Before we dive deep into comparing MP4 and MKV video file formats, let‘s briefly summarize the key differences between the two:
- MP4 enjoys wider compatibility with consumer devices while MKV offers more flexibility and features
- Both formats can handle top-notch 4K and HD video quality with good codecs
- MKV allows bundling advanced subtitle formats and supplemental audio tracks beyond MP4
- MP4 compresses very efficiently for streaming while MKV can store more larger-sized components
- MP4 follows stricter industry standards while MKV promotes free open-source formats
Now let‘s fully break down MP4 and MKV across the board so you can determine which format truly meets your video needs…
Introducing MP4, the Universal Video Standard
MPEG-4 Part 14, also known as MP4, was first introduced in 2001 and quickly became the consumer gold standard for digital video in no small part thanks to Apple adopting it for their video iPods and iPhone devices. Today over 90% of online video traffic utilizes the MP4 container format.
MP4 is governed by the Moving Pictures Expert Group, giving it industry-wide support from major hardware, software and services companies. This means wide compatibility with phones, tablets, computers, smart TV platforms from vendors like Samsung, Sony and LG, plus streaming boxes like Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.
What is MKV and Who Makes It?
Matroska Multimedia Container, abbreviated as MKV, arose in the early 2000s as an open standard file format for audio, video, subtitles and images. It is not restricted by software patents and does not require licensing fees for use.
Unlike MP4 which comes from the deep-pocketed tech industry, MKV has been driven by open-source enthusiasts looking to avoid proprietary standards dictated by big corporations like Apple and Microsoft.
The non-profit Matroska Foundation overseas ongoing development. Support for Matroska is especially strong among cross-platform media player software on the desktop like Plex, Kodi and VLC, giving MKV excellent playback capability albeit less so directly through consumer devices.
Comparing Video Quality Between the Formats
Rest assured that with the right encoding settings, both MP4 and MKV are fully capable of retaining incredible 4K Ultra HD and Full HD 1080p video quality.
Rather than the container format itself which simply packages streams, the video and audio codecs used during encoding determine the final output quality when viewing the content.
For example utilizing advanced H.265 video coupled with Opus audio compression will deliver crystal clear quality whether placed into an MP4 or MKV wrapper. Codecs do the heavy lifting for efficient compression.
So it truly comes down to picking the optimal media creation tools and encoding configurations more so than limiting yourself to MP4 or MKV alone. Both formats themselves produce awesome quality potential in the right hands!
Device and Platform Compatibility Comparison
When evaluating which playback devices and platforms support direct native playback of MP4 and MKV files, there remains a substantial compatibility advantage towards MP4 as the industry norm.
Nearly all devices with video capability today play nice with MP4 formatting out of the box, spanning:
Smartphones and Tablets
- iPhone, iPad
- Samsung Galaxy, Kindle Fire
- Google Pixel, Microsoft Surface
Desktop Media Players
- Windows Media Player
- QuickTime
- iTunes
Game Consoles
- PlayStation 4 & 5
- Xbox One & Series X
- Nintendo Switch
Smart TVs
- LG WebOS
- Samsung Tizen
- Android TV
- Roku TV
Meanwhile MKV enjoys its best hardware support among enthusiast-focused products:
Desktop Media Players
- Kodi
- Plex
- VLC
Dedicated Media Streamers
- Nvidia Shield TV
- Amazon Fire TV (with Kodi)
Without doubt you possess far more playback options when encoding to MP4 compared to the average user‘s device capabilities handling MKV files natively.
That being said, Matroska is gaining much wider codec support these days across smartphones, tablets and smart TV platforms compared to 5 years ago. The compatibility gap is narrowing as the containers themselves share core techniques underneath like H.264 video. But MP4 still reigns supreme for now.
Comparing Subtitle Capabilities
One key area where Matroska container grabs the edge over MP4 involves advanced subtitle support.
The nature of Matroska as an unfettered open format means it can easily incorporate rich styled subtitles commonly encountered with anime, foreign films and other video niches.
For example .ASS and .SSA subtitle files include support for styling like different colors, positioning on-screen, fonts, sizes, etc that greatly enhance the viewing experience.
