The problem with iPhone videos
Modern iPhones record big files. A minute of 4K video can easily be several hundred megabytes. That is too big for email, and most messaging apps will shrink it to save data, so the person you send it to gets a blurry version.
AirDrop: great, but Apple only
If the other person has an iPhone, iPad or Mac and is nearby, AirDrop sends the original file quickly and for free. It does not work with Android or Windows, and it needs both devices close together.
Messages and WhatsApp: quick, but compressed
iMessage to another iPhone keeps reasonable quality, but sending to Android over SMS/MMS or RCS usually shrinks the video. WhatsApp compresses videos sent as media. Sending as a document keeps quality, but it is fiddly and has its own size cap.
Mail Drop: big files, but a few steps
In the Mail app, iPhone offers Mail Drop for large attachments, uploading them to iCloud for up to 30 days. It works with anyone who has email, but you need iCloud set up and the recipient needs your email to arrive.
Browser transfer: works with anyone, full quality
Open skypost.co.uk in Safari, tap to add files, choose the video from your Photos, and hit send. You get 3 words. Text them to the other person, who enters them at skypost.co.uk/receive on any phone or computer and downloads the original file. No app, no account and no compression.
Free files can be up to 200 MB each, kept for 7 days. For long 4K clips, Pro takes up to 5 GB per file.
Tip: check your camera settings
If file size is a constant problem, Settings › Camera › Record Video lets you choose 1080p instead of 4K, which makes files several times smaller with little visible difference on a phone screen.
