The quality of the image on the phone screen depends not only on the screen resolution and pixel density
The smartphone's 2K screen resolution sounds attractive. It is 2560 x 1440 pixels. But is it necessary? Ever since Apple began equipping its devices with Retina Displays and touting image density, many have attached great importance to "ppi" (pixels per inch). The higher the pixel density, the sharper the image. But this indicator is far from the only one that affects the quality of the screen. It also happens that the picture on a qVGA-display (960 x 540 pixels) looks better than on an HD-screen (1280 x 720). And some HD displays are better than others FullHD (1920 x 1080). Why is this happening?
Screen resolution is an important, but not the only factor affecting the quality of a display device
The display parameters affecting image quality were discussed in the post by Vijay Srivastava “HD or FullHD? Coming To A Resolution On Mobile Screens (Good displays aren’t only about pixels ...) ”. A good display isn't just about pixels!
The quality of a mobile phone display depends on various factors, not just pixel density. The type of panel used matters. After all, you have seen more than once - AMOLED, LCD and IPS. The image processor also plays a role, as exemplified by the Sony Mobile Bravia Engine. Even the type of scratch-resistant glass also has an effect on the quality of the display. It is this combination of several factors that determines how good an image will look on screen.
Why is there so much talk about pixels?
The reason is simple - there is a dry number and an opportunity to say: "The more the better." A simple explanation is always the clearest, but not always accurate enough. To the same extent, in relation to cameras, they often talk about the resolution of their matrices ("megapixel"), and not about some other parameters. For this reason, many users mistakenly believe that the higher the “megapixel”, the better the camera. Meanwhile .
Similarly, for displays, the most common pixel density rating does not reflect all aspects of screen quality. This explanation is the easiest to understand and for this reason the most popular.
Testing in reality
It often happens that distinguishing an HD screen from a FullHD screen is very difficult when it comes to a display with a diagonal of about 5 inches. To notice the differences, you have to carefully study the screen. Most people hold the phone at the level of their elbows, perhaps a little closer. From this distance, the difference between HD and FullHD screens is not easy to notice. If you look closely, these differences can be found, but in the process of everyday use of the device, they will not play a significant role.
Vijay Srivastava bases his opinion on testing eight 5 "and one 5.2" phones and comparing them with each other. Some of these phones were HD and others were FullHD. He compared them on the same games and e-books and concluded that most people are simply unable to see the differences. Game performance is highly dependent on.
He repeated this test with the Samsung Galaxy Grand 2's 5.2-inch HD display and compared it with the Micromax Canvas Turbo's 5-inch FullHD display. Vijay Srivastava asked people for their opinion on which phone has the best screen. Of the 13 people who were shown both phones, 12 thought the Grand 2's display was better. The reasons were named that he has "better color" and he "looks brighter". It so happened that the screen with a lower resolution was called better by most of those who had the opportunity to compare.
What does this mean for the user?
Therefore, screen resolution and pixel density alone are not determinants of screen quality. In some cases, when the difference is significant, if, for example, comparing WVGA- (800 x 480 pixels) with an HD-screen. But if we talk about the mainstream 5-inch screen of a modern smartphone, then distinguishing an HD screen from a FullHD display will be difficult. If the screen size is larger (6-inch), then the difference in FullHD quality will probably be more noticeable.
Pixel density and screen resolution are not the only factors affecting image quality
Therefore, when purchasing your next phone with a screen of about 5 inches, the user will most likely need an HD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and it is advisable to pay attention to other characteristics of the device - its processor and RAM. Although Sharp and, such a large resolution can.
How many users, not knowing the exact characteristics of the device, will be able to immediately determine the resolution of a 5-inch smartphone screen (HD or FullHD)?
Full HD TVs are the most popular lineup today. The rapid development of technology has made Full HD gadgets available to most, and they have filled almost the entire middle price segment. Simple SD and even HD Ready remained only among budget devices.
The main advantage of FHD over HD Ready is high image detail. Until devices with even higher 4K resolutions become more affordable, Full HD devices remain the best value for money.
What is Full HD - 1080p?
