Every TV or set-top box you buy today will support high-definition (HD) video. But even so, there are a lot of terms. Specifically, do you need to know the difference between HD Ready, Full HD, Ultra HD and Full Ultra HD?

In the most basic terms, HD Ready TVs and set-top boxes can display 720p images at a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. Full HD TVs and set-top boxes display 1080p images with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. Ultra HD, or "Full Ultra HD", can go up to 4320p video with a resolution of 7620 x 4320 pixels.

The higher the resolution, the sharper the images look.

But if it were that simple...

HD Ready vs HD Ready vs Full HD

Wait, why does it say HD Ready twice? Depending on where you live, the definition of HD Ready is slightly different. In particular, the US and Europe define this differently.

IN THE USA HD Ready TV means the TV can output 720p images and has a built-in digital tuner. However, the same HD Ready logo is also printed on several projectors, computer monitors, and other devices that do not have a tuner. Television is an exception.

In Europe A digital tuner is not required to receive the HD Ready logo. The output must be 720p to receive the HD Ready logo. On some older TVs you may see the HD Ready 1080p logo. This is the same as the Full HD logo.

Worldwide gold logo Full HD 1080p is a standard which means the display can display 1080p images.

720 vs 1080

Logo aside, you need to know the actual difference in quality. Your TV displays video as a series of lines, both horizontal and vertical. How many horizontal lines can your TV display at one time? This is the magic number: 720 or 1080.

With more lines you get more pixels and therefore better video quality. That's why 4K and Ultra HD are even clearer.

Why myHDReady 720pTVShow is labeled 1080i? (Progressive and Interlace)

Things get confusing when you look at the HD Ready 720p TV specifications. There is another line that says it displays "1080i" videos. But 1080i doesn't mean it's Full HD. In fact, the seller may try to use this as one of their tricks to trick you, but don't fall for it.

"P" and "i" stand for progressive and interlace respectively. Progressive and interlace are how the TV displays each frame of video. As you know, most videos are around 25 frames per second.

With progressive scan or 1080p, the TV shows all 1080 horizontal lines simultaneously.

When scanning interlaced or 1080i, the TV displays half the lines of one frame, and then half the lines of the next frame. The idea is to trick the eye into thinking it is one image, but the human eye ends up seeing the lack of quality.

Ignore "1080i" or anything with an "i" after it. Interlaced video doesn't look very good.

Where will you see these logos?

While you will always see HD Ready or Full HD logos on TVs, they appear on some other similar devices such as projectors and monitors. The most important thing for your TV is the set-top box.

The basic rule is that the video is played at the resolution supported by the device with the lowest speed. In other words, if your TV is Full HD 1080p, but your set-top box is HD Ready 720p, your TV will display a 720p picture. Some TVs will try to upscale the video, but this does not result in a better picture.

Likewise, a 720p TV with a 1080p video output (through your set-top box or game console) will only show 720p video. Thus, high quality video will only be available when the input matches the resolution of the output signal.

Don't Worry About "HD Ready" in TVs and Other Displays

There's no point in worrying about the "HD Ready" tag on most devices these days. 720p resolution has become the default minimum for every display device. So if you buy a TV, monitor, projector or anything like that, it will support at least 720p video.

The Full HD tag can help you determine whether it supports 1080p video or not.

HD Ready vs Full HD vs 4K vs Ultra HD

In the last few years, as technology has advanced, you now need to consider two other logos. Ultra HD logo and 4K logo.

4K is a subset of Ultra HD and refers to 2160p video with a resolution of 4096×2160 pixels.

Ultra HD, or "Full Ultra HD", can go up to 4320p video with a resolution of 7620 x 4320 pixels.

Full Ultra HD is not currently available on most TVs.

And again, we're not just talking about TVs. Even to play videos at the same resolution, you'll need an Ultra HD Blu-ray player.

Permission vs. Quality

Unfortunately, marketers have turned image resolution into a measure of image quality. But this is not true at all. There are several factors that determine how video looks on your TV, and you shouldn't buy anything based on resolution alone.

The TV panel, processor, backlight technology and other details are also important.

There were times when users happily enjoyed movies in DVD quality. These days, televisions that display high-resolution Full HD images have become widely popular. Although models capable of displaying highly detailed images in Ultra HD resolution have already appeared on sale, they are not yet very popular due to their high price.

