720p or 1080p on 32" TV?

Question

I am looking to purchase a 32" LCD HDTV, and have narrowed it down to a few different options. My question is, on a 32" TV, is there really a big difference between 720p and 1080p? The two TVs that I'm looking at are a Philips (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889102221). Both look like exceptional TVs except for the difference in maximum resolution. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Kevin

Answer 1

You got that backwards, Racer D.  

Visible resolution is a combination of screen size and distance. The bigger the screen, the farther away you can sit and still notice the difference in resolution.

With a 32" screen, at 15' and beyond everything is going to look the same when comparing a 720p vs a 1080p.  When you sit *closer* to the display, however, that's when the higher resolution becomes noticable!

Of course, you also have to have a high definition source.  If you're not planning on using an HDTV service and/or a bunch of BluRay, 1080 is a waste for most living rooms.  You're just paying extra for resolution few are currently using.  

Check the chart:

Answer 2

1080p should be your only choice

Answer 3

720p and 1080p is the resolution on the TV. Obviously, 1080p is more expensive. However... let me tell you this. When I was buying my HDTV, the salesman very honestly told me that the human eye cannot detect the difference between the two unless the viewer is more than 15 feet away from the screen.

So, 15 feet or less, go with 720p. With 15 feet or more, go with 1080p if you can notice a difference from the demonstration models in the store. What's the point of spending more money for more resolution if your eye can't see it?

Answer 4

think of it this way, if you take a camera and take a 1 megapixel photo and then a similar 5 megapixel photo and print out a very small picture, u probably wont notice the difference, however if you print out a huge photo like a poster, you could easily notice the difference, dont get 1080p unless ur looking for a tv 50inches+

Answer 5

This spring I researched this because I bought a 32"HDTV.  The consensus seemed to be that 720 is sufficient for a 32" screen.  The higher number is necessary for  bigger screens.

Good luck---I did a lot of research both in stores and on line.  As you see, I also consulted Consumers Report.  There is a big price difference between models, but I found that higher price did not mean higher quality!

Answer 6

At 32" it will be hard to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p, unless you sit very close (1-5ft).

Whats more important is the quality of the display, since it is possible for a 720p display to show better image than 1080p (and vise-versa of course). In general, Samsung has better image quality than Phillips, but the only way to tell for sure is to go to your local electronics store and look at them in real life.

Good luck!