If you are out in the market for a new HDTV you have in all probability been confronted with numbers like 720p and 1080i and 1080p. What do they mean and why does one cost more than the other?

720p is the lowest resolution format for HDTV. Even this format is far sharper and crisper than the resolution provided by your old TV set that uses a CRT. Different manufacturers provide this resolution in different formats. The most common used are 1366×768, 1280×720 and 1024×768. In order to keep the confusion to a minimum all of these formats are referred to as 720p. 1080p provides a resolution of 1920×1080. This provides for a clearer picture. The 1080p HDTV is theoretically twice as sharp as a 720p HDTV model. The big question for the consumer is “Can you see the difference and is the difference worth the extra cost?”

How much more does that extra resolution cost? All manufacturers provide HDTV models with either 720p or 1080p resolution. Comparing 50″ models from the same manufacturer will show that the 1080p model will cost as much as $800.00 more than the 720p model. If you drop down in size, a 40″ 1080p model will cost $400.00 more than the 720p model.

The original very high definition HDTV format was 1080i. 1080i and 1080p offer identical definition. 1080p replaced the 1080i format due to the fact that it displayed the images on the screen in a different manner. 1080i displays images in an interlaced format. All of the odd numbered lines on the screen are displayed and hen all of the even numbered lines are displayed within 1/30th of a second. 1080p displays images in a progressive format. In this format, each line is displayed sequentially which makes for a smoother appearing image. This is apparent when a sports show is on and there is a lot of action on the screen.

Broadcast companies and television stations broadcast HDTV in either the 1080i or 720p format. Don’t wait for the 1080p format to be broadcast; there just isn’t enough bandwidth for it. The 1080p HDTV accepts whatever HDTV signal is provided to it and converts it to the 1080p format. Blu-ray and HD-DVD players are the only devices that provide true 1080p information. Many newer computers and gaming systems have 1080p settings built into them.

One thing that makes one HDTV look better than the other is how well the HDTV converts the 720p and 1080i signals into the 1080p format. The list of 1080p HDTV’s is endless. Manufacturers provide a 1080p HDTV for nearly any model. In fact if it doesn’t have a picture tube, there is a 1080p model available.

With some of the basics out of the way, what is the real advantage of 1080p over 720p? The real truth of the matter is that unless you are purchasing a HDTV over 50″ there really isn’t any. The added resolution of the 1080p is hardly worth the cost when displayed on the smaller screen. When 50″ 1080p and 720i screens are viewed from the proper distance (1.5 times the diagonal of the screen) there is very little noticeable difference in the images presented.

Due to the fact that most HDTV purchasers will not be purchasing a screen larger than 50″ there seems to be little incentive to purchasing a 1080p model over a 720p model. There will be however those who just have to have “the biggest and the best” and they will purchase the 1080p. For “Joe Average” however it seems logical that the added cost of 1080p does not provide a significant benefit over 720p.