Full HD, often referred to as the “high definition standard,” means that the matrix supports the full resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (1920 x 1080p). HD Ready can only reproduce 1280 by 720 video without distortion, more detailed images are reproduced with distortion (1920 × 1080i).
The letter at the end indicates the scan type: interlaced "i" or progressive "p". Without progressive scan support, lack of distortion and HDMI-interface, the TV cannot be called full-fledged Full HD.
Another difference is the LED sticker, which denotes the LED type of LCD backlighting. LEDs consume a minimum of electricity, during operation they emit intense white light, equally bright over the entire surface of the display. The uniform illumination of the liquid crystals allows for maximum image realism.
What is the difference between a regular TV, Full HD and Full HD 4000?
A TV with support for Full HD differs from its predecessors not only in 5 times increased detail. The aspect ratio at FHD and HD Ready is 16: 9 instead of 3: 4 on conventional TVs, so modern movies are displayed without cropping or distortion.
Thanks to the progressive scan, not only 24-frame movies and all frequencies of conventional TVs (25, 29.97, 30) are supported, but also double frame rates: 50, 59.94, 60. This replaces the fields with full frames, frames change more smoothly, and the image looks stable.
Full HD 4000 offers even more detailed images, but this option is not yet available to everyone. The limited amount of Ultra HD content for them is also holding back market growth.
Should you buy a Full HD TV?
Buying Full HD does not mean you have to go straight to 1920 by 1080 TV exclusively. However, the full benefits of HD displays will only be seen when using a high-definition source such as digital HDTV broadcasts instead of analogue broadcasts.
FHD TVs also support additional features: a USB interface for viewing downloaded movies or photos, an HDMI cable that allows you to transfer Full HD movies from connected devices. Buying such a device automatically means a constant search for content, but the time spent is offset by the experience of watching realistic films.
Full HD TV for gaming ps4 pro
The ps4 pro allows you to display not only Full HD images, but even 4K images. However, the high cost of Ultra HD models sometimes makes you think about a compromise. The PS4 Pro system will still improve the quality of the game over the regular PS4. Games are characterized by higher and more stable frame rates, highly detailed characters and objects, and realistic images.
Native Sony with a high refresh rate are well suited for games: KDL-55W808C, KDL-43W808C and others. It is advisable to choose a large diagonal in order to fully immerse yourself in the game world.
Which is better to choose - 4K or Full HD?
4K TV models are generally better than FHD. But their main drawback is the high price. Another problem is the lack of content. Today, not even all TV channels are digitized, and it is generally unrealistic to find TV broadcasting in 4K resolution. When buying a 4K gadget, you will have to immediately focus on content from the Internet, often paid.
FHD is the optimal compromise until 4K gadgets become mass-market. Given the speed of technology development, such a device will calmly serve you for 3-5 years.
Choosing a Full HD TV 2017
Every year, world leaders announce new models with higher performance for the same or slightly increased price. Ranked in the top:
- LG 50LB675V with a diagonal of 50 inches and a 3D function for 45 thousand rubles.
- Sony KDL55W955B with a 55-inch TRILUMINOS screen, 3D and 400 Hz for 70 thousand.
- Samsung UE55H7000AT with a 55-inch screen, minimalistic design, 800 Hz frequency and voice control. It costs 80 thousand rubles.
- Sony KDL-40W705C with X-Reality PRO technology, powerful processor and surround sound, which can be purchased for 36,000 rubles.
- Samsung UE40J6200AU with 2x magnification and screen dimming function (37,000 rubles).
In addition, this rating was compiled by the specialized portal rtings.com. It may be easier for you to navigate if the starting point in the choice is the already available rating of models that have earned the popularity of users. But we still recommend that you approach the issue more thoughtfully, and before making a choice, familiarize yourself with all the features below.
What's the best screen size?
The high image detail, which is characteristic of all types of HDTVs, is best appreciated at large screen sizes. Visually, the difference between HD Ready and FHD is noticeable from 32 inches. All the advantages of the new standard make it possible to evaluate 40-43 inch TVs. They are also recommended for medium and small living rooms.
If you decide to watch movies in a spacious room, it is better to take a TV with a diagonal of at least 55 inches. But for it, Full HD resolution may not be enough, the option with 4K resolution is more suitable.