A sales consultant, when listing all the capabilities and technical features of a particular TV, will probably mention that it is capable of playing high-definition video. Almost all new TVs are capable of playing Full HD video, but not all users know what Full HD is. This article will help you understand this issue. I would like to explain that when we talk about high-definition video, then, first of all, we mean the image detail increased five times.

This multiple improvement in quality is ensured by the fact that the number of pixels from which the picture is formed increases. High definition video has two main resolution formats. These are 1920x1080 pixels and 1280x720 pixels. In both the first and second cases, the aspect ratio of the image is 16:9. As a reminder, standard definition video has an aspect ratio of 4:3. If we assume the pixel sizes are the same, then we can clearly compare the Full HD standard with other standards.

Advantages of the standard Full HD

Before we figure out what Full HD is, let's find out the main advantages that high-definition video offers. Talking about increased resolution and, as a result, getting a more detailed image is good, but you need to see the real increase in picture performance when choosing a Full HD TV. If there is a high-quality video source, panels that support Full HD display an excellent picture, which is much superior to the display result of SD TVs. What explains this superiority?

Much of the credit lies in the five-fold improvement in detail, which is easily achieved by the increased number of dots that form the image. Each Full HD frame contains an increased amount of information and, as a result, there is a deep elaboration of small details that are not lost against the general background. Now you can distinguish small veins on leaves, individual hairs on animal fur, and impressive frost patterns. Such detail gives the picture realism and it is noticeable. The improved detail is especially noticeable on large screen TVs. On the large display, all errors and inaccuracies associated with picture quality are very clearly visible.

FullHDAs it is

Now the time has come to decide what Full HD is. To put it correctly, Full HD (“full” HD) is a marketing name that means that the TV supports all high-definition video formats up to 1920x1080. This means that if the TV matrix has a lower resolution (1280, 1336 or 1440 pixels in width), then there can be no talk of the Full HD standard. Matrices with a lower resolution are capable of displaying video in full HD720 quality. Such models are usually present, which can be roughly deciphered as “ready for display” HD. Next, we’ll look at the real differences between TVs labeled Full HD or HD Ready and those without it.

• If there is no marking on the TV, then even the presence of a high-resolution matrix does not provide any guarantee of support for high-definition video. In most cases, such TVs are designed to display a standard SD signal with a maximum increase in its resolution to the level supported by the matrix. As a result, the maximum SD resolution will be equal to the physical resolution of the matrix.

• If a TV is labeled as HD Ready, it means it can play both high and standard definition video. That is, the HD1080 signal resolution will be reduced to the real matrix resolution, the HD720 signal will be displayed “as is” (if the TV matrix resolution is 1280×720) or its resolution will be increased (if the matrix resolution is greater than 1280×720), the SD signal resolution will also will be increased to the actual matrix resolution.

• If a TV is labeled as Full HD, this means that it displays any signals, be it SD or HD. HD1080 quality signal is displayed as is, while other signals will be upscaled.

As a rule, TVs that support the Full HD standard are equipped with more efficient and powerful processors. Modern electronic “stuffing” easily allows the TV to interpolate HD720 and even SD signals, increasing their quality. It follows from this that you should give preference to Full HD models that have great capabilities in the field of high-quality image display.

Conclusion

We analyzed in detail what Full HD is and found out the main advantages that high-definition video brings. In view of the emergence and gradual spread of ultra-high-definition TVs Ultra HD, Full HD on TVs is already the norm and the price of such devices is affordable to everyone. Even budget models are often equipped with Full HD matrices. Now you know what Full HD is and similar markings in a TV store will not cause confusion.

The quality of the image on your phone screen depends not only on screen resolution and pixel density

The 2K screen resolution of a smartphone sounds attractive. This is 2560 x 1440 pixels. But is it necessary? Ever since Apple started equipping its devices with Retina Displays and touting image density, many people began to attach great importance to “ppi” (pixels per inch). The higher the pixel density, the sharper the image. But this indicator is far from the only one that affects the quality of the screen. It also happens that the picture on a qVGA display (960 x 540 pixels) looks better than on an HD screen (1280 x 720). And some HD displays are higher quality than others FullHD (1920 x 1080). Why is this happening?

Screen resolution is an important, but not the only factor influencing the quality of a device’s display.

