LCD TV Display Resolution Explained
We all know what display resolution is, right? I mean, how complicated can it be? It’s just some pixel count thing. Sure, we know all about it. So lets get back to whatever it is we were doing before we stumbled upon this piece of writing. But wait! Before you make the most crucial decision in your life, let me tell you: Display resolution has so much more to it. Yes, it actually is pretty fascinating to learn more about this big R that most TV giants are so fond of uttering. So here we go.
The Pixel Story
Resolution is closely related to pixels, in fact display resolution actually means pixel dimensions. So, what is a pixel? Pixel can be compared to an atom in Physics. An atom as we know it, is the basic unit of matter, while pixel is the basic unit of the image in a screen, be it LCD or plasma. Thousands of these coloured dots make up a picture, and they are usually arranged in a two dimensional grid, with each pixel having its own address. Display resolution actually talks about the number of rows and columns of pixels present in the screen, which is why it is represented in the form A x B. So when one says that a display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, it is indicative that it is made of 1920 rows and 1080 columns of pixels.
High Definition – What exactly is it?
Now that we know what display resolution is, its time to go further into our exploration. Display resolution, though not solely responsible for the picture quality, plays a major role in the rendition of sharp and crisp images. Simply put, higher the resolution, better the picture quality. But what exactly is High Definition or HD that everybody wants a piece of? To start with, an HDTV is a much better standard than Standard Definition Television or SDTV. SDTV has much lower display resolution than the HDTV system, the result of which HDTVs are far better when it comes to picture quality. No wonder everybody wants one!
Every flat-screen TV will have a native resolution specified, for example, 1920 x 1080p or 1,280x720p. This indicates the number of pixels present on the display. That is, if an LCD TV quotes to have a display resolution of 1920 x 1080p, it means that it can display the content in 1080p (shorthand representation for 1920×1080 pixels) no matter what the source resolution is. High Definition sources are those with resolutions of 1080p, 1080i, or 720p, of which the first two are termed as “Full HD”
Is Display Resolution more important than Contrast Ratio?
True, high display resolution plays an important part in the picture quality, but some experts believe that contrast ratio and color saturation are more important. Even though display resolution occupies the top spot in HDTV specifications, experts are divided as to what is more important.
The Screen Size factor:
Full HD LCD TVs are indeed on the expensive side. So it’s necessary that we show careful forethought before spending big bucks on one. It must be noted that the benefits of Full HD can be best enjoyed when the screen size is of 40 inches and above. This is because, in the screens of a smaller TV, the differences brought about by the pixels might not be entirely visible.
Related posts:
- Display Resolution Explained
- More about HD-Ready LCD Televisions
- 720p Versus 1080p : Final Verdict
- Where to find video sources for HDTV?
- 1080i Versus 1080p