MP3 vs WAV: What’s the Difference? A Simple Explanation

MP3 VS WAV

Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	WAV (Uncompressed)	MP3 (Compressed)
File size	Very large (no compression)	Much smaller (lossy compression) ([Gumlet](https://www.gumlet.com/learn/wav-vs-mp3/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3))
Audio quality	Full, lossless quality	Slight quality loss—often acceptable ([Gumlet](https://www.gumlet.com/learn/wav-vs-mp3/), [Movavi](https://www.movavi.com/learning-portal/wav-vs-mp3.html))
Editing ease	Easy to edit, no loss	Re-saving degrades quality ([Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/mixingmastering/comments/r4cpf7/is_there_any_difference_in_sound_between_mp3_and/))
Compatibility	Less common for mobile sharing	Universally supported ([Gumlet](https://www.gumlet.com/learn/wav-vs-mp3/), [Lifewire](https://www.lifewire.com/mp3-file-2622780))

SIMPLE EXPLANATION
- WAV = like a big, clear, HD photo.
- MP3 = like a smaller photo, still good for everyday use.