Checking Full HD TV in a store
Image quality should be determined before purchasing. The check will help identify dead pixels, select the appropriate model and type of matrix.
- Check for the Full HD mark, as a high resolution matrix alone does not guarantee HDTV. Full HD label means HD1080 quality signal will be displayed as is and SD and HD resolution will be upscaled.
- Read the data on the processor, a low-power one will not be able to quickly convert an image to the desired resolution.
- Check for dead pixels by filling the screen with white, black, and other colors.
- Experience color quality and dynamic video performance by uploading the same clips to multiple devices.
Full HD TV manufacturers
FHD TVs have become mainstream, so most European and Far Eastern brands produce them, and in all price categories. Among the market leaders with an extensive range of models are LG, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp also have good gadgets.
The high price of products from Japanese and South Korean manufacturers has led to the rapid development of Chinese brands. Budget stamps BBK , Helix , Kivi , Romsat , Horizont , Haier , Hisense offer slightly worse quality at a lower cost.
Samsung (Samsung TVs)
Samsung Full HD Smart TV 3D 55 ″ F8000 Series 8
Samsung in 2017 offers more than 50 FHD with a diagonal of 22 to 55 inches. A mini-device from 12 thousand rubles, state employees of past years can be bought for 30 thousand, modern Samsungs cost 40-50 thousand.The best options are available for 70-80 thousand, for example, Samsung UE55H7000AT.
The South Korean brand uses proprietary technologies to deliver lifelike images:
- Micro Dimming Pro for deep blacks and whites;
- 2x increase in resolution;
- Smart TV to connect to smartphones and simplify control with Samsung Easy Sharing;
- Wide Color Enhancer Plus for vivid colors with fast picture changes.
Sony (Sony)
The Sony brand is another leader, whose popularity is due not only to high-quality gadgets, but also to active advertising of "native" TVs for interacting with ps4 and ps4 pro consoles.
Sony's lineup is much narrower, about 20 gadgets are available in stores. The brand offers devices with diagonals from 32 to 55 inches at prices ranging from 28 to 72 thousand rubles. The newer and higher-quality matrix is \u200b\u200binstalled, the higher the price of the device, even with a smaller diagonal. The average cost of a Sony FHD is 35-50 thousand rubles.
For people who actively use a private car, it is critically important to have a video recorder in the cabin. This device, in which case, will allow you to prove in court your innocence in a traffic accident and, as a result, save a huge amount on fines and damages, or, in especially difficult cases, keep your freedom.
However, not with all settings the DVRs can guarantee the above. The picture must be clear enough so that everything depicted on it can be examined in detail, and for this it is necessary that the DVR shoots in good resolution.
Which DVRs are almost useless to use?
- Quite a large number of people take cheap DVRs, which have the most supported resolution - HD ... However, the corresponding devices are not able to cope with their functions normally.
The fact is that hD resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels ... Consequently, large objects in the captured video will be clearly visible, while smaller ones, for example, car license plates, are almost invisible. Where they should be, a white spot will be present, on which there are indistinct black blots. And the numbers, it should be noted, must be present on the "film". A motorist who has cut or crashed into it can escape from the scene of an accident, and if the registrar did not record his number, then how to find it? This will be very difficult, and sometimes impossible.
Therefore, you should not buy and use a recorder that does not support a resolution higher than HD, or set 720p in the settings when there are more suitable formats. In the latter case, it is better to buy an additional, more capacious memory card - they are now very cheap.
- Full HD is the most popular format.
Full HD is the most popular format now. It is supported by 99% of devices, including inexpensive car DVRs. Full HD is the resolution 1920 x 1080 and it is significantly (about twice) sharper than HD.
On the corresponding video, fairly small details are quite clearly drawn. On freeze frames, you can see, for example, not only the numbers in front of a car driving at a distance of up to 10 meters, but also cars that are overtaking from the side.
Compared with HD, video in Full HD takes about twice the space on the memory card. For example, a minute in 720p "weighs" about 200 megabytes, while in 1080p - about 300-450 megabytes. The exact size depends a lot on the format and degree of compression and bitrate of the video.
