Can AI really make 720p look like 4K?

AI can make 720p look significantly better than native 720p, but it will not match native 4K. The improvement is most noticeable on edges, textures, and faces. For online viewing, the difference from native 4K is minimal.

How long does AI upscaling take?

With a modern GPU, expect 10-30 minutes per minute of video for 4K upscaling. Without a GPU, processing is dramatically slower. Short social content (60 seconds) is the most practical.

Is AI upscaling free?

DaVinci Resolve and CapCut offer free AI upscaling. Topaz Video AI is a one-time $199 purchase. Cloud-based tools charge per video or subscription.

Should I upscale all my content?

Only upscale if the source footage is below your platform's optimal resolution. For new content creation, record at the highest resolution possible rather than relying on upscaling.

Guide

AIVideo Upscaling4KQualityGuide

AI Video Upscaling: How to Convert Low-Resolution Video to HD and 4K

AI video upscaling uses neural networks to increase video resolution while adding realistic detail. Convert 720p footage to crisp 1080p or even 4K. This guide covers how upscaling works, what results to expect, the best tools available, and when it makes sense to upscale versus reshoot.

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Step-by-Step Guide

Assess your source footage

Check current resolution, compression level, and content type. This determines which tool and settings to use.

Choose your upscaling tool

Topaz Video AI for maximum quality, DaVinci Resolve for free professional results, CapCut for quick social content.

Run a test segment

Process a 10-30 second clip at your target resolution. Evaluate quality before processing the full video.

Process the full video

Apply your chosen settings to the entire video. Be patient — upscaling is computationally intensive and may take hours for long content.

Compare and export

View the original and upscaled versions side by side. Export the final result at your target resolution and codec.

How AI video upscaling works

Traditional upscaling simply stretches pixels, resulting in blurry, soft footage. AI upscaling is fundamentally different:

Neural network training — AI models are trained on millions of high-resolution and low-resolution image pairs. The network learns what high-resolution detail "should" look like for any given low-resolution input.

Detail generation — When upscaling, the AI does not just stretch pixels — it generates new detail based on learned patterns. Edges become sharper, textures become more defined, and faces become clearer.

Temporal consistency — For video, the AI ensures generated details remain consistent across frames, preventing flickering or morphing artifacts.

Multiple passes — Some tools run multiple enhancement passes: upscaling, denoising, sharpening, and frame interpolation for maximum quality improvement.

The result is footage that looks significantly sharper than the original, though AI-upscaled video will never match natively captured high-resolution content.

Best AI upscaling tools compared

| Tool | Max Output | Quality | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topaz Video AI | 16K | Excellent | Slow (GPU required) | $199 one-time |
| DaVinci Resolve | 8K | Very Good | Moderate | Free |
| AVCLabs | 8K | Good | Moderate | $40/mo |
| HitPaw | 4K | Good | Fast | $40/mo |
| CapCut | 4K | Moderate | Fast | Free |

Topaz Video AI remains the gold standard for upscaling quality. The one-time purchase makes it the most cost-effective for regular use. Requires a decent GPU.

DaVinci Resolve is the best free option, with AI upscaling built into its free version alongside professional editing tools.

CapCut offers the quickest, easiest upscaling for social content creators who need fast results without fussing over settings.

Realistic expectations for AI upscaling

Understanding what AI upscaling can and cannot do prevents disappointment:

Excellent results (noticeable improvement):
- 720p to 1080p — The sweet spot. Most footage shows dramatic improvement.
- 1080p to 4K — Good improvement, especially visible on large displays.
- Old DVD content (480p) to 1080p — Significant quality boost for archival footage.

Moderate results (visible but limited improvement):
- 360p to 1080p — Noticeable improvement but still softer than native 1080p.
- Heavily compressed footage — AI recovers some detail but compression artifacts persist.
- Very fast motion — Rapidly moving subjects may show artifacts.

Poor results (do not attempt):
- 144p/240p to 4K — Too little source information. AI generates plausible but inaccurate detail.
- Severely damaged or corrupted footage — AI cannot recover information that does not exist.
- Real-time upscaling of live content — Most AI upscaling is offline processing.

Rule of thumb: AI upscaling works best for 2-4x resolution increases. Beyond 4x, quality degrades noticeably.

Pro Tips

Always test with a short clip before processing an entire video — settings that work for one scene may not work for all
If your target platform is mobile (YouTube Shorts, Reels), 1080p is sufficient — do not upscale to 4K for mobile content
Use a GPU for AI upscaling — CPU-only processing can be 10-50x slower
Combine upscaling with denoising for the best quality improvement on older footage
Store the original file — AI upscaling is not perfect, and you may want to reprocess with improved tools in the future