Screen Resolution Comparison
Compare all standard screen resolutions from HD (720p) to 8K. Understand pixel counts, aspect ratios, megapixels, and the best use cases for each resolution standard.
Quick Reference Table
| Name | Common Term | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Megapixels | Pixels vs 1080p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD | 720p | 1280×720 | 16:9 | 0.92 MP | 44% |
| Full HD | FHD / 1080p | 1920×1080 | 16:9 | 2.07 MP | 100% (baseline) |
| Quad HD | QHD / 1440p / 2K | 2560×1440 | 16:9 | 3.69 MP | 178% |
| Ultra HD | 4K UHD / 2160p | 3840×2160 | 16:9 | 8.29 MP | 400% |
| Cinema 4K | DCI 4K | 4096×2160 | ~17:9 | 8.85 MP | 427% |
| 5K | 5K / UHD+ | 5120×2880 | 16:9 | 14.75 MP | 711% |
| 8K | 8K UHD / 4320p | 7680×4320 | 16:9 | 33.18 MP | 1600% |
Standard Resolutions Explained
HD (720p)
Resolution:
1280×720 pixels
Total Pixels:
921,600 (0.92 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
Budget monitors, old laptops, streaming (low bandwidth)
Note: HD is considered the minimum acceptable resolution in 2026, mostly found in budget devices or streaming at low bandwidth settings.
Full HD (1080p)
Resolution:
1920×1080 pixels
Total Pixels:
2,073,600 (2.07 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
Most monitors, TVs, laptops, gaming
Pro Tip: Full HD remains the most popular resolution in 2026 for everyday use, offering excellent clarity for web browsing, office work, and streaming at reasonable bandwidth.
Quad HD (1440p)
Resolution:
2560×1440 pixels
Total Pixels:
3,686,400 (3.69 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
Gaming monitors (27"), high-end smartphones
Pro Tip: 1440p is the sweet spot for gamers in 2026. It provides 78% more pixels than 1080p while being easier to drive than 4K, maintaining high frame rates.
4K UHD (2160p)
Resolution:
3840×2160 pixels
Total Pixels:
8,294,400 (8.29 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
Professional monitors, TVs (32"+), video editing
Pro Tip: 4K is becoming the standard for professional creative work in 2026. For optimal viewing, use 27-32" monitors with 4K. Smaller screens won't show the full benefit.
Cinema 4K (DCI 4K)
Resolution:
4096×2160 pixels
Total Pixels:
8,847,360 (8.85 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
~17:9 (1.90:1)
Common Uses:
Cinema production, film mastering
Note: DCI 4K is the cinema industry standard, slightly wider than consumer 4K UHD. Used for theatrical releases and professional film production.
5K UHD+
Resolution:
5120×2880 pixels
Total Pixels:
14,745,600 (14.75 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
Apple Studio Display, iMac, professional design
Pro Tip: 5K displays (like Apple's 27" 5K) offer perfect 2× scaling for Retina quality at standard UI sizes, ideal for designers and developers on macOS.
8K UHD (4320p)
Resolution:
7680×4320 pixels
Total Pixels:
33,177,600 (33.18 MP)
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Common Uses:
High-end TVs (65"+), future-proofing, broadcasting
Note: 8K has 16× the pixels of 1080p and 4× the pixels of 4K. Content availability is still limited in 2026, but adoption is growing for large displays (65"+).
