Selecting a display resolution is not an easy task. Many people believe that a higher resolution is always better for computers, laptops, or TVs. To some extent, this is correct, but not always. You should also consider your preferences—which tasks will you often perform with the display? Is it watching movies, video editing, or gaming?
Before purchasing a display, you should familiarize yourself with some of the most commonly used display resolutions: 1366 x 768 and 1920 x 1080. Moreover, are you wondering if you can distinguish these resolutions? Today’s article answers your questions. Let’s begin!
1366 x 768 vs 1920 x 1080
Pixels are small squares or dots that make up images on a screen. Therefore, a higher pixel count indicates better image quality on the screen.
1366 x 768 displays —also called 720p— have 1366 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically. These displays also produce an HD resolution. 1366 x 768 was the industry standard resolution before the invention of 1080p.
On the other hand, 1920 x 1080 pixels are also called 1080p. It is one of the most high-resolution displays available. It is 2K resolution that provides full HD image quality for your monitors and TV screens.
The difference between 720p and 2K is evident, as a 2K screen can display roughly twice as many pixels as a 720p screen. But, can your eyes see the difference? It depends on the size of the display and your proximity to the display.
It is practically impossible to tell the difference between a 720p and 2K screen from a distance. However, in a small room and with a large enough screen, you’ll immediately notice the difference in sharpness. You can also notice the difference if you sit close enough to the screen.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that your eyesight also determines how close you need to be to discern the differences in the display. For instance, someone with 20/20 vision can notice the differences in sharpness from farther away, whereas someone with weaker vision may not. When it comes to distinguishing between 720p and 2K, the size of the screen is an important factor.
To summarize, the human eye can distinguish between a 720p and a 2K display. The most important factors are the size of the screen, the quality of your vision, and the distance you sit when viewing the display.
Things to Consider when Choosing Between 1920×1080 and 1366×768
Before choosing between a 1366 x 768 and a 1920 x 1080 display, here are four things to consider.
Gaming
Higher resolution displays are necessary for a better gaming experience, especially with modern games. If you’re looking for a laptop for gaming, you may believe that selecting a computer with a 2K resolution is an easy decision, but this is not always the case.
Higher resolution results in better image quality but strains the system’s Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). Therefore, a 1920 x 1080p laptop with low processing power will not improve your gaming experience. You will most likely experience lagging. On the other hand, a 1366 x 768 resolution will not put as much strain on the GPU.
However, if you own a console, and want the best gaming experience, opt for the 2K display. Furthermore, if you’re looking for a display for watching movies and general media consumption, the 1980 x 1080 display is your best bet.
Display Size
The bigger the display size, the higher the display resolution it requires. So, if you want to get a large display — from 32 inches and above— the higher resolution will offer better value. However, if you prefer a smaller screen, you can get away with choosing the 720p resolution.
TV vs. Desktop
Compared to a laptop or desktop, we watch TV from a farther distance. As a result, we require an even higher resolution display when viewing media on the TV because blurred pixels from a lower resolution display are more visible from a far distance.
Budget
Pricing is possibly the most important factor to consider when deciding between two resolutions. Generally, a 1080p monitor will be more expensive than a 720p monitor. You might have to go for the 720p display if you have a tight budget. However, if you have a higher budget to work with, we recommend choosing the 1080p display.
Conclusion
The resolution of your display considerably affects how pleasant your viewing experience is. So, consider everything we discussed in the article to help influence your decision on the resolution to choose. Ultimately, choosing between a 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080 resolution as your next display is entirely up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
The numbers in a screen resolution determine the aspect ratio. This term describes the screen’s/image’s shape. For instance, the aspect ratio on old box televisions was 1:1, which means that the screen’s horizontal and vertical lengths were the same.
Meanwhile, because most films are shot in a rectangular aspect ratio, square TVs had to cut a portion of the image or blackout a part of the screen to fit everything. The aspect ratios of 1920×1080 and 1366×768 are both 16:9. They are rectangular, with the horizontal length nearly twice as long as the vertical length.
The differences in aspect ratio between these two aren’t easily noticeable. However, when you use multiple screens, some differences start to appear. Using both 1980×1080 and 1366×768 displays will result in minor shape distortions in the images. For many applications, these differences are insignificant; however, if you require high-precision images, the aspect ratio can be an issue.
The objective answer is yes, 1920×1080 media will scale down to 1366×768, but it will not be true “1080p.”
