3GP Files
A 3GP file contains video and audio streams, which are great for lossy compression of video data.
Read on to discover more about the 3GP file and how to open one on your desktop or mobile device.
What is a 3GP file?
A 3GP file is a multimedia container format used primarily on 3G devices. It is the standard format for media files sent using Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS).
Files in this format may also use the .3GPP file extension, but they are no different to 3GP files.
3GP files do not take up too much disk space when you transfer to or store them on devices. And because many of these devices rely on mobile data for streaming, the 3GP files' lower data use and small bandwidth make them strong file choices.
History of the 3GP file.
Not so long ago, it was difficult to open video files on our mobile devices. Slower internet connections combined with the large file sizes, made playing multimedia files on our smartphones rather challenging – until of course, 3GP files emerged.
The 3GP file format was developed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and released in the year 2003. The multimedia container format was created with the intention to decrease bandwidth usage and storage requirements, making it easier to convert and transmit video and audio files between 3G mobile devices.
As the advent of 4G has seen 3G’s usage drop considerably, these filetypes perhaps don’t enjoy the popularity and widespread use they once did. But with many devices still reliant on 3G, they are very much a factor for video playback.
How to use 3GP files.
3GP files are primary used across 3G mobile devices and are the standard media file format for sending video content via MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services).
Storage.
With a 3GP file, you can store your video and audio data in a single compressed file. This makes things a lot easier when opening a 3GP file on a mobile device.
Streaming.
Although 3GP files were initially designed to support videos on 3G mobile phones, they’re also playable on a computer. This gives creators another option for streaming across multiple devices.
Sharing.
3GP files are a great choice for sharing. As the file size is small, they’re easily sharable with friends and family and transferred across the web.
Pros and cons of 3GP files.
Now you know what a 3GP file is. But before you decide to use one for your project, take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros.
- Smaller file size. 3GP files aren’t as large as other video file formats. This can be extremely useful if you have a device with low storage space, or you wish to save and watch video files on your smartphone.
- Little download time. Due to its small size, uploading or downloading a video in the 3GP format can take just seconds to complete.
Cons.
- Low video resolution. As 3GP files compress video and audio stream into a single file, the resolution and video quality tend to be quite low. When compared to other formats such as MP4, you may notice a difference in resolution, quality, and playback.
- Compatibility issues. Not every platform supports the 3GP file format, due to many devices moving onto 4G-enabled container formats.
Find out which container file types are supported by Adobe Premiere
How to open a 3GP file.
3GP files are compatible with the majority of 3G mobile devices that support video playback. You can also open them on 2G and 4G devices, but maximum file size and resolution restrictions may apply.
You can also open a 3GP file on your computer with Windows Media Player, included with Windows or Apple QuickTime Player, which supports macOS.
If you do not have access to either of these, an alternative approach is to convert your 3GP file to a more widespread format such as MP4.
How to create and edit a 3GP file.
Adobe has a host of exciting software available for video editing, including Adobe Premiere.
To get started, simply:
1. Open a new project
2. Import your file into program
3. Trim, rearrange and edit your clips
4. Export the final video when finished
Questions? We have answers.
It’s easy to convert your 3GP files to MP4 using Adobe Media Encoder:
1. Open Adobe Media Encoder on your computer.
2. Hit the “+” button in the top left-hand corner and add your 3PG file to the queue.
3. Select the MP4 export present from the drop-down list.
4. Click on the output file and select the output location, then rename the file.
5. Press “Start” to begin the conversion process.
3GP and MP4 are both container files. The main difference between the two however, is that 3GP was primarily designed for mobile phones, whereas MP4 can be played across various platforms and devices.
Yes, VLC Media Player can support 3GP files. To play a 3GP file in VLC Media Player, navigate to the media menu and select “Open file.” Find the folder where your file is saved, then click on your file and it should automatically start playing.
That depends on your requirements. If you want to play videos on an old 3G phone, then 3GP is the way to go. But, when it comes to streaming video on your desktop, MP4 may be a better option as it can support a higher video resolution. It is also widely compatible across a multitude of device.
3GP files are smaller than other video formats, so they don't take up much storage space. However, the video quality and resolution tend to be quite low compared to other formats. Additionally, not every platform supports the 3GP file format.
Learn more about similar file types to 3GP.
MP4.
Discover more about MP4, one of the most commonly used video container filetypes.
MOV.
Learn more about the video file format primarily used in the QuickTime framework of Mac.
AVI.
Explore the world of AVI files and find out more about this container file format, developed by Microsoft.
ASF.
Learn more about ASF and discover why this digital and audio video container format is specifically made for streaming media.
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