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Estimate screen-recording storage from bitrate and recording time: size in decimal GB ≈ bitrate in Mbps × duration in seconds ÷ 8,000. At a sustained 5 Mbps for one hour, that works out to about 2.25 GB before container overhead or bitrate variation. This is a calculation, not a measured result for a particular phone or app.
There is no dependable universal number of gigabytes per hour. If your device does not show the recording bitrate, make a short test recording of similar content and settings, then scale its file size to your planned duration.
Estimate the file size from bitrate and duration
Video bitrate is the amount of data encoded each second. If you know the average bitrate, duration gives you a useful estimate:
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- Decimal megabytes: Mbps × seconds ÷ 8.
- Decimal gigabytes: Mbps × seconds ÷ 8,000.
- One-hour shortcut: bitrate in Mbps × 0.45 ≈ decimal GB per hour.
For example, a sustained 5 Mbps recording lasting 3,600 seconds is approximately 2,250 MB, or 2.25 decimal GB. The calculation assumes the bitrate stays constant; it does not include extra margin for container overhead or changes in encoding rate.
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| Average bitrate | Calculated size per hour |
|---|---|
| 2 Mbps | About 0.9 decimal GB |
| 5 Mbps | About 2.25 decimal GB |
| 8 Mbps | About 3.6 decimal GB |
| 20 Mbps | About 9 decimal GB |
These are arithmetic estimates, not published measurements for specific devices. Decimal GB uses 1 GB = 1,000 MB. A device’s displayed storage figures may use a different convention, so the number shown can differ slightly.
Why two recordings of the same length can have different sizes
Resolution alone does not determine file size. Recording settings, encoding choices, audio, and what appears on screen all affect how much data the encoder produces.
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- Resolution: More pixels can require more data to preserve comparable image quality.
- Frame rate: More frames each second can increase the data needed to represent motion at similar quality.
- Bitrate or quality mode: A fixed bitrate makes duration-based estimates more predictable. Variable-bitrate or quality-based encoding can produce different file sizes for different scenes.
- Codec: Compression and compatibility vary by codec. Apple says ProRes files can be up to 30 times larger than HEVC files, but that comparison concerns ProRes video—not ordinary screen recordings. Apple’s ProRes guidance explains the scope of that comparison.
- Audio: Microphone or system audio adds data. On iPhone, Apple’s screen-recording instructions include an option to enable microphone capture. Apple’s iPhone guide describes the control.
- On-screen content: A mostly static screen and rapidly changing motion may encode differently when the recording uses variable-rate settings.
Android’s MediaRecorder API documentation exposes video size, frame-rate, and bitrate settings, and notes that a requested bitrate may be adjusted based on platform capabilities. That illustrates why a setting—or a resolution label—does not guarantee an exact file size across devices and apps.
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A short test on the same device is usually more useful than a generic per-hour estimate when the app does not display bitrate. Match the settings and content as closely as possible, then scale by duration:
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estimated full recording size ≈ test file size × (planned duration ÷ test duration)
- Record a short sample using the resolution, frame rate, audio options, and app you plan to use.
- Check the sample’s duration and file size in your device’s file or media details.
- Multiply the sample size by planned duration divided by sample duration. For instance, scale a 2-minute sample by 30 to estimate a 60-minute recording.
- Leave free-space headroom. The scaled result is approximate and may not account for scene changes, encoding behavior, or interruptions.
For variable-bitrate recordings, a sample of a quiet menu may not predict a video with frequent motion or changing content. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a guaranteed maximum.
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Where screen recordings are saved on iPhone
Apple says built-in iPhone screen recordings are automatically saved to the Photos library. To include microphone audio, press and hold the Screen Recording control, turn on Microphone, and start recording. Some apps may not allow their content to be recorded. Apple’s guide does not specify a standard file size per minute or hour, so use the bitrate method or a test recording for an estimate.
Do not confuse screen recording with ProRes recording
Apple’s external-storage instructions cover supported ProRes video workflows, not ordinary built-in screen recordings. Apple says supported iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro, and 17 Pro models can record ProRes directly to USB-C external storage, subject to drive requirements. For specified 4K60 modes on iPhone 15, 16, and 17 Pro, Apple lists a minimum drive speed of 220 MB/s; for supported 4K120 modes on iPhone 16 and 17 Pro, it lists 440 MB/s. Apple also specifies a maximum drive power draw of 4.5 W and says at least 10% of device storage must be free for ProRes recording. These conditions apply to that ProRes workflow, not to built-in screen recording. Apple’s ProRes and external-storage article provides the details.
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What Android settings can tell you
Android’s official MediaRecorder reference documents configurable video dimensions, frame rate, and encoding bitrate. It also says the platform may internally adjust a requested bitrate to fit device capabilities. This API documentation explains relevant recording variables; it is not a universal size estimate for every Android phone or screen-recording app. If the app hides the bitrate, use a short test recording.
A community estimate is not a device specification
An Apple Support Community response dated July 6, 2023, gave rough estimates of about 94–286 GB for a 13-hour recording on an iPhone 11 running iOS 16, across four resolution and frame-rate combinations. The response cautioned that compression, audio, and content complexity can change the actual size. It is one community answer, not an official Apple measurement or a current general estimate. Read the community response in that context.
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