Ask the expert: HD TVs

Q. I’m looking around at high definition LCD TVs, but I’m confused about 1080p, 1080i and 720p. What does it all mean, and what do I really need to look out for? I want to buy a 32 inch TV or bigger. Does this make any difference to what I need to know? Help!

A. You’re thinking along the right lines. If you buy a TV now, it simply has to be HD. But HD comes in so many forms, it can be tricky to figure out which is best for you. We’ve outlined the three main types of HD below, so you can instantly see which is best for you.

Solution 1: 720p
The numbers used in HD descriptions simply refer to the number of horizontal lines making up the picture. In short, the more lines, the more detailed the picture. 720p isn’t “full HD’ but it is still superior to standard definition TV. You’ll frequently find camcorders recording in ‘HD’ which is actually 720p. That’s fine for home footage, but if you’re upgrading for a full cinematic experience, it’s best to avoid TVs that display 720p. You’ll frequently find 720p specifications in smaller, cheaper screens, but resist the urge to buy them – you’ll regret it in years to come.

Solution 2: 1080i
1080i is a vast improvement on 720p, and can be considered ‘Full HD’. However, purists will claim it’s still not the best quality, and that’s because of that pesky i in its name. It stands for Interlaced, and means the lines making up the picture are refreshed alternately, first the odd lines are refreshed, and then the even lines. Some claim it can lead to jagged movement, but in reality it’s almost impossible to spot, since the refresh rate is still faster than the human eye. Regardless, there’s a perception that it’s worse, so if you can find a TV that only supports 1080i, and they’re incredibly rare now, you could pick up a bargain.

Solution 3: 1080p and beyond
1080p is the same picture quality as 1080i, since it’s made up of the same number of lines. However, they all refresh at once, so purists claim images are smoother. There’s still debate surrounding that, but what is for sure is only 1080p TVs support the latest 24p playback system used by Blu-Ray HD discs. For that reason alone they’re worth the cash, since movies will play back exactly as the director intended, at 24 frames per second.

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