Resolution is an important feature of projectors. In this interesting piece, you will find out the strength of 720p and 1080p resolution in projectors. This guide will help you decide which will serve your needs better. Also, I recommend you read my previous article comparing: 1080p vs. 4K projectors.
Many features make projector technology an incredible innovation. While there are different opinions and myths about the superiority of projector resolution with regard to their pixels, I can tell you that all projector resolutions are relatively impacting.
Knowing what you want from a projector is an important mindset to possess before understanding how these features work.
There are a bunch of use cases for projectors and why you need a certain resolution to achieve a better user experience.
Whether for movies, HDTV, gaming, or presentation, this article will help you understand the nature of projector pixels and resolution and how to choose one that works for you.
While reading, it helps to put your purpose of use at the forefront to understand better how both projectors might affect your experience.
As you read, you will find that both projectors serve different needs. From making reservations for a budget to understanding the space factor and progressive scanning, you will learn a lot about choosing which of these projectors serves your needs.
First, let’s discuss the letter P.
What is the letter P?
Most people think the letter ‘P’ must be for ‘pixels,’ but it never came into existence for that. Instead, it denotes ‘progressive.’
The letter “P” follows these numbers to show that they use progressive scanning.
The bigger the number it follows, the better the picture quality. For example, if it follows 1080, you’ll get a more detailed image than 720.
What is 720p? What do 720p projectors Offer?
720p projectors offer one of the lowest resolutions for projector technologies.
While this might be the lowest, understanding how pixels work will have you see their purpose and how they serve certain needs perfectly.
A 720p High Definition TV (HDTV) display boasts a resolution of 1280x720p since the LCD of your TV screen entails pixels or countless dots which make a picture.
Following that, your 720p projector has 1280 horizontal and 720 vertical rows of dots.
Your full display will have a picture quality of 9,21,600 pixels.
Pros & Cons of 720p projectors,
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Good brightness on smaller screens
- Great color on smaller screens
Cons
- Not suitable for big spaces
- It doesn’t suit big screens
- Not suitable for the maximum HD experience
What is 1080p? What do 1080p projectors Offer?
As mentioned above, the “p” means progressive; a 1080p projector offers impressive visual picture quality with a resolution of 1920 X 1080.
How does this materialize? Your 1080p projector has 1920 horizontal rows of dots or pixels and 1080 vertical rows of dots or pixels.
In this regard, the projector dishes out a display resolution of 2,0736,00 dots of pixels.
Pros & Cons of 1080p projectors,
Pros
- Offers excellent image quality
- Suitable for the HD experience
- Great Blue-ray experience
- Suitable for larger screens
- Great for long and short throw distance
Cons
- Slightly expensive
What is the difference between 720p and 1080p Projectors?
This aspect gets you closer to understanding which of these resolutions solves your needs better.
The difference between 720p and 1080p projectors varies, and I will take them bit by bit to better understand.
Pixels: 1080p Vs. 720p projector
Remember the “p” stands for progressive? Yes. However, the resonating pixels in our discussion serve as a major difference between these resolutions.
Pixels play a vital role in picture quality. And to put it in simple terms, the higher the pixels, the greater the picture quality.
In essence, if you want your blockbusters in high definition, where you can catch every detail of the characters and their environment, I recommend you go for a projector with higher pixels.
1080p projectors unarguably offer greater picture quality and detail than 720p projectors.
While the former might come slightly more expensive than the latter, you will generally find projector prices considerably affordable.
Meanwhile, if you use a smaller screen, whether to assess the two or for actual use, you may not notice the difference.
On the other hand, screens of about 100 or 120 inches will immediately expose the difference.
A valuable tip is to use 720p projectors on a smaller screen for optimum picture quality.
Gaming: 720p vs. 1080p projectors
The difference is also visible in the gaming experience.
Trying your favorite combat or racing games might not be as fascinating on a 720p projector as on a 1080p projector.
Gaming with a 1080p projector offers the desired details, including sharpness, color, and brightness.
Additionally, most games recommend 1080p resolutions, at least for a bold gaming experience.
Streaming: 1080p vs. 720p projector
Here, there isn’t much difference. According to my experience, streaming experience and HDTV providers still support both 720p and 1080p resolutions.
Although you will have a slightly better viewing experience with 1080p streaming providers, they come quite expensive.
