What is the Resolution Comparisons meme?

Resolution Comparisons is a meme format where two images sit side by side, each labeled with a video resolution like "144p" or "4K," creating a visual joke about one subject being the low-quality version of another.

Where did Resolution Comparisons come from?

The format originated on Imgur on August 25, 2016, when user SebastianRogojina posted a GTA: San Andreas screenshot of CJ labeled "144p" next to a photo of Eddie Murphy labeled "4k".

What does the Resolution Comparisons meme mean?

The labels reference the video quality settings on YouTube and streaming platforms. The joke is that one image looks like the "low-res" version of the other, as if someone cranked the quality slider up or down.

How do you use the Resolution Comparisons format?

Find two images where one looks like a blurrier or simpler version of the other, label them with resolution tags (144p, 4K, etc.), and place them side by side or stacked[1].

Is Resolution Comparisons still popular?

The format's biggest peaks were in 2016-2017 on Facebook and Reddit. A Twitter revival in 2020 expanded it into a general quality-comparison tool, and variations still pop up across platforms.

Who created the first Resolution Comparison meme?

Imgur user SebastianRogojina posted the earliest known example on August 25, 2016, using a GTA: San Andreas character and actor Eddie Murphy.

When did Resolution Comparisons go viral on Reddit?

The format hit Reddit in February-March 2017, with posts by Flurex and ExtraBigHeads on r/dankmemes each earning over 1,000 upvotes. The r/MemeEconomy community flagged the trend on March 16, 2017[2].

What characters are commonly used in Resolution Comparisons?

SpongeBob SquarePants is a frequent subject, appearing in popular versions on Reddit in 2017 and Twitter in 2020[1]. Video game characters from older titles like GTA: San Andreas and Contra were common in early versions.

Resolution Comparisons

2016Image macro / exploitable templatesemi-active

Published March 24, 2026

Also known as: Video Quality Memes · Resolution Memes

Resolution Comparisons are image macros that pair a blurry or pixelated depiction of a subject alongside a clearer, higher-quality lookalike, with each image labeled by a video resolution like "144p" or "4K." The format originated on Imgur in August 2016 and spread through Facebook and Reddit over the following year. It works because anyone who's fiddled with a YouTube quality slider instantly gets the joke: one image is the budget version, the other is the premium upgrade.

video quality memes two panel memes comparison memes image macro memes

Overview

The premise is dead simple. Two images sit side by side or stacked vertically, each tagged with a video resolution label. The "low-res" image shows a crude, blocky, or cartoonish depiction of something, while the "high-res" image presents a real-world counterpart or more detailed rendering that looks like the same subject with a graphics upgrade. Common resolution labels range from 144p (the lowest YouTube quality option) up through 240p, 480p, 1080p, and 4K, borrowed directly from the video quality menus everyone recognizes from streaming platforms.

No setup text or caption is needed beyond the resolution tags. The images do all the talking, and viewers fill in the comparison on their own.

Origin & Background

Platform

Imgur (first post), Facebook and Reddit (viral spread)

Creator

SebastianRogojina

Date

2016

On August 25, 2016, Imgur user SebastianRogojina posted what appears to be the earliest known Resolution Comparison. The image placed a screenshot of Carl Johnson (CJ) from the 2004 PlayStation 2 game *Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas* next to a photograph of actor Eddie Murphy. CJ's low-polygon face got the "144p" label while Murphy's photo was tagged "4k," playing on the genuine visual resemblance between the blocky game character and the real actor.

The pairing landed because GTA: San Andreas was infamous for its rough character models, and Murphy's face happened to look like what CJ might look like after a massive graphics overhaul.

How It Spread

Facebook picked up the format first. On October 12, 2016, the Jokes King page posted a version showing a real bat labeled "240p" above an image of Batman labeled "1080p," pulling in over 5,100 reactions and 480 shares over the next five months. Three weeks later on November 3, the GamingMemes page contributed a gaming-themed entry comparing pixel art characters from the 1987 NES title *Contra* to detailed illustrations of the same duo.

Reddit's r/dankmemes became the format's next major home in early 2017. On February 25, Redditor Flurex posted side-by-side SpongeBob SquarePants images with "144p" and "1080p HD" labels, earning over 1,100 upvotes at a 96% approval rate within three weeks1. Just a week later on March 3, Redditor ExtraBigHeads compared a screenshot of cartoon character Race Bannon to a photograph of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence2. That post did even better, collecting over 3,200 upvotes with 98% approval on the same subreddit.

The trend caught the attention of r/MemeEconomy on March 16, 2017, when Redditor JantonioValdez declared that "video quality memes are making a steady climb". In meme economy terms, this was a strong buy signal.

The format found a second wind on Twitter in May 2020 when user Nikhil posted a version using two SpongeBob images to describe the quality difference between their two eyes. This twist expanded the template beyond pure lookalike gags into a broader comparison tool. Other users quickly adopted the same paired images to comment on any gap between two things, from one earphone working better than the other to the difference between a plan and its execution.

How to Use This Meme

Creating a Resolution Comparison typically follows a straightforward formula:

Find two images where one looks like a lower-quality version of the other. Classic pairings include video game characters next to real-world actors, cartoon drawings alongside live-action counterparts, or two photos of the same subject at wildly different quality levels.

Add resolution labels. Tag the cruder image with a low resolution (144p, 240p, 480p) and the sharper image with a higher one (1080p, 4K). Place the labels prominently on or near each image.

Arrange the images side by side or stacked vertically. Low-res on the left or top is the common convention.

Fun Facts

The original 2016 post used a PS2-era game character, setting the tone for the many gaming-to-reality comparisons that followed.

The r/MemeEconomy post from March 2017 treated the format like a stock pick, calling it a "steady climb" and effectively signaling to other memers that the template was worth adopting.

SpongeBob SquarePants appeared in both the 2017 Reddit wave and the 2020 Twitter revival, making the cartoon the format's most recurring subject1.

The Race Bannon vs. Mike Pence comparison hit a 98% upvote ratio on r/dankmemes, one of the format's highest-rated individual posts2.

Frequently Asked Questions

References (2)

1
I don't know herencyclopedia
2
Resolution Comparisons - Know Your Memeencyclopedia