What is the difference between sprite renderer and a quad

Unity Engine
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1

is there any meaningful difference between using a sprite renderer vs using a simple quad made of 4 vertices and 2 triangles?

if yes what are the differences?

here is some things that i find relevant:

1 - sprite displays a sprite and quad displays a texture
2 - sprite renderer can be ordered by order in layer and sorting group
3 - sprite renderer can be used with sprite mask

is it the only difference that it is more compatible with other specific 2d features?

2

Each has different strengths and weaknesses and intentions really.

Each method gives more or less control to what you’re trying to do.

Under it all, vertices and triangles get blasted to the hardware along with a material.

3

Sprites can use the Mesh Type = Tight setting on their Texture Importer which can greatly reduce overdraw at the cost of more vertices.

Custom pivot points are also very convenient.