720p Is No Longer HD According to YouTube

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Platform reclassifies what constitutes HD quality on its videos

(Image credit: YouTube)

SAN BRUNO, Calif.—YouTube is no longer recognizing 720p as High Definition content.

Users of YouTube’s desktop site and mobile app are no longer seeing the HD badge next to the 720p resolution option. Instead, the platform now considers content in 1080p as HD.

Previously, content streamed at 360p or 480p was defined as "standard definition," with any content at 720p or above classified as HD.

During the coronavirus pandemic, YouTube lowered the quality of its streams worldwide, switching all content to SD.

This story originally appeared on TVT's sister publication TVBEurope.

Jenny Priestley
Jenny Priestley

Jenny has worked in the media throughout her career, joining TVBEurope as editor in 2017. She has also been an entertainment reporter, interviewing everyone from Kylie Minogue to Tom Hanks; as well as spending a number of years working in radio. She continues to appear on radio every week and occasionally pops up on TV.