Creator media glossary
What is ProRes?
Short answer
Apple's family of high-quality video codecs built for editing rather than delivery: large files, easy playback and little visible loss, from ProRes 422 Proxy to ProRes 4444 XQ.
Key takeaways
- Apple ProRes is a family of editing codecs that compress each frame on its own for smooth editing.
- Flavors run from 422 Proxy (about 45 Mbps at 1080p) to 4444 XQ (about 500 Mbps).
- iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models record ProRes; files are many times larger than HEVC.
- Edit in ProRes, then deliver H.264 or HEVC; social apps do not want ProRes uploads.
ProRes explained
ProRes trades file size for editing performance and quality. The family runs from 422 Proxy (offline editing) through 422 LT, 422 and 422 HQ to 4444 and 4444 XQ, which keep full color and an alpha channel for graphics. iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models can record ProRes, which is why some phone files are many gigabytes.
ProRes is a working format, not an upload format. The social platforms we track do not document ProRes uploads, and YouTube's HDR guide says ProRes works only at very high bitrates, which means long uploads and processing. Edit in ProRes if you like and export H.264 or HEVC for posting.
Why editors use ProRes
Delivery codecs such as H.264 and HEVC make most frames depend on others, so an editor has to decode a chain of frames to show any one of them. ProRes compresses every frame on its own (intra-frame) with a light DCT-based method. Each frame decodes instantly, scrubbing and multicam stay smooth, and quality holds up over many generations of re-encoding. Apple calls it visually lossless.
Apple introduced ProRes in 2007 with Final Cut Studio 2, added ProRes 4444 in 2009, 4444 XQ in 2014 and ProRes RAW in 2018. Macs with Apple silicon (M1 Pro and later) have dedicated ProRes encode and decode engines.
ProRes data rates and file sizes
| Flavor | Color | Data rate at 1080p 29.97 | Size per minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProRes 4444 XQ | 4:4:4, up to 12-bit, alpha | About 500 Mbps | About 3.8 GB |
| ProRes 4444 | 4:4:4, up to 12-bit, alpha | About 330 Mbps | About 2.5 GB |
| ProRes 422 HQ | 4:2:2, 10-bit | About 220 Mbps | About 1.7 GB |
| ProRes 422 | 4:2:2, 10-bit | About 147 Mbps | About 1.1 GB |
| ProRes 422 LT | 4:2:2, 10-bit | About 102 Mbps | About 0.8 GB |
| ProRes 422 Proxy | 4:2:2, 10-bit | About 45 Mbps | About 0.3 GB |
Target rates from Apple's ProRes white paper; sizes are rate × 60 ÷ 8. At 4K UHD the rates are roughly four times higher.
ProRes support by platform
| Platform | Status | Best container |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Not documented | MOV |
| Instagram Reels | Not documented | MOV |
| Instagram Feed | Not documented | MOV |
| Instagram Stories | Not documented | MOV |
| YouTube Shorts | Not documented | MOV |
| YouTube (long-form) | Not documented | MOV |
| Not documented | MOV | |
| X (Twitter) | Not documented | MOV |
| Facebook Reels | Not documented | MOV |
| Facebook Feed | Not documented | MOV |
| Not documented | MOV | |
| Snapchat | Not documented | MOV |
| Snapchat Spotlight | Not documented | MP4 |
| Snapchat Story | Not documented | MP4 |
| Spotify Canvas | Not documented | MOV |
| Threads | Not documented | MOV |
From each platform's published upload specs; follow a platform for its full codec matrix and sources.
