1280×720 vs 1920×1080: Comparison And Differences Guide

What size should I choose for my video? Should I go for 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080? What are the pros and cons of each resolution?

Video resolutions are measured in pixels. The higher the number, the larger the image. For example, 1920 x 1080 has 2,073,600 pixels, whereas 1280 x 720 has 1,280,000 pixels.

When choosing between these two options, you'll want to consider the type of device you plan to upload your video to.

If you're uploading to mobile devices, then 1280 x 720 is the way to go. On the other hand, if you plan to upload to desktop computers, then 1920 x 1080 is the better option.

In this article, we will compare both resolutions and help you decide which one works best for you.

So, let's get into it.

Video Resolutions: What Are They, And Why Do They Matter?

Before we start comparing the pros and cons of 1280 x 720 vs 1920 x 1080, let’s first understand what they actually mean.

A pixel is a tiny dot that represents an element on the screen. When you take a picture with a digital camera, the camera captures millions of dots (pixels) that make up the photo. These dots represent the colors, shapes, and details that make up the subject.

The more pixels you have, the clearer and sharper your images appear. This means that when you increase the resolution of your videos, you can see more detail.

The higher the resolution, the bigger the file size. You may not notice any difference in file sizes depending on whether you use 1280 x 720 or 1920 × 1080, but there are some important differences.

1920 x 1080 is usually the default setting for most new TVs. It is also the standard for most computer monitors.

So, if you don't change anything else, you probably won't notice much of a difference. However, if you do change something else, such as changing the aspect ratio, you might notice a difference.

Depending on how you edit your videos, you may be able to save space by using lower-resolution files.

For instance, if you shoot in 4K at 30 frames per second, then you would need about 6 GB of storage space. That's quite a bit of data!

If you were to convert the same footage down to 1280 x 720, then you could store it on a 16 GB SD card. Of course, you'd still need to download the original 4K footage onto your PC before editing it.

What Is The Difference Between A Video Resolution And An Aspect Ratio?

As mentioned above, a video resolution refers to the amount of information stored within a single file. To put it simply, the higher the resolution, the larger the file size.

An aspect ratio refers to the relationship between width and height. In other words, it describes the ratio between the width and height of a video.

For example, a widescreen format uses 16:9, while a square format uses 4:3.

You can think of the aspect ratio like a window. If you look out the window from inside your house, you can only see part of the street outside. But if you step outside, you can see everything.

Similarly, a high-definition television shows a wider image than a standard TV does.

When you watch a movie on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you see a different aspect ratio than you would see on a big-screen TV.

Because of this, many people prefer to keep their movies and photos in a widescreen format.

But if you want to show your friends and family a full-screen view of your vacation pictures, you'll need to switch to a square format.

1280×720 Resolution Aspect Ratio

The most common aspect ratio used by web designers is 16:9 (1.78). This means that the width of the picture is equal to 1.78 times its height.

For example, a 1280 × 720 pixel image would have an aspect ratio of 1.78. This means that the image is wider than it is tall, so there is more horizontal space than vertical space.

This format is commonly used on websites because it creates a more immersive experience for users.

You can also use this format when creating videos for YouTube. However, if you're planning to publish your content online, then you might want to consider using another format instead.

This is because the widescreen format has better compatibility with smartphones and tablets.

1920×1080 Resolution Aspect Ratio

Another popular aspect ratio is 4:3 (1.33). This means that the height of the picture is equal to 1.33 times its width.

For example, an 1920 × 1080 pixel image would have an overall aspect ratio of 1.33. This means that the picture is taller than it is wide.

Using this format is ideal for publishing videos on sites like Facebook and Instagram. It also looks great on TV screens.

However, if you're looking to create a website with a lot of text, then you may not be able to fit all the information on a single page. In this case, you may need to split up your site into multiple pages.

If you do split up your site into multiple parts, then you'll want to make sure that they all use the same aspect ratio. Otherwise, your viewers won't be able to read everything at once. 

The Pros And Cons Of Each Format

So, now that you know how each aspect ratio works, let's look at the pros and cons of each one. This will help you decide which format is best for your needs.

The Pros & Cons of 1280x720

While using 1280 x 720 pixels is still very common, it doesn't offer much advantage over using 1920 x 1080 pixels. This does not mean that you should avoid using the former, however.

Pros

Using a resolution of 1280 x 720 offers several advantages. For starters, it allows you to create a video that fits perfectly on any screen size.

It also makes it easier to share your work across multiple platforms. For instance, you could upload your video to YouTube and then post it to Twitter.

You wouldn't have to worry about resizing the video before posting it.

It also helps to reduce file sizes. If you are uploading a large amount of data, then you may find that a smaller resolution reduces the total download time.

Finally, you can easily edit your images in Photoshop or other photo editing software. This is especially useful if you plan to add special effects to your photos.

Cons

Although using a resolution of 1280 x 720 is convenient, it isn't as good as using 1920 x 1080 pixels for many reasons.

First, the aspect ratio is not perfect. This means that some images will be cut off when viewed from certain angles.

Second, you cannot use this format on mobile devices. This is because the device must be able to display the entire image without cutting off part of it.

Third, the quality of the image is lower than that of a higher-resolution version. This is due to the fact that the image was originally created for a larger screen.

The Pros & Cons Of 1920x1080

1920 x 1080 is the most popular aspect ratio for desktop computers. It's also the most widely used aspect ratio for television sets.

However, there are some things that you may need to consider before choosing this option.

