Background

• High-definition TVs generally feature a maximum display resolution of 1080p, 1080i or 720p. The highest resolution HDTV format available is 1080p, offering a display of 1,920-by-1,080 pixels. By comparison, a 720p TV will show content in a resolution of 1,280-by-720 pixels. A 1080i TV will display an identical 1,920-by-1,080 resolution to 1080p.
  
  

Progressive Scan

• A key difference in HDTV technologies is the way the television displays content on the screen. A 1080i TV displays pictures in an interlaced format, which means that the odd and even numbered lines are "painted" on the screen in sequence within a fraction of a second. Both 1080p and 720p TVs are based on a progressive scan format, which means all of the lines of resolution are displayed by the TV on a single pass. Using this type of technology allows the viewer to see a smoother image.
  
  

Market

• The large-screen HDTV market is dominated by the 1080p format, while few manufacturers make TVs in a 720p format that have a screen size larger than 55 inches, according to CNET. This is because the larger the display, the more likely a viewer is likely to notice a difference in picture quality between the two display resolutions. Typically, a 720p TV will cost at least $100 less than a 1080p set that is the same size and made by the same manufacturer.
  
  

Incoming Source

• An important consideration when comparing a 1080p TV with a 720p TV is the incoming source, such as a Blu-ray disc player, video-on-demand, or high-definition TV broadcast. Nearly every HDTV sold is a fixed-pixel display, which means that no matter what the resolution of the incoming source, the TV will scale the picture, if necessary, to fit the TV's own native resolution. For instance, if the incoming source has fewer pixels than the HDTV, the TV won't be able to display the material in a higher resolution. On the other hand, if the incoming source has a resolution of 1080p and the HDTV's resolution is 720p, the picture will be shown at a lower resolution, with less detail and sharpness, than if it were a 1080p HDTV.
  
  

Considerations

• CNET advises that the additional picture quality and sharpness that 1080p TVs offer over 720p sets is only noticeable when using a TV with a screen size of at least 55 inches. If the viewer prefers to sit closer to the TV, the larger resolution can also make a difference.