When it comes to purchasing electronic devices, such as televisions or computer monitors, it can be a daunting task to sift through the numerous technical terms and acronyms that are used to describe them. One common source of confusion is the array of available screen resolutions, including Full HD, HD Ready, 4K, and Ultra HD. If you’re not familiar with these terms, it can be overwhelming and leave you feeling unsure of what to buy. Each of these terms is different than others.

• So, how does an HD-ready monitor differ from a full HD monitor?

The short answer is – “The primary distinction between an HD-ready monitor and a full HD monitor lies in their respective resolutions. HD-ready monitors have a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, while full HD monitors offer 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Generally, the greater the resolution, the higher the image quality.”

In today’s world of display devices, a minimum resolution of 720p has become the norm. Whether you’re looking to purchase a television, monitor, projector, or any other similar device, it will likely support 720p video playback as a baseline. Even if you opt for an affordable option, there’s a good chance that it will support 1080p resolution as well. You can rest assured that a device is capable of displaying Full HD content if it carries the Full HD tag.

However, it’s important to understand these resolutions, as they can have a significant impact on the quality of the visuals that you see on your screen.

High-Definition: 720p vs 1080p

The term “HD” resolution or High Definition has become the new standard for image resolution, but it is frequently confused with the term “Full HD.  Technically, HD just means any resolution better than the standard definition. In the United States, the standard definition is 480i (640x480px), while in other parts of the world, it is 576i (768x576px). The introduction of HD has significantly raised our expectations for visual detail and clarity on our screens. 

TVs work by displaying images as a series of lines, with the clarity of the image being determined by its resolution, which is the number of pixels on the screen, both horizontally and vertically. The resolution is often indicated by numbers like 720p and 1080p, which show the number of vertical lines that can be displayed at once. For example, a resolution of 1080p means there are 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically, while 720p has a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. The more pixels there are on the screen, the sharper the image will be, and when the pixel count is high enough, the image appears as a retina display, which is sharper and more lifelike than traditional displays.

What Is HD Ready Monitor?

HD Ready is a term used to describe television sets that offer a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels, which is less than the full HD resolution. To play HD content, HD Ready TVs use internal processors to downscale the resolution of the image. While the resulting picture quality is better than Standard Definition TV, it’s still not true HD. The term HD Ready caused confusion when it was introduced to the market, as many people were underwhelmed by the jump from SD to 720p TV and felt misled by the terminology

What Is a Full HD Monitor?

Full HD is a term that refers to the resolution of a TV screen, which is 1920 by 1080 pixels. This resolution is determined by the height and width of the screen, so a display unit with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p has a height of 1080 pixels and a width of 1920 pixels. The total number of pixels in this resolution is 1920 x 1080 = 2073600 pixels. Full HD resolution is commonly found in widescreen TVs or monitors with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

How To Convert HD-ready TV to Full HD?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to convert an HD Ready TV into a Full HD TV. If you want to watch Full HD content, you will need to purchase a new TV with Full HD capabilities.

However, if you’re wondering whether your HD-ready TV can play Full HD content, the answer is yes! While an HD Ready TV has a resolution of 720p, it is still capable of playing 1080p/1080i videos. 

HD-ready monitor vs Full HD monitor

The difference between HD Ready and Full HD resolutions primarily lies in the size of the image. While HD can refer to either 720p or 1080p, Full HD exclusively refers to 1080p and HD Ready monitor refers to a resolution of 720p.

HD-ready comes with 720 lines of pixels vertically and 1,280 lines horizontally, resulting in a total of 921,600 pixels. This is the minimum requirement for an image to be considered high-definition. In contrast, Full HD has a resolution of 1080p, with 1,080 lines of pixels vertically and 1,920 lines horizontally, resulting in a total of approximately 2 million pixels. 

The higher pixel count in Full HD allows for sharper and more detailed images, as there are more pixels to represent fine visual details. But, how about screen size? Is HD ready good enough for 32 inch TV? For 20- to 32-inch TVs, HD Ready TVs are still fine; 32- to 42-inch TVs work with Full HD; 40-inch and above TVs are best for 4K.

HD Ready vs. Full HD vs. Ultra HD vs. 4K

To understand the concept of monitor resolution,  here’s a comparison table between HD Ready, Full HD, Ultra HD, and 4K:

Our Takeaway

When considering which resolution to choose, it’s important to keep in mind that a higher resolution typically means better image quality, as there are more pixels on the screen to display the image. However, it’s also important to consider factors such as screen size and viewing distance, as a higher resolution may not always be necessary or noticeable in certain situations. 

So, you might wonder, should I buy an HD-ready or Full HD?

Well, when choosing between an HD Ready and Full HD device, it’s important to consider your specific needs and budget. While HD Ready may be sufficient for some, Full HD may be necessary for those who require the highest quality visuals, such as photographers or graphic designers.