Instagram has just announced that they are extending the length of Instagram Reels to 60 seconds. With this change, users will be able to share more of their stories in one post and experience less disruption when watching on mobile devices. This new update is a great move for brands who want to create longer videos as well as extend storytelling techniques used by creative professionals like filmmakers and animators.

Reels allows one to create videos to share with friends or anyone on Instagram. Instagram Reels can be recorded one at a time, all at once, or by using video uploads from the gallery. There was a 30-second time limit, but now Reels can be up to 60 secs long. Default, Instagram Reels are 15 seconds long. To change, tap the “15” on the left side of the screen before starting to record.

What are exact Instagram Reels Dimensions?

The Instagram reel video dimensions are a question we get asked all the time. There are many factors to consider when creating an Instagram Reels video, and it’s important you know what they are before getting started on your next project.

1080 x 1920 pixels, to be more specific 1080 width and 1920 height of the video. Capturing it in portrait mode will also give you the same dimensions. A few things to consider when determining the best size for your reel are how much content you have available to include in it, where you plan on posting or uploading the video, and whether there will be any text overlays that need to fit within a specific space.

What’s the reason for the limit increase?

Instagram is looking to capture the market share left after TikTok’s ban in the Indian market. In the global market, the Chinese app is Instagram’s substantial competitor. Until recently, TikTok also had videos being 60 seconds long, and within that time curb, the platform skyrocketed. This may be the reason Instagram also expanded its limit to 60 seconds, to compete with TikTok.

Instagram VS TikTok

Instagram Reels does still make the user’s heavy lift. The company claims that these new edits will make it be easier in the new update. Whereas the main selling point of TikTok being that one doesn’t need to be a video editor to upload good quality videos.

We are continuing to improve Reels based on user’s feedback, these updates make it easier to create and edit says the Instagram Reels Director, Tessa Lyong-Laing. She has also hinted that more updates are maybe on the way.

Feature TikTok Instagram Reels

Availability on All App Stores ✓ ✓

Advertisements ✖ ✓

Video Time Durations 3 mins 60 Secs

Videos ✓ ✓

Photos ✖ ✓

Hashtags ✓ ✖

US Market ✓ ✓

Pay-To-Use ✖ ✖

In-App Purchases ✓ ✖

Reels VS TikTok will always be a debate and only time will which of the both will come on top. As of this writing, though TikTok is at top of the key, Reels isn’t much of an underdog. With the already Indian Ban and potential U.S. ban by the federal government, TikTok might be losing its advantage.

If you liked this article (or if it helped at all), please leave us a comment below or share it with friends so that they understand the differences in both apps.