HDTV: 1080P vs 720P

Both a 720P and a 1080P HDTV can provide you with an enjoyable viewing experience from the comfort of your own home. While they are both quality high-definition TVs, there are some subtle differences between the two. If you are trying to figure out which type of TV to purchase, here are a few things for you to consider about 720P and 1080P HDTVs.

Resolution

The biggest difference between 720P and 1080P is the resolution. This means that the 1080P can display more pixels than the 720P when using the same source material. In fact, you will actually be able to see twice as many pixels as you would with a 720P TV. With a 720P television, you will be able to see 1 million pixels. With a 1080P TV, you can see 2 million pixels. This makes a noticeable difference, especially with larger TVs.

Price

If you are considering purchasing an HDTV, you most likely will be considering the price. Between these two models, the 1080P will always be more expensive than the 720P of the same size. The difference in price will depend on the brand and all of the other features of the TV. You could notice a difference of somewhere between $250 and $750 between the two. 

Size

Something else that you should consider with these two types of TVs is the size. Most manufacturers are starting to only make the larger TVs in 1080P. Most 720P televisions are in smaller sizes like 32 inch. Therefore, if you are interested in getting a bigger television, like 55 inches or more, you will most likely want to go with the 1080P. Large 720P TVs are getting harder and harder to find. 

Content

Regardless of how good of a resolution your TV has, it can only show you what it is being fed. This means that you have to have content coming into the TV that is up to the level that the TV can display. When you are watching a high-definition broadcast on television, it is most likely being broadcast in 720P. Some of the On-Demand content from television providers is available in 1080P, but this is not very common. 

The most common source of 1080P video content is on high-definition DVDs. This means that you will need to purchase a Blu-Ray player in order to fully take advantage of your 1080P television. You could also potentially use an HD DVD player, but those are no longer being produced. If you are simply watching a television broadcast in 720P on your 1080P TV, it will not look nearly as clear as the picture on a Blu-Ray disc. 

Making the Decision

You need to weigh all of these variables when making your decision. If the price is important, you may buy a 720P because most content is in that format. However, if you like watching movies and you have a Blu-Ray player, the 1080P might be your best bet.