720p vs 1080p

Advertisement tells you that 1080p is the resolution to stay, but is it really worth the money? When talking numbers, some things are sure: 1080p performs better, but it also comes with a price that could make you think twice. On the other hand, budget minded consumers can get the idea that paying less for a 720p comes with a sacrifice in quality.

It is true that 1080p brings more detail, but it is only normal to ask ourselves about the degree of the difference in quality when we put 720p LCDs next to the more expensive 1080p LCDs. The main question must be related to the things that the person buying the new product is going to watch. Here is the argument.

It Matters what You Watch

Many people these days still watch DVDs, and this is because the Blu Ray technology - which can be seen in full quality on 1080p HDTVs - even though advanced and cutting edge, has not invaded the mainstream. When most of the video material that you are going to watch on your newly acquired LCD comes from DVDs, is it really worth spending several hundred dollars more on just a few Blu Ray discs that you cannot know if you will even watch? Also, regular television networks still broadcast in formats that can be seen at the same level of quality in LCDs with 720p resolution as well as LCDs with 1080p resolution.

Sport fans will also get nothing more of a 1080p LCD TV, as most television in the United States that broadcast sport shows are still using the 720p resolution. What does this mean? It means that you will still get the same rate of video information, no matter what kind of LCD you have. This is a discussion that will bring us to the video source.

The video source is very important because, if your favorite program is broadcast in a lower format, or if your DVDs cannot do better than that, then this is all that you can get. A resolution of 480 lines per frame will suffer an upconversion, depending on the type of HDTV you have, but the difference will be very little between a 720p LCD and a 1080p LCD. The truth is that you cannot gain too much when the video source is as it is.

When do You Actually See True 1080p?

There are video sources that work best with these models, so the hype that accompanies the trend in reaching out for new and competitive resolutions is not without reason. Blu Ray disks are better watched on such models. It is not far fetched to say that the use of cutting edge technology goes hand in hand with the latest models of 1080p LCDs. But that also stands for a high interest into keeping up with the latest trends, which is something that most people do not do. Blu Ray Disks are actually 1080p and that means you actually see full 1080p resolution on a native 1080p LCD TV.

Another type of content that looks slightly better on 1080p vs 720p is a 1080i broadcast. I hope you noticed the “i” there. Without going into much detail, “i” (interlaced) is different than “p” (progressive). They eventually get displayed the same way (progressively) on the LCD TV screen. 1080i when rendered on the screen, offers the same amount of detail (resolution). The difference between 1080p and 1080i is the framerate at which they are displayed. 1080p is rendered at 60Hz (60 frames per second) and 1080i at half of that framerate (30Hz). In conclusion, 1080i offers the same amount of detail as 1080p but when it comes to fast moving images (like sports) it doesn’t look that sharp.

But, Can You Really See It?

There is also another aspect. If you watch 1080p content (Blu-Ray) on a 1080p LCD TV, are you sure you can actually see all that amount of detail? If you’re too far away from the TV you will see absolutely no difference between 720p and 1080p. You can only see a difference if you have the optimal screen size for your viewing distance. In most cases, people don’t afford to buy LCD TVs as big as it is needed to get the full advantage of 1080p. If you do have the perfect screen size and you watch 1080p, then yes, you are going to see extra detail compared to what 720p would offer.

The difference between 1080p vs 720p is however not impressing. If you watch a standard definition (SDTV) program on an LCD TV and you like it, watching a 720p source such as a HDTV broadcast will make you say WOW! However, the difference between 720p and 1080p is not that drastic. 1080p has almost twice the detail of 720p but, it doesn’t look twice as good. It looks better, but not enough to pull a “WOW” out of your mouth.

The Bottom Line

An average user that is going to watch only regular SD television, DVD (standard definition) and 720p HDTV channel, can do just fine with a 720p model. Those interested to see the ultimate levels of detail when watching Blu Ray discs, will have every reason to invest in a 1080p LCD. Many HDTV broadcasts are in 1080i and that will also look better on 1080p LCD. But, don’t forget: this great detail is only visible if you’re at the optimal distance from the TV.