Is 1080p Worth It?

There is debate as to whether the 1080p is worth the incremental improvement in resolution. With very little 1080p content available (except for HD video games, HD DVD, and Blu-Ray players), anyone concerned about pricing will likely opt for a 720p or 1080i television. To get an idea of the price difference, here are two 42″ Toshiba REGZA models at the two different resolution levels: Toshiba REGZA 42HL67 42-Inch 720p LCD HDTV and Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV. But the future seems to hold opportunities for much more 1080p content. If you believe that you will keep the next TV you buy for many years, you ought to consider the 1080p television. There are a few more variables in the equation before you make the commitment, though.

To help determine if you would receive benefit from a screen resolution of 1080p, one factor to consider is the capability of the human eye, called visual acuity. A person with 20/20 vision is able to distinguish lines on a screen separated by 1/60th of a degree. How much detail this person can see on a television depends on the resolution (display lines on the screen) and viewing distance. The greater the resolution, the more lines on the screen, and the more difficult it is to distinguish the individual lines. If you are able to actually see the individual lines on a TV screen, you may need to sit farther away, get a higher resolution screen, or both. It is my belief that you don’t want to be able to distinguish individual lines. This will ensure top picture quality perception. But once you reach this stage, any higher resolution will not receive any more benefit.

I have put together a chart that takes into account resolution detection of the human eye, professional cinema standards (such as THX) as well as some retailer/manufacturer guidelines. A “screen size data” spreadsheet showing background calculations may be accessed online. For a given viewing distance, the chart shows a range of recommended screen sizes and the highest resolution that may impact the viewer’s perception. It shows where 1080p may be worthwhile. In the areas where it is NOT recommended, it is unlikely you will get the benefit, even if you receive 1080p content. For example, at an 8 foot viewing distance a 42″ television will get optimal picture from a 720p (1080p would be indistinguishable). But a 50″ television at 8 feet can benefit from a 1080p resolution.

To view the complete analyis and access an easy-to-read chart that outline the best situations for 1080p viewing, visit:

HaveToAsk.com and select the “Size Matters” article on the left side. I hope you found this helpful.

Thanks,
Cale