Resolution Comparison by Use Case
| Use Case | Recommended Resolution | Monitor Size | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Work / Web Browsing | 1080p (Full HD) | 24-27" | Sufficient clarity, good performance, affordable |
| Competitive Gaming | 1080p or 1440p | 24-27" | High frame rates (144Hz+), responsive gameplay |
| Immersive Gaming | 1440p or 4K | 27-32" | Visual quality prioritized, 60-120 FPS target |
| Photo Editing | 4K or 5K | 27-32" | High pixel density, accurate detail rendering |
| Video Editing (4K content) | 4K or higher | 27-32" | 1:1 preview of 4K footage, timeline precision |
| Graphic Design / UI/UX | 4K or 5K | 27-32" | Sharp text, accurate scaling, detail work |
| 3D Modeling / CAD | 1440p or 4K | 27-32" | Fine detail visibility, workspace for palettes |
| Home Theater / TV (living room) | 4K or 8K | 55-85" | Viewing distance 6-12 ft, streaming/Blu-ray content |
| Budget / Entry Level | 1080p | 22-24" | Cost-effective, widely supported, low GPU requirements |
Understanding Resolution Terminology
Vertical Lines (p) vs Total Pixels (K)
Resolution naming can be confusing because two naming conventions coexist:
- "p" notation (720p, 1080p, 1440p, 2160p): Refers to the vertical pixel count. For example, 1080p means 1080 vertical lines of pixels.
- "K" notation (2K, 4K, 5K, 8K): Refers to the approximate horizontal pixel count in thousands. For example, 4K ≈ 4000 horizontal pixels (3840 pixels exactly for UHD).
Important: "2K" is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to 1080p. Technically, true 2K (DCI standard) is 2048×1080, while consumer "2K" usually means 1440p (2560×1440). Context matters!
Pixel Density (PPI)
Resolution alone doesn't determine sharpness—pixel density (pixels per inch) matters too:
- 24" 1080p: ~92 PPI (adequate)
- 27" 1440p: ~109 PPI (sharp)
- 27" 4K: ~163 PPI (very sharp, Retina-class)
- 32" 4K: ~138 PPI (sharp)
Higher PPI means sharper text and images, but also smaller UI elements without scaling.
Aspect Ratios
Most modern resolutions use a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen), but alternatives exist:
- 16:9: Standard for TVs, monitors, laptops (1080p, 1440p, 4K, 8K)
- 16:10: Slightly taller, popular for productivity (1920×1200, 2560×1600)
- 21:9: Ultra-wide monitors (2560×1080, 3440×1440, 5120×2160)
- 32:9: Super ultra-wide (5120×1440, dual 16:9 side-by-side)
Viewing Distance Recommendations
Optimal viewing distance varies by resolution and screen size. Here are general guidelines:
| Screen Size | 1080p Distance | 1440p Distance | 4K Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24" | 3.0 feet | 2.3 feet | 1.5 feet |
| 27" | 3.4 feet | 2.6 feet | 1.7 feet |
| 32" | 4.0 feet | 3.1 feet | 2.0 feet |
| 55" (TV) | 6.9 feet | 5.3 feet | 3.4 feet |
| 65" (TV) | 8.1 feet | 6.3 feet | 4.1 feet |
| 77" (TV) | 9.6 feet | 7.4 feet | 4.8 feet |
Pro Tip: For desk work (monitors), you're typically 2-3 feet away. For TVs in a living room, most people sit 8-12 feet from the screen. Choose resolution accordingly—you won't see the benefit of 8K on a 55" TV at 12 feet away.
GPU & Performance Considerations
Higher resolutions require significantly more graphics processing power:
Gaming Performance Impact
- 1080p → 1440p: ~40-60% performance decrease (78% more pixels)
- 1440p → 4K: ~50-70% performance decrease (125% more pixels)
- 1080p → 4K: ~60-75% performance decrease (300% more pixels)
Example: A game running at 120 FPS on 1080p might only achieve 30-40 FPS at 4K with the same settings.
GPU Recommendations (2026):
- 1080p Gaming: Mid-range GPU (e.g., RTX 4060, RX 7600)
- 1440p Gaming: Upper mid-range GPU (e.g., RTX 4070, RX 7800 XT)
- 4K Gaming: High-end GPU (e.g., RTX 4080/4090, RX 7900 XTX)
- 8K Gaming: Multi-GPU setup or wait for future generations