- Super HD and Quad HD.
More expensive registrars support formats Quad HDand Super HD... There is practically no point in considering them separately, since their resolutions are quite similar: Quad HD - 2560 x 1440 pixels, and Super HD - 2304 x 1296 pixels - it is lower.
A picture shot in one of these formats is sharper when compared to Full HD. In view of this, smaller or more distant objects can be viewed on it. A minute of video in this format takes about 500 megabytes.
- 4K (Ultra HD) is the clearest video format available.
This is a relatively new format in car DVRs that is gaining popularity. Ultra HD (or, as it is also called - 4K), shoots at 3840 x 2160 pixels, therefore, it is about 4-5 times sharper than FullHD. The captured minute takes more than 500 megabytes in memory.
Ultra HD is the best solution for a car enthusiast, because only with this resolution it is possible to see the smallest details (car numbers, road markings, signs, inscriptions) at long distances.
Other important characteristics of the DVR.
In addition to resolution, when choosing a DVR, you must pay attention to a number of other important characteristics without changing important characteristics: matrix, processor, format and size of memory cards, light sensitivity.
When you go to a store to buy a display device, be it a phone or a TV, you come across some rather confusing terms. You'd better understand them before making the right decision. One of the main characteristics is the screen resolution you need.
We will explain to you the difference between standard terms and better tell you one model from another, we are here to explain the differences between the standard terms and the resolutions they correspond to, but do not forget that the sharpness of your display, pixels per inch, depends on the resolution and screen size. ...
In other words, a 2560 x 1440 pixel display will look sharp on a smartphone, but it won't look as cool when stretched across 40 or 50 inches of space. Just remember that more pixels does not always mean a sharper screen, as dimensions are important too.
HD AND FULL HD
Let's start at the end, HD is High Definition. The term was first applied to televisions and meant 720 pixel rows and above - the usual resolution combination is 1280 x 720 pixels.
Full HD has raised the number of rows to 1080 and the typical resolution is 1,920 x 1080 pixels.
QHD, WQHD and 2K
The Full HD screen resolution did not stay for long, the next step was Quad High Definition, or QHD - 2560 by 1920 pixels. This is the standard for many flagship phones right now. Remarkably, the name Quad was used for a reason - one QHD fits four displays of 1280 x 720 pixels.
Many phones are still using Full HD. It is very difficult to find a difference in picture quality on a 5 "or 6" display. But the presence of Full HD in the technical specifications still looks attractive. This is why many phone manufacturers go for it.
The same technical characteristics are inherent in WQHD or Widescreen Quad High Definition, but in this case, attention is also focused on the aspect ratio of 16: 9, which guarantees high image quality. But in reality, the WQHD and QHD specifications are the same.
The next one is 2K. This term is used in the industry rather erratically. But from a technical point of view, it can refer to any display larger than 2000 pixels (2048 x 1080 for example). That being said, WQHD and QHD are often referred to as 2K because they are half the height and width of 4K.
4K and UND
4K first appeared as a standard for cinema with 4096 by 1160 pixels, therefore the name 4K itself. But in consumer electronics, it has changed to 3840 x 2160 pixels. So 4,000 are out of stock. But at the same time, four Full HD fits in 4K.
UND or Ultra High Definition means the same as 4K - 3840 by 2160 pixels. Some of these terms are shared, but most use 4K for both gaming devices and TVs.
What awaits us in the future
These were the main terms that you will come across in your online travels in search of the devices you need.
But there are others. Some manufacturers are pushing forward 5K (5120 x 2880 pixels) and 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels). But even on massive screens, it's hard to tell if the human eye can really tell the difference.
We will simply and briefly explain what the HD format is, which we love to watch on TV.
If you look closely at a high-quality, clear photograph in a newspaper or magazine, you can see that the picture is made up of small elements that are usually invisible to the eye. On a regular TV, graininess can be easily seen, especially when you get closer to the screen. The image quality is not very good, it is slightly blurry.
So what does full hi mean? HD (High Definition) is a high definition technology. It is used to reduce the grain of a TV or computer monitor, making the image more realistic. Improving the quality of the TV screen is carried out as a result of increasing the resolution and, accordingly, reducing the screen grain. These grains are called “pixels,” and HDTVs have a lot more pixels, so they become almost invisible when watching video.
