iTunes Movie Resolution on the iPad

[Woodcrest64]

Can you specify what resolution you download for movies and tv shows are for the iPad? i.e. 720p vs 1080p?

I know on my Macbook I can specify the resolution of movies from iTunes but can you do this on the iPad and if not what resolution do they download onto the iPad if you use iTunes on iPad to directly download them?

Ideally I would like to have the lesser resolution so I can put as many movies on the iPad for my kids when we travel.

 

[hovscorpion12]

It depends on the resolution you set in your iTunes setting and what quality you bought it for. In iTunes preferences you will see store and see the resolution options. If you selected 1080p. All movies you've purchased in HD will be played in 1080p.

 

[kaydot]

Can you specify what resolution you download for movies and tv shows are for the iPad? i.e. 720p vs 1080p?

I know on my Macbook I can specify the resolution of movies from iTunes but can you do this on the iPad and if not what resolution do they download onto the iPad if you use iTunes on iPad to directly download them?

Ideally I would like to have the lesser resolution so I can put as many movies on the iPad for my kids when we travel.

I have an iPad 3, and I always rent the SD version of movies. They are cheaper, the HD is nigh unnoticeable on a screen that size, and they are smaller in storage size. Having tested HD content, and I see no difference between SD and HD on the iPad3. Your opinion may differ.

 

[eagleglen]

It depends on the resolution you set in your iTunes setting and what quality you bought it for. In iTunes preferences you will see store and see the resolution options. If you selected 1080p. All movies you've purchased in HD will be played in 1080p.

Just to clarify, you're saying to goto iTunes on your Mac (then preferences, then store) and select Download full-sized HD movies, so that 1080p will be preferred over 720p, and this will change the resolution download on my iPad? So there is no way to change this option directly on the iPad?

 

[hovscorpion12]

Just to clarify, you're saying to goto iTunes on your Mac (then preferences, then store) and select Download full-sized HD movies, so that 1080p will be preferred over 720p, and this will change the resolution download on my iPad? So there is no way to change this option directly on the iPad?

Yes, to any new purchases. No to movies/tv shows currently in your library. Movies currently in your iTunes library are whichever resolution option you purchased, either standard or HD. By default HD is set to 720p. Not sure about standard. Any new purchased movie/tv show now or in the future will be in 1080p. As far as the iPad itself it will display the resolution you purchased.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I have an iPad 3, and I always rent the SD version of movies. They are cheaper, the HD is nigh unnoticeable on a screen that size, and they are smaller in storage size. Having tested HD content, and I see no difference between SD and HD on the iPad3. Your opinion may differ.

I can see the difference between SD and HD even at that size, but you are correct about the SD being cheaper and smaller files. Just my opinion though.

 

[Mr.C]

I have an iPad 3, and I always rent the SD version of movies. They are cheaper, the HD is nigh unnoticeable on a screen that size, and they are smaller in storage size. Having tested HD content, and I see no difference between SD and HD on the iPad3. Your opinion may differ.

Even on a 9.7" iPad I can tell the difference between SD and HD versions of a movie or TV show.

 

[eagleglen]

Yes, to any new purchases. No to movies/tv shows currently in your library. Movies currently in your iTunes library are whichever resolution option you purchased, either standard or HD. By default HD is set to 720p. Not sure about standard. Any new purchased movie/tv show now or in the future will be in 1080p. As far as the iPad itself it will display the resolution you purchased.

Thanks for helping to clarify. I find it odd there seems to be no way to select or tell which HD version one has downloaded. The info screen for each movie does say it is in HD, just not which resolution. Right now I have three HD movies on my iPad, and if I look at the file sizes in Settings, they are all BETWEEN the amounts given in iTunes for the 1080p and 720p versions, so even that method fails to conclusively indicate which was obtained. On my Mac, in iTunes, I have 1080p selected as preferred, but these were previously purchased. Having just upgraded to an iPad Pro, I wanted to ensure I have the higher resolution files to see the full potential of the new screen.