One MP4 file
8.87 MB · 1080p
The browser gets one full-size version. It is simple and starts quickly when the file is small enough for the connection.
One video. Two ways to deliver it.
Play the same 12-second clip as one MP4 file and as an HLS stream that can change quality while it plays.
The short answer: Small background loops are often simplest as optimized MP4 files. Longer or heavier videos can benefit from HLS because the player can lower or raise the picture quality when the connection changes.
Try the comparison
Use the buttons below. A replay may use saved browser data, so the first run is usually the fairest.
MP4 file · H.264 · 1080p · 8.87 MB
Choose MP4 or HLS.
Start time—
Playback stops—
Stopped time—
Picture—
What changes?
Adaptive HLS stream
0.68 MB at 360p
2.06 MB at 720p
The video is split into two-second pieces. The player can switch between the smaller and larger picture while the video is running.
Controlled Chrome test
1 Mbps · MP4: 5.85-second start · 33 stops · about 53.9 seconds stopped
1 Mbps · HLS: 1.01–1.03-second start · 0 stops · 360p
10 Mbps · MP4: 0.66–0.67-second start · 0 stops
10 Mbps · HLS: 0.26-second start · 0 stops · 720p
Source: eight Chrome runs on September 11, 2026. Each format and speed was tested twice on the same computer with the browser cache off and 40 ms of network delay. This was a controlled test, not real visitor data.
How adaptive streaming works
- The video is prepared at several picture sizes, such as 360p and 720p.
- Each version is cut into small pieces.
- The player checks the connection and how much video is ready.
- It can change quality several times while the video plays.
HLS can reduce buffering, but it cannot promise perfect playback on every connection. Video length, file size, picture quality, and network speed all matter.