If you are looking for a new TV, you can take a hundred things into account. A few weeks ago we extensively discussed the most important new features to take into account when purchasing a new television, but in this article we will go into one of these features in more detail; Televisions and Resolutions.
Televisions and Resolutions
Resolutions of TVs (and monitors) are indicated in different ways. For example, we see the terms 1080p, 4K, Full HD, Ultra HD and HD Ready being used interchangeably. But, what resolution do these terms stand for exactly and what exactly do they mean? First, let’s start with what exactly the resolution is; the number of pixels (image points) that make up the TV picture. The number of vertical pixels is often indicated for the resolution, for example 1080p. The resolution says something about the sharpness (the more pixels, the more details can be displayed) but does not necessarily say anything about the image quality. A TV with a high resolution can take care of a bad picture.
What resolutions are there?
At the moment full HD and 4K Ultra HD are the most used resolutions, but previously we had, for example, HD-ready (720p) and in the future we will get 8K Ultra HD. We list the resolutions in the table below.
| Resolution | horizontal x vertical pixels | other names |
| 720p | 1,280 by 720 pixels | HD-Ready, HD |
| 1080p | 1,920 by 1,080 pixels | Full HD, FHD, HD, 2K |
| 2K | 2,048 by (undefined) pixels | – |
| Ultra HD 4K | 3,840 by 2,160 pixels | UHD, Ultra High Definition |
| ‘Cinema’ 4K | 4,096 by (undefined) pixels | 4K |
| 8K Ultra HD | 7,680 by 4,320 pixels | 8K, Super Hi Vision |
720p (HD-Ready)
At the moment we hardly see them anymore, but five years ago only the top models of TVs were equipped with a full HD resolution. The lower models came with the 720p resolution. Many TV channels still use this resolution to broadcast, but fortunately in the Netherlands we already see some broadcasters switching to Full HD.
1080p (Full HD)
1080p stands for a vertical row of pixels (1080 pieces, the p stands for progressive ). Almost all TVs have a 16: 9 aspect ratio and then we arrive at a number of 1,920 horizontal pixels. This resolution is also called full HD and is the most common resolution for monitors and TVs. However, this year, 4K Ultra HD seems to be gaining the upper hand.
1080p is the same as 2K, however, because 2K is a term used for theaters. 2K refers to the number of horizontal pixels (1,920 or 2,048). However, 2K is mainly used in the film industry (with a slightly different resolution), so consumers rarely encounter the term.
4K Ultra HD
The resolution that we have seen a lot since 2014 is 4K Ultra HD . And it is striking that with this term we suddenly no longer assume the number of vertical pixels but the number of horizontal pixels. After all, the 4K Ultra HD resolution for the home cinema is 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. Film studios again use a slightly different resolution and only the term ‘4K’. 4K, Ultra HD and UHD are used interchangeably for consumers, but refer to the same resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels.
8K Ultra HD
The next step is 8K Ultra HD , an even higher resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels. We do not yet see this resolution on TVs that are in the shops, but it is expected that we will encounter the first ‘affordable’ models within 10 years.
Televisions and Resolutions – Conclusion
Using different resolution and names can make it difficult to see what to look for or what you have in front of you. However, most TVs today have a 1080p (full hd) or a 4K Ultra HD resolution. It must be said again that more pixels does not automatically mean that you will be presented with better image quality. On it are much more factors of influence.
