What is the Difference Between M4V and MP4 and MKV?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚M4V, MP4, and MKV are video file formats that serve as containers for holding video, audio, and other multimedia data. They have some differences in terms of flexibility, size, quality, and compatibility:
- Flexibility: MKV is more flexible and widely used than M4V and MP4. M4V files are limited to Apple devices due to DRM protection, while MKV files are compatible with almost all devices and platforms, such as Android, Windows, Linux, etc. MP4 is more widely used than M4V but still not as flexible as MKV.
- Size & Quality: MKV files usually have a larger size than M4V and MP4 videos because they support additional features like multiple audio tracks, etc. However, this doesn't mean MKV has better quality than M4V or MP4. All three formats can store high-quality videos, but the quality depends on the source and the codec used.
- Compatibility: M4V is suitable for Apple users and is supported by popular video editors like Adobe Premiere. MKV is more compatible with various devices and platforms, but it may not be as user-friendly as M4V for video editing.
In summary, you should choose MKV for high-quality videos with larger sizes and more compatible devices, M4V for smaller size videos compatible with Apple devices, and MP4 for more widely used videos with a good balance between quality and size.
Comparative Table: M4V vs MP4 vs MKV
Here is a table comparing the differences between M4V, MP4, and MKV formats:
| Feature | M4V | MP4 | MKV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Apple Inc. | Not specified | Not specified |
| DRM Copy Protection | Supported, Apple FairPlay used | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video Codecs Supported | H.264 only | MPEG-4, H.264, HEVC | H.264, H.265, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 |
| Audio Codecs Supported | AAC only | AAC, MP3, AC3, AIFF | AAC, MP3, Vorbis, FLAC, AC3 |
| Subtitles Support | Yes, soft and hard-coded | Yes, soft and hard-coded | Yes, soft and hard-coded |
| Playback Compatibility | Limited to Apple devices | Widely supported | Widely supported on various platforms |
| File Size | Smaller, due to DRM protection | Smaller to medium | Larger, supports additional features |
M4V is a video container format developed by Apple and is used for video files in its iTunes Store. It supports only the H.264 codec and is protected by Apple's DRM copy protection, making it compatible only with Apple devices. MP4 is a more widely supported container format that can contain MPEG-4, H.264, and HEVC files, and supports multiple audio codecs. It also supports soft and hard-coded subtitles, chapters, and other features. MKV is a more flexible and widely used format compared to M4V and is compatible with various devices and platforms, including Android, Windows, and Linux. It supports multiple video and audio codecs and has a larger file size due to support for additional features.