High-poly modeling creates 3D models with a large polygon count for extreme detail, while low-poly uses fewer polygons for simplicity and efficiency—core differences lie in detail focus and application scenarios.
High-poly prioritizes visual fidelity, with dense polygons capturing fine details (e.g., character skin pores, product surface textures). It’s used in pre-rendered content like film animations, architectural visualizations, or high-end product renders where rendering time is flexible.
Low-poly emphasizes performance, with sparse polygons reducing rendering load. It suits real-time applications: video games (smooth frame rates), AR/VR (lag-free interaction), or mobile apps (quick loading).
Choose high-poly for hyper-realistic, non-interactive projects; low-poly for interactive, performance-critical 3D work.