Pros

This format gives you more flexibility than using 1280 x 720. For instance, you can resize the image to fit different screen sizes.

You can also crop the image so that only a portion of it appears on the screen. This is helpful if you don't want to show too much detail.

You can also take advantage of the full range of colors available. The image can appear brighter and darker than an equivalent 1280 x 720 version.

Finally, you don't have to worry about scaling down the image before sharing it online. As long as the original source has enough space, you can simply upload the file directly.

Cons

There are some downsides to using this aspect ratio. First, the image looks better on a TV screen than on a desktop computer.

If you are planning to watch the movie on a laptop, then you won't get the same experience as watching it on a big screen.

Another problem with this aspect ratio is that it takes up a lot of space on the hard drive. This is true even if you are using a high-quality compression method.

Depending on how much storage space you have available, you might want to choose another resolution instead.

So, overall, if you're looking for a way to save space, then you should probably look into another aspect ratio, such as 1280 x 720.

1280×720 Vs 1920×1080: Side By Side Comparison

Now that we've covered the pros and cons of both formats, here's a side-by-side comparison of the two options.

Comparing The Picture Quality Of 1280×720 Vs 1920×1080

In order to make sure that you aren't making any mistakes, let's compare the picture quality of these two resolutions.

As you can see, the difference between them is quite small. Both versions offer similar levels of sharpness and color accuracy.

However, the image quality of 1920 x 1080 is slightly superior. This is mainly due to the fact that it uses a wider gamut of colors. You'll notice that the reds in the image are deeper and richer.

If you plan to share your images via social media or email, you'll find that the image quality of 1920 × 1080 is a bit sharper. This is especially noticeable in the text area.

However, you shouldn't expect to see any major differences when viewing the image on a large screen. The biggest difference will be found when comparing the size of the pixels.

The pixel density of 1920 x 1080 is higher than that of 1280 x 720. This means that the image will look crisper and cleaner.

If you want to view the image at its best, you should use a display that supports the highest possible resolution.

Comparing The Content Creation Of 1280×720 Vs 1920×1080

As mentioned earlier, one of the main advantages of 1920 x 1080 is that it allows you to create a larger canvas.

In other words, you can add more content to the image without having to scale it down first.

This is great news for those who like to draw or paint digitally. However, there are drawbacks too.

For example, you will need to spend more time editing the image. It may also require additional software to achieve certain effects.

You can easily edit the image using Photoshop Elements, but you will need to download an extension pack in order to access all the tools.

This isn't something that you would necessarily need to worry about if you were just posting photos online.

But, if you plan to sell prints or posters, you'll definitely want to consider the extra effort required.

Comparing The File Size Of 1280×720 Vs 1920×1080

The file sizes of these two resolutions are pretty close. If you're planning to upload the photo to Facebook, Twitter, etc., you won't really notice any significant difference.

However, if you plan to print the image, you'll find that 1920 × 1080 is significantly smaller than 1280 × 720. This is because it has fewer pixels.

It's important to keep in mind that the file size of the image depends not only on the resolution, but also on the number of colors used.

So, if you have a high-resolution image with lots of colors, then you'll end up with a much bigger file size. 

How To Choose An Aspect Ratio That Works Best For Your Site

If you're looking for an aspect ratio that will give you the greatest amount of flexibility, then you should go with 1280 × 720.

That way, you can easily adjust the size of your images whenever you need to.

If you're worried about losing quality, then you might want to stick with 1920 × 1080. That way, your images won't be scaled down during resizing.

There are no right or wrong choices. It all depends on your situation. Remember, the most important thing is finding a format that works best for you.

How To Choose An Aspect Ratio That Provides The Best Viewing Experience

When choosing an aspect ratio, you should also take into consideration how people will be viewing the image or video clip.

For instance, if you're going to post the media on a website where people will be browsing through multiple pages, then you'll probably want to choose a wider aspect ratio.

On the other hand, if you're going to share the media on social networks such as Facebook, then you'd better opt for a narrower aspect ratio.

In this case, you'll get a better experience by keeping the width at around 1,280 pixels.

That way, when someone clicks on the link, they'll see a full-screen view of the image. They won't have to scroll down to see the rest of the page.

As far as I know, there is no standard aspect ratio for mobile devices.

So, if you're sharing videos or images on a smartphone or tablet, then you'll have to experiment with different options until you find one that looks good.

Best Seller List Of FHD Monitors (1920x1080)

We've compiled a list of some bestsellers from Amazon. These monitors offer great value for money and come highly recommended by our customers.

If you would like to check them out, click here.

Best Seller List Of HD Monitors (1280x720)

If you are looking for a cheap but high-quality alternative to a traditional TV, then you might want to consider buying an HDTV monitor instead.

These screens typically cost less than $100 and provide a much higher quality of picture compared to what you'd expect from a regular TV.

There are plenty of models to choose from, but we've put together a shortlist of some of the most popular ones below.

Final Thoughts

When choosing between these two types of screens, the main difference will be the size of the display area.

While a screen that displays 1280 x 720 pixels will have a larger viewing area than one that only shows a smaller resolution, they're still very similar in terms of their overall performance.

Both types of screens will give you a crisp image when watching movies or playing video games, and they'll offer great color reproduction as well.

However, if you plan on using them for work purposes, you may find that the extra space provided by a large screen is actually useful.

For example, if you need to access multiple windows at once, having more real estate would make this easier.

As long as you don't mind spending a bit more money, there's no reason why you shouldn't buy either type of screen.

We hope this guide helped you decide which kind of screen you should get!