The display parameters affecting image quality were discussed in Vijay Srivastava’s article “HD or FullHD?” published by The Indian Express. Coming To A Resolution On Mobile Screens (Good displays aren’t only about pixels…).” A good display isn't just about pixels!

The quality of a mobile phone display depends on various factors, not just the pixel density. The type of panel used matters. You've seen it more than once - AMOLED, LCD and IPS. The image processor also plays a role, an example of which is the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine. Even the type of scratch-resistant glass also has an effect on the quality of the display. It is this combination of several factors that determines how good an image will look on screen.

Why is there so much talk about pixels?

The reason is simple - there is a dry number and the ability to say: “The more, the better.” The simplest explanation is always the most understandable, but not always accurate enough. To the same extent, in relation to cameras they often talk about the resolution of their matrices (“megapixels”), and not about any other parameters. For this reason, many users mistakenly believe that the higher the “megapixel”, the better the camera. Meanwhile .

Similarly, when it comes to displays, the most common rating is based on pixel density, which does not reflect all aspects of screen quality. This explanation is the easiest to understand and for this reason the most popular.

Reality testing

It often happens that it is very difficult to distinguish an HD screen from a FullHD screen if we are talking about a display with a diagonal of approximately 5 inches. To notice the differences, you will have to carefully study the screen. Most people hold their phone at the level of their elbows, maybe a little closer. From this distance, the difference between HD and FullHD screens is not easy to notice. If you look carefully, these differences can be found, but in the process of everyday use of the device they will not play a significant role.

Vijay Srivastava bases his opinion on testing eight 5-inch and one 5.2-inch phones and comparing them with each other. Some of these phones had HD, others FullHD screens. He compared them on the same games and e-books and came to the conclusion that most people simply are not able to see the differences. Game performance largely depends on .

He repeated this test with the 5.2-inch Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 HD display and compared it with the 5-inch Micromax Canvas Turbo FullHD display. Vijay Srivastava asked people's opinions on which phone has the best screen. Of the 13 people who were shown both phones, 12 thought the Grand 2's display was better. The reasons given were that he had "better colors" and "looks brighter." It turned out that the screen with a lower resolution was considered better by the majority of those who had the opportunity to compare.

What does this mean for the user?

Thus, screen resolution and pixel density alone are not determining indicators of screen quality. In some cases, when the difference is significant, if, for example, you compare a WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) with an HD screen. But if we talk about the mainstream 5-inch screen of a modern smartphone, then it will not be easy to distinguish an HD screen from a FullHD display. If the screen size is larger (6-inch), then the difference in FullHD quality will probably be more noticeable.

Pixel density and screen resolution are not the only factors affecting image quality

Therefore, when purchasing your next phone with a screen of approximately 5 inches, the user will most likely need an HD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and it is advisable to pay attention to other characteristics of the device - its processor and RAM. Although the Sharp company can, such a high resolution can.

How many users, without knowing the exact characteristics of the device, will be able to immediately determine the resolution of a 5-inch smartphone screen (HD or FullHD)?

Full HD TVs are the most popular model range today. The rapid development of technology has made gadgets labeled Full HD accessible to the majority, and they have filled almost the entire middle price segment. Simple SD and even HD Ready remain only among budget devices.

The main advantage of FHD over HD Ready is high image detail. Until devices with even higher 4K resolutions become more affordable, Full HD devices remain the best value for money.

What is Full HD – 1080p?

The Full HD standard, which is often called the “high definition standard,” means that the matrix supports a full resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1920x1080p). HD Ready can only play 1280 x 720 video without distortion; more detailed images are reproduced with distortion (1920x1080i).

The letter at the end indicates the scanning type: interlaced “i” or progressive “p”. Without support for progressive scan, lack of distortion and an HDMI interface, a TV cannot be called full-fledged Full HD.

Another difference is the LED sticker, which indicates the LED type of LCD display backlight. LEDs consume minimal electricity and emit intense white light during operation, equally bright across the entire surface of the display. Uniform illumination of liquid crystals allows for maximum image realism.

What is the difference between a regular TV, Full HD and Full HD 4000?

A TV with Full HD support differs from its predecessors not only in the detail increased by 5 times. The aspect ratio of FHD and HD Ready is 16:9 instead of 3:4 on conventional TVs, so modern movies are displayed without frame cropping or distortion.

