the top of the screen. 2. **Estimate the space with the table below**: Multiply the per-minute figure for your setting by the minutes you plan to record. Treat the result as a rough guide, because real files vary with the scene and your iPhone model. 3. **Compress videos you already have**: In PicWay, tap Compress on the home screen, pick the long videos, and tap Compress. The first time you compress, PicWay uses Standard compression. Tap Compare to check the result before you delete the original. ## Rough sizes for 4K video on iPhone {#sizes} Apple does not publish a size per minute. Its [video recording guide](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/record-a-video-iph61f49e4bb/ios) only says that faster frame rates and higher resolutions result in larger video files. For numbers, you have to rely on outside tests, and they are approximate. | What you record | Rough size | Source | |---|---|---| | 4K at 30 fps, HEVC, 1 hour | about 10.2 GB | [DualCam](https://dualcam.app/blog/iphone-video-file-size-storage-calculator/) | | 4K at 60 fps, HEVC, 1 hour | about 24 GB | [DualCam](https://dualcam.app/blog/iphone-video-file-size-storage-calculator/) | | Older H.264 instead of HEVC | roughly double those figures | [DualCam](https://dualcam.app/blog/iphone-video-file-size-storage-calculator/) | | 4K at 60 fps, 1 minute | about 400 MB | [Compresto](https://compresto.app/blog/how-to-compress-video-on-iphone) | | 4K ProRes (iPhone 15 Pro and later), 1 minute | up to about 6 GB | [Compresto](https://compresto.app/blog/how-to-compress-video-on-iphone) | These come from the vendors named in the table, not from Apple, and your own videos can differ. A busy scene with lots of motion usually needs more data than a still one. ## Why video files get so big {#why-so-big} Two settings drive most of it: resolution and frame rate. A 4K frame has far more pixels than a 1080p frame, and 60 fps records twice as many frames per second as 30 fps. According to Compresto, iPhone cameras also record at high bitrates to capture as much detail as possible. The format matters too, and HEVC versus H.264 is covered separately. ## How big is Cinematic mode? {#cinematic} Apple says Cinematic video is set to record at 1080 HD at 30 fps on supported models, and you can switch to 4K in Settings, Camera, Record Cinematic (see Apple’s [video recording settings](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-video-recording-settings-iphc1827d32f/ios), iOS 27 edition). Compresto reports that the default produces files of around 150 MB per minute. Treat that as one test’s estimate. Switching Cinematic to 4K raises the size, so leave it at the default unless you need the extra resolution. ## What PicWay can do about it {#picway} PicWay can compress videos that are already in your library. It offers two levels: Standard compression and Strong compression. The first time you compress, PicWay uses Standard. Both make a new video and keep the original until you have compared them and deleted it yourself. Compression also lowers the resolution when the video is bigger than the level allows. Standard outputs at most 1920 pixels on the long edge, and Strong at most 1280. A 4K video, which is about 3840 pixels on the long edge, therefore comes out at roughly 1080p-class or 720p-class size. A video whose long edge is already at or below the limit is not scaled up. See compressing without lowering resolution for the trade-off. PicWay skips Cinematic and spatial videos, because compressing them would lose depth or stereo information. If a compressed video would save less than 10% of the original, PicWay does not delete the original. For the full steps, see [how to compress video on iPhone](https://picway.app/guides/compress-video-keep-quality/). ## Quick answers {#faq} ### How many GB is 1 hour of 4K video on iPhone? {#faq-hour} According to DualCam, about 10.2 GB at 30 fps and about 24 GB at 60 fps in HEVC. These are approximate, and your own recordings may be larger or smaller. ### Why is a 60 fps video bigger than a 30 fps one? {#faq-fps} Apple notes that faster frame rates result in larger video files. For more on this, compare 30 fps and 60 fps in a separate guide. ### Does PicWay compress Cinematic videos? {#faq-cinematic} No. PicWay skips Cinematic videos, because compressing them would lose depth information. ### Is the original deleted when I compress? {#faq-original} No. The original stays until you compare the two versions and delete it yourself. Space is freed only when the original is deleted.