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Resolution Type
What is resolution and why is it important?
Resolution refers to the number of tiny dots, called pixels, that make up your screen. The more pixels there are, the sharper and more detailed everything looks. If you love gaming or editing photos and videos, a higher resolution can make a big difference. But if you're mainly browsing the web, shopping online, or getting through your workload, a lower resolution will do just fine.
Resolution types
HD and HD+
If you're after a simple, budget-friendly laptop, an HD or HD+ screen could be all you need. They're clear enough for everyday tasks like browsing, emailing and working on documents. Just bear in mind that films, box sets and games won't look as detailed as they do on higher-resolution displays
Full HD
Full HD, Full HD+ and WUXGA are among the most popular screen resolutions around. They hit a sweet spot between performance, picture quality and price, making them ideal for everything from work and studying to gaming and movie nights.
WQXGA and 2K
With around twice as many pixels as a Full HD screen, WQXGA and 2K displays deliver impressively sharp visuals. They fill the screen with plenty of detail and can make fast-moving action look incredibly smooth. They're a great choice for gamers who want extra clarity without the added cost of jumping all the way to 4K.
Quad HD+ and 3K
Quad HD+ and 3K screens pack in around twice as many pixels as Full HD displays, giving you lots of detail and sharper visuals. Whether you're editing creative projects or streaming your favourite films, everything will look crisp and vibrant. This is a brilliant middle ground if a 4K display is a little outside your budget.
Retina
Retina is Apple's name for its high-resolution displays, found across MacBooks, iMacs and other Apple devices. Available in formats including Retina HD, Retina 4K and Retina 5K, these screens are designed to make images, text and videos look incredibly sharp and detailed.
4k UHD and WUXGA
4K UHD and WQUXGA sit right at the top end of the resolution scale. With around 4 times as many pixels as a Full HD display, they offer jaw-dropping levels of detail and realism, perfect for gaming, watching blockbuster films or working on creative projects.
What else affects image quality?
Resolution isn't the whole story when it comes to picture quality. Panel technology affects things like contrast and viewing angles, while colour depth helps create richer, more natural-looking shades. Brightness and contrast matter too, helping images look more detailed and lifelike, whether you're streaming films, gaming or scrolling through photos.
For more computing inspiration and advice, explore our Computing Hub.
FAQs
- What is the best resolution type?
4K Ultra HD resolution is currently the best that’s widely available. It has 4x more pixels than a Full HD screen.
- What type of resolution is 1080p?
1080p resolution is also known as Full HD.
- What is 640x480 resolution called?
This is also known as “4:3 resolution”. It’s usually only available on computer monitors with a VGA connection.
- What kind of resolution is 1920x1080?
This is known as 1080p or Full HD resolution.
- What are the different types of alternative display resolution?
Most monitors have Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD), Full HD, Quad HD, or 4K Ultra HD resolution.
- Which file type has the highest resolution?
For high-resolution image files, the best file types are RAW and TIFF. Both keep the original quality of the picture, so they’re quite big files.