Thanks to progressive scan, not only 24-frame movies and all frequencies of conventional TVs (25, 29.97, 30) are supported, but also double frame rates: 50, 59.94, 60. In this case, fields are replaced by full frames, frames change more smoothly, and the image looks stable.

Full HD 4000 offers even more detailed images, but this option is not yet available to everyone. The limited amount of Ultra HD content for them also restrains market growth.

Is it worth buying a Full HD TV?

Purchasing Full HD doesn't mean you have to immediately switch to 1920 by 1080 resolution TV exclusively. However, the full benefits of high-definition displays will only be seen with a high-definition source, such as digital HDTV broadcasts instead of analogue programs.

FHD TVs also support additional features: a USB interface for viewing downloaded movies or photos, an HDMI cable that allows you to stream Full HD movies from connected devices. Buying such a device automatically means a constant search for content, but the time spent is compensated by the impressions of watching realistic films.

Full HD TV for ps4 pro games

The PS4 pro console allows you to transfer not only Full HD images to the screen, but even 4K. However, the high cost of Ultra HD models sometimes makes you think about a compromise. The PS4 Pro system will still improve the gaming experience compared to the regular PS4. Games feature higher and more stable frame rates, highly detailed characters and objects, and realistic images.

“Native” Sonys with a high refresh rate are good for games: KDL-55W808C, KDL-43W808C and others. It is advisable to choose a large diagonal to completely immerse yourself in the game world.

What is better to choose – 4K or Full HD?

4K TV models are generally better than FHD. But their main drawback is their high price. Another problem is the lack of content. Today, not even all TV channels are digitized, and finding TV broadcasts in 4K resolution is generally unrealistic. When purchasing a 4K gadget, you will have to immediately focus on content from the Internet, often paid.

FHD is the optimal compromise until 4K gadgets become mainstream. Considering the speed of technology development, such a device will easily serve you for 3-5 years.

Choice of Full HD TV 2017

Every year, world leaders announce new models with higher performance for the same or slightly increased price. Ranked in the top:

1. LG 50LB675V with a diagonal of 50 inches and a 3D function for 45 thousand rubles.
2. Sony KDL55W955B with a 55-inch TRILUMINOS screen, 3D and 400 Hz for 70 thousand.
3. Samsung UE55H7000AT, which has a 55-inch screen, minimalistic design, 800 Hz frequency and voice control. Costs 80 thousand rubles.
4. Sony KDL-40W705C with X-Reality PRO technology, a powerful processor and surround sound, which can be purchased for 36,000 rubles.
5. Samsung UE40J6200AU with double magnification and screen dimming function (RUB 37,000).

In addition, this rating was compiled by the specialized portal rtings.com. Perhaps it will be easier for you to navigate if the starting point in your choice is the already existing rating of models that have earned the popularity of users. But we still recommend that you approach the issue more thoughtfully, and before making a choice, familiarize yourself with all the features listed below.

What screen size is best?

The high image detail that distinguishes all types of HDTV is best appreciated with large screen diagonals. Visually, the difference between HD Ready and FHD is noticeable with a diagonal of 32 inches. All the advantages of the new standard allow you to appreciate 40-43 inch TVs. They are also recommended for medium and small living rooms.

If you decide to watch movies in a spacious room, it is better to take a TV with a diagonal of at least 55 inches. But Full HD resolution may not be enough for it; a 4K resolution option is more suitable.

Checking a Full HD TV in a store

The image quality should be determined before purchasing. The check will help identify dead pixels and select the appropriate model and matrix type.

• Check for the Full HD label, because high matrix resolution in itself does not guarantee HDTV. The Full HD sticker means that the HD1080 quality signal will be displayed as is, while SD and HD resolution will be increased.
• Read the processor data, a low-power one will not be able to quickly convert the image to the desired resolution.
• Make sure there are no dead pixels by filling the screen with white, black, and other colors.
• Evaluate the quality of color reproduction and the ability to play dynamic video by downloading the same videos to several devices.

Full HD TV Manufacturers

FHD TVs have become mainstream, so they are produced by most European and Far Eastern brands, and in all price categories. Among the market leaders with an extensive range of models are LG, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp also have good gadgets.

The high price of products from Japanese and South Korean manufacturers has led to the rapid development of Chinese brands. Budget brands BBK , Helix , Kivi , Romsat , Horizont , Haier , Hisense offer slightly worse quality at a lower cost.