In essence, both resolutions will perform okay with a streaming service or HDTV provider. But, if you have the luxury, you can explore a 1080i on a 1080p projector for a better experience.
Price: 1080p Vs. 720p projector
Expectedly, 1080p projectors are more expensive than their 720p counterparts.
This is so because the former offers more quality than the other. And the higher the quality, the more you have to pay.
Nonetheless, 1080p projectors are relatively cheap in the market.
Screen Size: 720p Vs. 1080p projector
The screen size shouldn’t be much of a concern for you if you have a 40- 50 inches screen.
Both resolutions have no difference when you project them upon small screens.
However, the larger the screen, the lesser the picture quality, especially with the 720p resolution.
In 1080p projectors, you can still expect the details, including sharpness, brightness, and color, to remain compelling even on a 100 inches screen.
If you plan to use a bigger screen, consider the 1080p projectors for a quality viewing experience.
What are the similarities between 720p projectors and 1080p Projectors?
Interestingly, these projectors have similarities as well. So let’s cover some and see if they are enough to ease your decision-making process.
Operating System
Both resolutions work with progressive scanning technology to present image qualities.
The “p,” standing for progressive, offers the same working technique in 720p and 1080p projectors.
Practically, this similarity means that the technology draws every picture line in sequence to provide picture quality.
Distance
There is a noticeable similarity between 720p and 1080p projectors regarding screen distance.
If you plan to project on a 50 inches screen or less, you will not notice any significant difference in the quality whether you use a 720p or 1080p projector.
However, as I have been saying, the bigger the screen, the lesser the picture quality.
In the same respect, the farther the distance to the screen, the lesser the effect of the brightness, color, and resolution.
Sitting 12 feet from the screen wouldn’t distort quality whether you use a 1080p projector.
However, the farther distance might affect the quality, and you certainly shouldn’t sit 10 feet away if you plan to use a 720p projector.
Clarity
Clarity is certain, provided everything is equal. Both projectors offer clear imaging that makes for a fascinating experience.
Brightness, color contrast, and general resolution are relatively remarkable with both projectors.
720p and 1080p Projectors: Which Suits you better?
Both projectors have their strengths and weaknesses. In deciding which suits you and serves your needs better, there are a few factors to consider;
You will find both projectors suitable if you have a 40 – 50 inches screen and below.
However, 720p projectors will not suit your needs if you have a 100 or 120 inches screen and above. You will end up having poor image quality.
1080p projectors serve HD streaming and HDTV experience better. They also work well for larger rooms without tampering with picture quality.
Apart from screen size, the screen’s distance is another factor to consider.
If you plan to use the projector in a large room where the screen will sit far from the projector, consider buying a 1080p projector.
However, both projectors will work fine in a small space.
Also, regarding the exploration of HD streaming services with a big TV screen, the 1080p projector suits the purpose better.
Generally, you will find both projectors satisfying if you use them in the right conditions.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Question
Which is the highest resolution available for a projector?
It’s common now to find 8K projectors in 2023. However, they’re very expensive and require 8K-enabled additional devices to work with. So, you have the answer.
Is 720p resolution considered high definition?
No, it’s not a true high-definition resolution. However, it is known as the standard high definition at a 16×9 aspect ratio with progressive scanning—for example, youtube. You won’t find HD alongside 720p in the quality setting after the arrival of 4K.
Is 720p good enough for a projector in 2023?
No. I won’t recommend you go for a 720p projector until you have a small-sized display of around 50 inches or less.
What about the movie experience on a native 720p projector?
Again, it all depends on the screen size. You’ll see insufficient pixels to fill the screen if you have a large screen of around 100 inches or more.
How much data does a 1080p streaming video consume?
A 1080p streaming video can consume up to 3.05 GB per hour.
How much data does a 720p video consume?
A 720p video usually consumes around 1.86Gb data per hour.
Conclusion: So, Which is better 720p or 1080p projector?
The 720p and 1080p projectors are both amazing in their respective lanes. As this article highlights and emphasizes, you should be certain about your use cases to choose the right projector.
I recommend calculating your room or wherever you intend to use any projectors to know better which suits you.
You might need a projector for gaming, movies, and just about any other purpose; understanding your needs is key to making a wise purchase.
Resolution is key to image quality. This article is particularly useful for understanding the difference between 720p and 1080p projectors and what you should expect from them.