1080i or 1080p: these are the differences

If you buy a TV or BluRay player, these are often titled 1080i or 1080p. We'll show you the differences between the two technologies.

1080i or 1080p: what is 1080i?

The 1080 stands for the number of vertical picture lines. To match, a compatible television has 1920 horizontal picture lines. This results in a resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels, also known as Full HD.

• The addition "i" is an abbreviation for the English term "interlaced", which means "interlocked". In the so-called interlacing method, the pictures are displayed in the even and then the pictures in the odd picture lines. So first lines 2, 4, 6 ... and then lines 1, 3, 5 ... are shown.
• This means that only half the image is always displayed on the screen, which the human eye cannot perceive up to certain limits. This means that less image material, i.e. less data, is required. It is a relic from the era of tube TVs, which only makes sense today on smaller flat-screen devices.

1080i or 1080p: what can 1080p do?

• The abbreviation "p" stands for "progressive", the more advanced full-screen technology. Here all images are sent at the same time, so that no flickering can occur even on large screens.
• Meanwhile, 1080p has become the standard. Both televisions as well as DVD and BluRay players have become much more powerful, so that the use of 1080i no longer makes any sense.
• Conclusion: 1080i and 1080p can be compared with Windows XP and Windows 10, for example. Both operating systems work perfectly, but for a better result you should use the newer standard. Windows XP and 1080i have been discontinued models for a long time, and 1080p will probably be replaced by the 4K resolution in the future.

In the next practical tip, we will explain the difference between 4K and UHD.