How to do it
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Look at your current frame rate
Open Settings, tap Camera, then tap Record Video. The selected resolution and frame rate are marked in the list.
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Pick a rate that fits what you film
Choose a 30 fps option for interviews, talking-head clips and slow scenes. Choose 60 fps only when you film fast action or want smoother motion or slow motion later.
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Shrink 60 fps clips you already shot
In PicWay, tap Compress on the home screen, pick the clips, and tap Compress. Tap Compare on the card before you delete the original.
What changes when you pick 30 or 60 fps
Frame rate is how many pictures per second your iPhone records. At 60 fps there are twice as many frames as at 30 fps, so there is more to store. Apple puts it plainly in its video recording guide: faster frame rates and higher resolutions result in larger video files.
How much larger? According to DualCam, shooting at 30 fps cuts the data rate by approximately 55% compared with 60 fps. That is one vendor’s estimate, not an Apple figure, so expect your own results to differ.
| Setting | Rough size per hour (HEVC, 4K) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4K at 30 fps | about 10.2 GB | DualCam |
| 4K at 60 fps | about 24 GB | DualCam |
When 30 fps is enough
DualCam calls 30 fps the most effective way to conserve storage for content such as interviews and podcasts, where little moves on screen. Family dinners, talks, screen-heavy clips and most everyday videos fit the same pattern.
When 60 fps is worth the space
Pick 60 fps when you film sports, kids running, pets or panning shots and want smoother motion. Apple also notes that videos you record at faster frame rates can be played back at slower speeds in the Photos app, and that the playback speed options depend on the format you captured (see Apple’s guide to trimming video and adjusting speed). So if you want a slow-motion effect later, shoot at a higher rate.
Compatibility is another reason to stay low. Apple says that on some older devices, resolutions of 1080p or lower and frame rates of 60 fps or lower are more broadly compatible, as explained on its HEIF and HEVC page.
How to change the frame rate
In Camera, switch to Video mode and tap the resolution and frame rate values at the top of the screen to pick one. To make more formats available, go to Settings, tap Camera, then tap Record Video and choose from the list your iPhone supports. Apple lists 24, 25, 30, 60 and 120 fps as the possible rates, depending on your model.
What PicWay can do about 60 fps videos you already have
PicWay can compress videos that are already in your library, with two levels: Standard compression (the default) and Strong compression. It makes a new video and keeps the original until you compare them and delete it yourself.
Compression caps the long edge of the picture, at most 1920 pixels for Standard and 1280 for Strong. A video whose long edge is already at or below the cap is not scaled up. If a compressed video would save less than 10% of the original, PicWay does not delete the original.
Quick answers
How much space does 30 fps save over 60 fps?
One vendor test found about 55% less data at 30 fps, but results depend on the scene and on your iPhone. Treat it as a rough guide.
Is 60 fps better quality?
It looks smoother in fast motion. For slow scenes, you may not notice the difference, but the file is still larger.
Can I turn 60 fps into 30 fps afterwards?
This guide does not describe a way to do that. What PicWay’s two compression levels do is cap the resolution, as described above.
Which setting should I use for everyday videos?
If storage matters, 30 fps is usually enough. Keep 60 fps for action and for clips you may want to slow down.