A conventional TV is not built on digital but on analog technology. And it is very difficult to get a clear image with analog methods, especially on a large screen. With digital high-definition television, it has become much easier to do this. Here it became possible to decompose the frame in 720 and 1080 lines, and apply progressive scan instead of the usual interlaced. In the designation of televisions, interlaced scanning is marked with the symbol "i" (interlace) after indicating the vertical resolution, for example, 1080i. Progressive, respectively, is denoted by the letter "p", progressive: 1080p. Immediately, we note that progressive scan (“p”) is preferable, it gives a clearer image. Let us explain a little how these two types of scanning differ. With progressive scanning, all horizontal lines of the footage are displayed simultaneously, which avoids artifacts on moving objects, eliminates flickering and jitter of the "picture". And with interlaced - even and odd lines are shown alternately. A slight delay between updating lines creates a distortion, also called the "comb effect". This is due to the fact that only half of the lines remain connected with the moving object, and half are updated at this moment.
How not to get confused when buying a TV, when the matter is further complicated by the fact that the resolution of the matrices of liquid crystal and plasma TVs take on a number of intermediate values. So, the screen width in pixels can be 800, 1024, 1280, 1336, 1440 and 1920. All this confuses the buyer. So, it is clear that an HD TV is better than a standard one with a cathode ray tube. Moreover, a 1080p TV is better than 1080i. What else is important to know?
TYPES of HD-video and, accordingly, TVs
Speaking of high-definition video, first of all, they have five times increased image detail. It is ensured by the fact that the number of points that make up the frame is multiplied. If we take only resolution into account, then high definition (HD) video is the two main formats: 1280x720 and 1920x1080. The aspect ratio in both cases is 16: 9, as opposed to the 4: 3 aspect ratio used in standard definition (SD) video. The diagram shows how the areas of screens are related with the same angular size of individual pixels. It is the area of \u200b\u200bthe screens, not the resolutions - the fact is that the pixels in SD are not square, as in HD, but are slightly stretched in width. Considering the aspect ratio of 4: 3 and the number of lines of the frame decomposition - 576, with a square pixel, the line should contain 768 pixels, not 720.
Resolution
A standard definition image consists of 720x576 \u003d 414720 individual dots. For the HD720 high definition format, the number of pixels already increases to 1280x720 \u003d 921600 (which is 2.2 times more than in SD), and for HD1080 this number already reaches 1920x1080 \u003d 2073600 or two megapixels (which is five times more than standard definition). In a marketing frenzy, some manufacturers write on their TVs about 6 megapixels, but this, of course, is not entirely correct. We are talking here, most likely, about 6 million subpixels, because each color pixel consists of three subpixels of the base colors - red, green and blue.
Scan
In addition to the usual interlaced scanning in standard definition video, high definition video also makes it possible to use progressive scanning. In progressive scan, the frame is displayed immediately, rather than sequentially in odd and even lines.
Progressive scan is devoid of such disadvantages as
- the presence of a comb effect (comb) on the boundaries of fast moving objects,
- picture jitter when there are thin horizontal lines in the frame.
These modes are designated by Latin letters p and i... So, 1080i stands for an HD signal of 1920 x 1080 with interlaced scanning, and 1080p - the same signal, but with a progressive scan.
Frame frequency
Interlaced supports frame rates such as 25, 29.97 and 30 frames per second. Progressive, in addition to those indicated, can also support double frame rates - 50, 59.94, 60 (where the fields are essentially replaced by full frames, which adds the advantage of smooth interlaced motion to the stability of the progressive scan frame) and 24 frames per second taken in cinema.
Thus, the designation HD720 / 24p can be deciphered as a frame with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels with a progressive scan of 24 frames per second, and HD1080 / 29.97i - a frame of 1920x1080 with interlaced scanning of 29.97 frames (or 59.94 fields) per second. Sometimes you can find such designations of the above examples as [email protected] and [email protected] respectively.