The ProRes family
| Flavor | What Apple says it is for |
|---|---|
| ProRes 4444 XQ | Highest quality, 4:4:4:4 sources with alpha; very high data rate |
| ProRes 4444 | Mastering-quality 4:4:4:4 RGBA, including alpha channels |
| ProRes 422 HQ | Higher-data-rate 422 for 4:2:2 sources |
| ProRes 422 | Nearly all the benefits of 422 HQ at 66 percent of its data rate |
| ProRes 422 LT | About 70 percent of the data rate of 422, 30 percent smaller files |
| ProRes 422 Proxy | Offline editing at low data rates and full resolution |
ProRes recording on iPhone by storage
| Storage | Resolution | Frame rates |
|---|---|---|
| 128 GB | 1080p | 30, 25 fps |
| 256 GB and more | 1080p | 60, 30, 25 fps |
| 256 GB and more | 4K | 30, 25, 24 fps (built-in storage) |
ProRes RAW
ProRes RAW, introduced in 2018, applies ProRes compression to the camera sensor's raw data instead of a finished image. White balance, ISO and exposure can be changed in post with almost no penalty, at data rates similar to ProRes 422 HQ or 4444. It needs a supported camera or external recorder and an editor that reads it, such as Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro.
ProRes vs H.264 and HEVC
| ProRes 422 HQ | H.264 / HEVC | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Recording and editing | Delivery and uploading |
| Compression | Each frame on its own | Frames predicted from others |
| 1080p30 data rate | About 220 Mbps | About 8-12 Mbps for YouTube |
| Editing performance | Smooth, light on CPU | Heavier, especially HEVC and long GOPs |
| Color | 10-bit 4:2:2 | Usually 8-bit 4:2:0 |
| Platform uploads | Rejected by most short-form apps | Accepted everywhere |
ProRes on iPhone
- iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models record ProRes; turn it on in Settings > Camera > Formats > Apple ProRes.
- iPhone 15 Pro and later can record ProRes 4K at 60 fps straight to an external USB-C drive, and add Apple Log for grading.
- 4K ProRes 422 HQ runs at roughly four times the 1080p rate, about 6-7 GB a minute, so internal storage fills fast.
- Export to H.264 or HEVC before posting; for social uploads ProRes only makes uploads slower.
How to export or convert ProRes
- Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve export ProRes on a Mac; Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects also export it on Windows.
- FFmpeg writes ProRes with
prores_ks:ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le out.mov(profile 3 is 422 HQ). - To post a ProRes master, convert it to H.264 MP4: our MOV to MP4 converter re-encodes ProRes in the browser (large masters are faster in HandBrake or FFmpeg).
Free tool:MOV to MP4
Frequently asked questions
What is Apple ProRes?
A family of Apple video codecs designed for editing: high image quality and smooth multistream playback in exchange for large files.
Which iPhones can record ProRes?
iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max and later Pro models, on iOS 15.1 or later. Turn it on in Settings > Camera > Formats; it does not work with Cinematic, slo-mo or time-lapse.
Why can my iPhone only record ProRes in 1080p?
On 128 GB models ProRes is limited to 1080p at 30 or 25 fps. 4K needs 256 GB or more, and Apple asks for at least 10 percent free storage.
Should I upload ProRes to YouTube or Instagram?
No. Edit in ProRes if you like, then export H.264 or HEVC. YouTube's HDR guide says ProRes works but needs very high bitrates, which means long uploads and processing.
Is ProRes lossless?
No, it is lossy, but designed to be visually lossless: differences from the source are not visible in normal viewing, even after several generations.
What is ProRes RAW?
A version of ProRes that stores the camera sensor's raw data rather than a finished image, so white balance and exposure can be adjusted later. It needs a supported camera or recorder and editor.
Can Windows play ProRes?
Yes in VLC, Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The built-in Windows players do not decode ProRes.
Let Koldflux pick the settings
Koldflux chooses the codec, container and bitrate for each platform when it exports.
Free tools that use this
Sources and how we checked
- Apple Support: About Apple ProRes on iPhone (checked 2026-10-05)
- Apple Support: About Apple ProRes (checked 2026-10-05)
- YouTube Help: Upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos (checked 2026-10-05)
- Apple: Apple ProRes white paper (checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed October 6, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Definitions follow the specifications and platform documentation linked above; platform tables come from the same registry the Koldflux tools use.