Understanding HDTV Screen Sizes and Types

There are different types of HDTVs available today. These include different screen sizes and format types that range from plasmas, LCD/LED, projection and rear projector-based HDTV televisions.

The term HD is used to refer to high-definition and should not be confused with the other HD acronyms for hard drives, which are referred to as HDD. For most HD TV models, the high-definition resolution is used to describe the image quality of video content that is displayed at more than 1280 pixels per 720 lines of resolution. This means that DVD quality resolution, which maxes out at 640 pixels by 480 lines of resolution, is not really HD. HD resolution has been used on PC monitors and displays for a number of years before they were ever introduced for most standard TV viewing. The principle of HD is simple: The more pixels that a line of resolution can display, the more detailed and sharper the image quality. That means that HD resolutions such as 1080p allow for at least 1920 pixels per line compared to the 640 pixels per line used for DVD quality.

Also, the image is displayed natively, meaning that if the image is of lower resolution, it will be up scaled to fit the screen. For example, a 480p picture will be up scaled to fit a 720p HDTV screen. If the image has a higher resolution, it will be downscaled to fit the screen. Again, 1080p will be reduced to fit the 720p screen. Most HD TVs will support one native resolution and will upscale or downscale content to fit the screen. Here are several tips you can use when purchasing your next HD TV:

Consider that HD TV is not the same as HD-ready TV: While very few HD-ready TVs remain, the term refers to being able to display content at the basic HD resolution, which is 720p or 1280 plus pixels per line of resolution. HD TVs support 1080p resolution, which is the native Full HD resolution.

Screen size should not always be the deciding factor. Because the screen resolution is fixed on all HDTVs, there may not always be a benefit to buying a larger HD TV. It will of course depend on your specific requirements. On some HDTV models, the larger screen will be beneficial, such as on a plasma HD screen or a rear-projection HD TV.