Samsung (Samsung TVs)

Samsung Full HD Smart TV 3D 55″ F8000 Series 8

Samsung in 2017 offers more than 50 FHD with diagonals from 22 to 55 inches. A mini-device starts from 12 thousand rubles, budget phones of past years can be bought for 30 thousand, modern Samsungs cost 40-50 thousand. The best options are available for 70-80 thousand, for example, Samsung UE55H7000AT.

The South Korean brand uses its own technologies to obtain a realistic image:

• Micro Dimming Pro for deep blacks and whites;
• Double resolution increase;
• Smart TV for connecting to smartphones and simplifying management thanks to Samsung Easy Sharing;
• Wide Color Enhancer Plus for rich colors when changing images quickly.

Sony (Sony)

The Sony brand is another leader, whose popularity is due not only to high-quality gadgets, but also to active advertising of “native” TVs for interaction with ps4 and ps4 pro consoles.

Sony's lineup is much narrower, with about 20 gadgets available in stores. The brand offers devices with diagonals from 32 to 55 inches at prices from 28 to 72 thousand rubles. The newer and higher-quality matrix is ​​installed, the higher the price of the device, even with a smaller diagonal. The average cost of Sony FHD is 35-50 thousand rubles.

Standard definition television(from English Standard-definition television, abbr. SDTV), can be deciphered as Standard Digital Television- standard digital television) is a standard based on decomposition standards 625/50 (576i) and 525/60 (480i). There is analogue and digital standard definition television, but the term SDTV mainly applied to digital television.

Analogue television is standard definition television; NTSC, PAL and SECAM color coding systems are used. Analog signal resolution 640x480.

Standard definition is used in digital video transmissions with a resolution of 480 (NTSC) or 576 (PAL) lines, interlaced or progressive scanned. The image quality is better than analogue broadcasting; digital transmission eliminates the distortions and interference inherent in analogue television. SD television is not high definition television. SD can't convey as much information as HD. The SD format uses a 4:3 aspect ratio in HD 16:9, . There are also broadcasts with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Having the low resolution of standard television, the SD video signal uses a small bandwidth used for broadcasting and a narrow video data stream for digital transmission. The DVD format is SD video.

DVD resolutions

• 720 × 480, 704 × 480, 352 × 480, 352 × 240 pixels (NTSC)
• 720 × 576, 704 × 576, 352 × 576, 352 × 288 pixels (PAL)

All resolutions that do not reach 1280×720 refer to SD formats.

HD format, HD image quality

HDTV, abbr. HDTV(English) High Definition Television, abbr. HDTV, HD). This format allows you to transmit a video signal with greater clarity and resolution:

720p — 1280×720p:

1080i - 1920×1080i or 1440×1080i

To transmit such a signal, you need to use a wider frequency band, but the picture quality, compared to SD, looks much nicer on TV. Satellites begin to broadcast in this format, and terrestrial digital television standard T2 is also broadcast (partially).

Full HD format, HD quality

Full HD is a marketing name first coined by Sony in 2007. It is used in broadcasts of high-definition television (HDTV) and in films recorded on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs.

HDTV (High Definition TeleVision) is television that provides image resolution:

1080i- 1920x1080i.

1080p- 1920x1080p

There are 1080p - with a progressive format and 1080i - an interlaced frame recording format, when one frame consists of two half-frames. Essentially this is the same HD, only slightly improved in the P modification.

UHD 4K format, UHD quality

Ultra High Definition Television (Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV) or Ultra HDTV, Also Ultra High Definition Video (UHDV)) includes 4K UHDTV (2160p) And 8K UHDTV (4320p).

4K UHDTV (2160p) has a resolution of 3840×2160

8K format, 8K quality

8K UHDTV (4320p) has a resolution of 7680 × 4320

In connection with the development of recording devices, it has become possible to film with such a resolution; it is planned that such panels will be produced en masse in 2014-2016. Their advantage is the ability to create giant TVs with a diagonal of over 5 meters and the ability to watch high-quality videos.

As a result, indeed, in 2016, Sharp released a TV with 8K resolution for mass sale. But only for Japan, Singapore and China.

Other TV manufacturers only started selling 8K TVs in 2019.

To record one hour of video in the 8K standard, without using codecs to compress files, you need 300GB of memory. Therefore, 8K video is transmitted or stored in compressed form, using various codecs.