Does 1080p actually work for certain size tvs?

Question

i was thinking of getting a 32 inch lcd tv but then i started hearing that u cant really notice 1080 p on a tv that small they said basically anything above 40 inches and then u can tell the difference. Is this True??

Answer 1

Most agree that you need a screen at least 46" to really be able to see and appreciate the difference between 1080p and 720p/1080i, unless you sit inches away from the screen. More and more brands are coming out with 1080p in small screen sizes as a marketing ploy, and to take advantage of consumer ignorance. There is little chance you will EVER be able to tell the difference in a 32". And of course, the ONLY source of 1080p input is Blu-ray - It's not available in HD television broadcasts OTA, cable, or satellite.

Answer 2

not true at all. if its 1080p then u should be able to see the difference . especially with devices like ps3 .

Answer 3

32" is still in the size range that you can definitely tell the difference of 1080i/p - especially if you're usually within 5' - 7' of the screen.  My monitor is high resolution and it's only 17", but I'm usually within 3 ft.  It all depends on your vision too.

Answer 4

It's a good question and, unfortunately not simple to answer.  As with so much to do with Home Theatre ... it depends.

Under certain circumstances a 1080p HDTV CAN give a superior picture to a 720p HDTV .... but most of the time it isn't worth the extra money ... even on larger size screens ... simply because most people watch from outside the optimum range or don't have suitable program material.

Any 1080p HDTV will show more detail than a 720p HDTV at optimum distance. For example a person with normal eyesight watching 1080p material on a 1080p 32" HDTV at a distance between 4 and 6.5 ft will see more detail than on a 32" 720p HDTV (See link).

BUT this assumes 1080p material (e.g. Blu-ray). Almost all HDTV is either 720p or 1080i (defined by the broadcaster). If 720p it doesn't matter if you have a 720p or 1080p HDTV since detail is limited by the program material.  On the other hand if 1080i signals are properly de-interlaced (and a fair percentage of HDTVs still do not de-interlace correctly) they contain the same detail as 1080p and a 1080p display CAN therefore give a more detailed picture than a 720p HDTV. BUT, motion artifacts in 1080i images frequently degrade the picture sufficiently to obviate any advantage over 720p).  

The end result is that for most HD television viewing there is little or no advantage to a 1080p display. There may be if watching Blu-ray movies at optimum distance. But if you don't plan to watch your 32" HDTV from less than about 5-6 feet away ... save your money and buy a 720p model.

Hope that helps and doesn't confuse.