Don't just confuse frame rates with “100 Hz” (or even 480) TV advertisements. Here we are talking about the demonstration of different frames, and at higher scanning frequencies the same frames are shown several times. In movies, for example, to reduce flicker, each frame was shown twice (48 Hz), but exactly 24 different frames were shown per second. So, in an LCD TV with a PAL source, the fields replace each other at a frequency of 50 per second (25 frames per second), and doubling the scanning frequency (up to 100 Hz, inserting a black field) allows you to reduce the time of full on-off of the liquid crystal cell, which improves the display of fast moving objects.
ADVANTAGES HD
Figures are numbers, and you need to see the “transition of quantity into quality” with your own eyes. With a high-quality signal source, on panels that support Full HD, the benefits of high-definition video are more than obvious. How is this superiority achieved?
First of all, the five times better detail, provided by the large number of dots that make up the image, makes itself felt. The frame contains more information, small details have been worked out in more detail, which now do not merge into a solid background. The texture of materials is also better developed. Streaks of foliage, individual blades of grass, hairs of fur, patterns of frosty patterns become distinguishable. All this makes the final image more realistic.
As the screen size increases, the benefits of high definition become even more apparent. In the above fragments (the first pair), you can see how the standard definition picture “blurred” when it is enlarged to Full HD. The second pair of snippets gives an idea of \u200b\u200bhow the SD signal looks on a 1920 x 1080 screen and a native screen (for example, 640 x 480 for NTSC or, with a slight stretch, 800 x 600 for PAL). This example clearly demonstrates that high-quality interpolation (in the figure - bicubic) will give a picture more pleasing to the eye on a large screen than simply increasing the pixel size even in the “native” resolution. In practice, it is hardly possible to find a screen with a diagonal of about a meter with a resolution of 720x576, such an effect can be obtained if a small SD screen is placed too close to you. For the same reason, the size of an HD screen can be double that of an SD with comparable picture quality and viewing distance.
Support for all high definition video formats and there is Full HD ("full" HD). All - this means up to the maximum format of 1920x1080. And if the matrix that is part of the TV or panel has a resolution of 1280, 1336 or 1440 in width, then there is no need to talk about Full HD in this case. Yes, such matrices allow displaying an “honest” HD720, but the maximum that can be counted on in this case is HD-Ready (“ready to display” HD). The differences between models without marking and with markings HD-Ready and Full HD in short are as follows:
- if the TV is unmarked, then even the presence of a matrix from 1280 pixels in width and above does not guarantee that it will be possible to watch high-definition television on such a TV. Most likely, such a TV set is designed to display an SD signal, interpolating the standard definition signal "up" - with an increase in SD standard definition to the physical resolution of the matrix;
- the HD-Ready mark means the TV can display both standard definition and high definition video. SD signal will be interpolated “up”, HD720 signal - displayed “as is” or interpolated “up” (depending on the physical resolution of the matrix - 1280x720 or higher), and HD1080 - interpolated “down”, reducing the resolution of the 1080 signal to the physical resolution of the matrix;
- full-HD marking indicates that the TV is capable of displaying any signal - both SD and HD. HD1080 is displayed “as is”, other formats are interpolated “up”.
Typically, Full HD TVs are equipped with more powerful and modern video processors, which allows them to interpolate with high quality not only HD720, but even SD. While in the first case only 1.5x linear magnification is required, the SD-HD1080 requires a 2.7x magnification, and the higher the ratio is required for magnification, the more noticeable the blurring of the picture. And the more efforts must be made to solve this problem, with which powerful processors cope, of course, with better quality. In addition, Full HD TVs usually belong to the upper price range, so manufacturers try to complete them with their best matrices.
Ultra High Definition Television (UHDTV) is a kind of television resolution standards that provide image clarity that is many times higher than both standard and high definition television, as well as most modern cinematic standards. Other names: Ultra HD and Ultra High Definition Video (UHDV). Ultra High Definition Television includes two digital standards 4K UHDTV (2160p) and 8K UHDTV (4320p) proposed by NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories and adopted by the International Telecommunication Union in August 2012 in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R BT.2020. The Japanese television company NHK was the first to implement in practice a television system with image decomposition according to the 7680 × 4320 pixel standard.
Partially used material from the site hifinews.ru
