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Types of DVDs: A Guide to DVD Types, Capacity, & Resolution!

Paula Pailaga Posted by Paula Pailaga to DVD/Blu-ray Player Apr 25, 2024

The Digital Versatile Disc or DVD is an optical storage media that can store high-quality videos, data, and games. Did you know that DVDs come in different types? Yes, DVDs come in different types with different capacities, resolutions, formats, and usage. In case you wish to know more about them, continue reading this post, for it features an all-inclusive review and introduction to different types of DVDs, their capacities, resolutions, usage, etc. Explore them now!

Different Types of DVD Format: DVD R/RW/RAM/ROM

To start your journey of exploring different types of DVDs, you can first dive into the various varieties of DVDs. Each of these DVDs is listed below with a brief description of them. Moreover, this post also featured them on a comparison chart, so you could easily see their differences. So, without any further ado, explore them now!

DVD+R

The first type of DVD is the DVD+R. DVD+R allows you to record data for a maximum of 4.7GB. With this type of DVD, you can only record once, and the recorded data will become permanent on the disc.

DVD-R

Another type of DVD is the DVD-R. DVD-R is a write-once-and-read-multiple-times format. This DVD enables you to record data; once it has been recorded, it can’t be altered or deleted.

DVD+RW

DVD+RW, on the other hand, is the rewritable version of the DVD+R. Unlike DVD+R, it allows you to record data 1,000 times. However, most of the oldest DVD players do not support this DVD. But this type of DVD offers excellent performance and reliability.

DVD-RW

If DVD+RW is the rewritable version of DVD+R, DVD-RW, on the other hand, is the rewritable version of DVD-R. DVD-RW also lets you record 1,000 times of data. However, this type of DVD is much more expensive and less compatible than DVD-R.

DVD+R DL

Another version of DVD+R is the DVD+R DL. This DVD is the dual-layer version of DVD+R. This type of DVD doubles the size of the DVD+R. Moreover, this type of DVD is also playable across recent DVD players.

If there's DVD+R DL, there's also DVD-R DL. This type of DVD is the dual-layer writable version of DVD-R. Similar to DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL is also supported by most DVD players.

DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM is also a removable hard disk that supports writing media files 100,000 times compared to 1,000 times for DVD-RW and DVD+RW. This type of DVD has a capacity of 2.6GB if it is single-sided, and if it is double, it has a capacity of 5.2 GB. Moreover, this type of DVD is only supported by DVD-RAM drivers.

DVD-ROM

The last type of DVD is the DVD-ROM. This DVD is a read-only DVD video format that can hold around 4.38 GB of data. The manufacturers pre-record that data, and they can’t be modified. This DVD is commonly used for movie rentals and software apps.

Now that you have discovered the different types of DVD discs, here is the comparison chart containing some parameters to compare each.

DVD Discs DVD Type Writable Recordable Storage Capacity Playable on computer Palatable on DVD player
DVD+R Read and Write Write Once Yes 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+R Read and Write Write Once Yes 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+RW Read and Write Rewritable No 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+RW Read and Write Rewritable No 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+R DL Read and Write Write Once Yes 8.5GB Yes Yes
DVD+R DL Read and Write Write Once Yes 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+RAM Read and Write Rewritable No 4.7GB Yes Yes
DVD+ROM Read Only Read Only No 4.38GB Yes, but it requires a specific codec for playing DVD movies. Yes, however, it can only be played on DVD and Blu-ray players.

Know More about 5 Types of DVDs with Different Capacity

That’s it! Those are the first eight types of DVD formats. Apart from those DVDs, there are also types of DVDs divided into DVD-5, -9, -10, etc., which depend on the layers and sides they possess. Each of these DVDs comes with different numbers of layers, sides, capacity, storage, etc. To determine their differences more straightforwardly, this post also featured a comparison chart containing the other types of DVDs with a few parameters. So, without any further delay, explore the chart now.

DVD Discs Capacity (GB) Capacity (Video Length or Duration) Number of Sides Number of Layers Supported DVD formats
DVD-5 4.7GB 133 mins. Single Single DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW
DVD-9 8.5GB 240 mins. Single Dual DVD+R and DVD-R
DVD-10 9.4GB 266 mins. Double Single DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW
DVD-15 N/A N/A Double 1 Single and 1 Dual N/A
DVD-18 17.1GB 480 mins. Single Dual DVD+R

NTSC VS. PAL: 2 Types of DVDs in Different Resolution

Apart from those types of DVDs with their differences regarding capacities and whether they are writable, DVDs also come with differences in supported formats - NTSC and PAL. Now, these formats differ in their supported DVD video resolution, frame rate, compatible player, region codes, and more. Now, to also make everything easier to understand, here’s a comparison chart for you.

DVD Formats Frame Rate (fps) Vertical Frequency (Hz) Digital Standard Resolution Compatibility (Countries)
NTSC 29.97 fps 60hz 720X480 United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, some specific parts of South America, Japan, and South Korea.
PAL 25 fps 50hz 720×480 Australia, some parts of Europe and Africa, China, the Middle East, and India.

All-in-one DVD Player to Watch All Types of DVDs on Windows/Mac

That’s it! Those are the types of DVDs with their different capacities, formats, and resolutions! Now, not all DVDs are playable by DVD/Blu-ray players. In most cases, the disc driver can read them, but the disc player can’t. Now, in case you experienced this error, this post recommends you use the professional 4Easysoft Blu-ray Player tool! This Windows and Mac-compatible tool can play any media format and type of DVDs. Moreover, this tool is infused with AI technology to enhance DVD movies and bring lossless audio and dramatic surround sound. Furthermore, this tool is also equipped with an easy-to-use playback control that lets you easily do forward, backward, play, stop, etc.

Blu-ray Player Box
Features of 4Easysoft Blu-ray Player

GPU acceleration technology to play DVD/Blu-rays quickly and smoothly.

Enable you to organize and compose DVD titles, chapters, and more as a playlist.

Select subtitles and audio tracks, set it to full-screen, and adjust the video’s volume.

Deliver a cinema-like audio experience by selecting audio track, device, channel, etc.

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Free Download

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How to Use 4Easysoft Blu-ray Player to Watch All Types of DVDs:

Step 1Download and install the 4Easysoft Blu-ray Player tool on your Windows or Mac computer. Then, launch the tool, insert the DVD into your computer’s disc driver, and click the "Open Disc" button.

Open Disc

Step 2Next, select the DVD you inserted earlier and tick the "Open" button to import the disc’s media files into the tool. Once the importation is done, the tool will automatically load and play the disc.

Select a Disc

Step 3While the disc plays, you can modify the loudness, change the screen to full-screen, go forward and backward, etc. You can also take a screenshot of the video by clicking the "Camera" icon. And that’s it! That’s how you play all types of DVDs using this tool!

Video Panel

FAQs about Different Types of DVD Discs

Conclusion

There you have it! That’s the comprehensive exploration of all types of DVDs with their resolution, formats, and capacities. With this post, you can now quickly identify when and which type of DVD you will use that suits your desired usage. If you have experienced issues/errors playing a particular type of DVD, you can use the professional 4Easysoft Blu-ray Player tool! With this tool’s capability of playing all types of DVDs with a cinema-like experience, you can enjoy watching your DVD movie! To discover more about this tool, visit its website today!