LCD TV Resolutions Explained

What are LCD TV Display Resolutions?

Ever wondered the difference between 720p and 1080i?  What does the number portion mean? What does the "i" or the "p" indicate? Read on to find out.

What factors determine display resolution?

LCD TVs implement liquid crystal display (LCD) technology which enhances the viewing experience of the user. Resolutions of the LCD display refer to the pixel count in each dimension. The resolution of a display is determined by the properties of the Cathode Ray Tube or CRT. The other important factor in creating the resolution of the LCD display is the “Flat panel” also known as the projection center featuring the pixel arrangements.

How to measure the LCD TV display resolution?

The LCD TV display resolution is measured by the count of rows and columns of the picture creating elements or pixels in the display. If a manufacturer reports that the LCD display comes with the resolution of 1280x1024 pixels then they are basically indicating the number of columns versus rows integrated in the display. Pixel count does not account for the image quality that is seen on the screen, though. There are other factors which influence the resolution of the display.

Common Display Standards

SDTV Standard Definition Television

• 480i (NTSC, 720×480 split into two 240-line fields)
• 576i (PAL, 720×576 split into two 288-line fields)

EDTV Enhanced Definition Television

• 480p (NTSC, 720×480)

High Definition Television

• 720p (1280×720)
• 1080i (1280×1080, 1440×1080, or 1920×1080 split into two 540-line fields)
• 1080p (1920*1080 progressive scan)

1080i vs 1080p

1080i and 1080p are the two types of technologies used in the resolution of the LCD TVs. Most of the devices use the 1080i, but it is theoretically proven that 1080p is a better option. In the televisions with 1080i resolution, the odd numbered columns appear on the display first and they are followed by the even numbered ones. This occurs in only 1/30th of a second. But the 1080p resolution format shows the rows and columns of the resolution simultaneously. So the image quality is far clearer and brighter. You can make out the differences easily while watching quick-paced scenes on both televisions.

How to select a high resolution LCD TV?

The shape of the screen can alter the resolution of the display. If the display is a perfect rectangle then there is ratio called the “Aspect ratio”, measured by the width and height of the images. So the resolution is different for a square and a rectangular display. But the latest models of LCD televisions are available in fixed resolutions to provide an excellent quality picture. You can get the best resolution for LCD TV displays by purchasing a good brand like Samsung, Sharp, or Sony.