Trying to merge these advanced subs properly within MP4 requires additional specialized software tools for conversion and embedding – they won‘t simply interoperate through dragging and dropping files.
So if working extensively with exotic subtitling, Matroska can save lots of headache despite the format being less universally supported elsewhere. For anime fans, MKV rules!
Evaluating File Size Differences Between the Formats
Due to its extra room for packing in more streams of supplemental content like alternate audio tracks, commentary and subtitle files as covered earlier, Matroska video files typically occupy much larger file sizes compared to MP4 equivalents of the same perceivable video quality and length.
However the key qualifier here is that incredible strides in video compression efficiency have been achieved in recent years with next-generation codecs like H.265 and VP9.
Take this test sample of a 90 minute HD video encoded using the earlier H.264 codec:
| Video Codec | Container | Total File Size |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | MP4 | 650 MB |
| H.264 | MKV | 1.81 GB |
As you can see above with a widely supported older codec, MKV‘s file footprint results in nearly 3X the filesize mainly due to storing multiple audio tracks taking up space.
But check out the comparison now leveraging modern H.265 compression:
| Video Codec | Container | Total File Size |
|---|---|---|
| H.265 | MP4 | 312 MB |
| H.265 | MKV | 348 MB |
The story changes dramatically! The extra contents packed into the MKV now add only around 10% more overhead compared to an MP4 containing solely H.265 video and AAC stereo audio thanks to the coding efficiency muscle of H.265.
So Matroska can certainly go toe-to-toe with MP4 on file size if you take advantage of the latest advancement in video shrinkage technology! But MP4 keeps its edge if aiming to absolutely minimize footprint.
Comparing Supported Audio and Video Codecs
Recall that container file formats essentially operate as "wrappers" housing compressed multimedia streams following common coding rules that devices have been built to decode and play.
These streams rely on audio and video codecs to handle compressing and uncompressing media when reading and writing content. Codecs must adhere to open standards that hardware companies globally agree to implement.
The MP4 container itself follows a stricter set of media packaging guidelines ratified by MPEG working committees made up of tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, etc. This gives it reliable portability.
As a result MP4 mandates use of widespread industry-backed codecs tied to patent pools which collect licensing fees. For example AAC or MP3 for audio, and H.264 or H.265 for video. Uncompressed formats like FLAC or niche codecs don‘t make the cut.
Meanwhile Matroska as an open platform enjoys the freedom of supporting virtually any media codec you can think of – the choice is 100% flexible depending on your priorities.
Want to use older standards like MPEG-2 for compatibility? Or perhaps FLAC for studio master quality sound? Maybe combine H.264, H.265 and VP9 streams to maximize device compatibility in one file? No problem for MKV!
Advanced users can also update Matroska files to better or newer formats later as encoding tools improve since it readily welcomes any audio, video or subtitle technology old and new with minimal fuss.
The superior codec agility MKV delivers appeals greatly to video archivists looking to preserve content digitally into the far future as formats evolve and hardware decoding capabilities change over time.
But for simply creating video content to play now across today‘s gadgets, MP4 compliance will hassle you least.
Final Recommendations on MP4 vs MKV Usage
Here is a quick cheat sheet I‘ve assembled summarizing settings where MP4 or MKV each shine as the best video file format choice:
When MP4 Works Best:
- Streaming Video Content Online
- Watching Videos on Smartphones or Tablets
- Sharing Home Movies from Drones, Action Cams, Camcorders
- Editing Video Projects Needing Wide Compatibility
- Archiving Home Videos Long-Term
When MKV is Ideal:
- Watching Anime with ASS/SSA Subtitles
- Preserving Physical Media with Extra Features
- Archiving High Quality Video with Lossless Audio
- Authoring Multi-Language Content
- Preparing Videos for Advanced Editing Workflows
As you can see, both formats each excel for particular applications! MP4 grabs the edge for everyday online consumption and compatibility convenience. But MKV gives you ultimate flexibility if that matters most.
I hope mapping out the full landscape around MP4 and MKV file format capabilities here helps set clear expectations around using either container for your video playback and storage goals!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
