
Resolution. It’s probably one of the most important features to consider when shopping for a new TV. There is the question of 720p vs. 1080p vs. 1080i. And what is the difference between those and the native resolution of the set? Here’s a quick tutorial to help you navigate your choices and choose the set that’s best for you.
A TV screen is made up of color dots (take a magnifying glass to one and you’ll see them). These dots are called pixels. The number of horizontal pixels by vertical pixels built into the display is called the native resolution of the display. This is expressed as horizontal x vertical (for example: 1920x1080). The vertical resolution is the same as the number of “lines” on the display (a historical reminder of the days when CRT based TV’s scanned lines from top to bottom). Typical native resolutions you’ll find are:

When we talk about 720p, 1080i and 1080p, we’re really talking about the input signal. What do these three numbers mean?
480p – The TV “draws” 480 lines of video 60 times a second.
720p – The TV “draws” 720 lines of video 60 times a second.
1080p – The TV “draws” 1080 lines of video 60 times a second.
1080i – The TV first draws 1080 lines of video 30 times a second, dividing it into two groups of 540 lines that are interleaved (in other words, the signal first draws the odd line numbers, then the even line numbers).
Here are the key facts you need to know before deciding on a set:
Now that you know these facts, the decision on which TV to get is really a lot easier.
For smaller and mid-sized sets – anything up to 42 inches, a 1280x720 or 1366x768 set is fine – unless you plan to also use the set as a computer monitor! In that case, get 1080p and the highest native resolution you can find and be sure to get a VGA or HDMI input (most sets these days have them).
For mid-size sets in the 40-50 inch range, again either one should be fine. Unless you look very carefully, you will not see a difference. Most sets in this range can accept both 720p and 1080i or p input. If you’re an avid gamer, consider going to the higher native resolution and 1080p. Newer sets in this size range are almost all 1080p.
For larger sets resolution starts to matter. Go with a 1920x1080 resolution with 1080p input. If you’re going that large, you can afford a few extra dollars to have it look its best on Blu-Ray and video games. Again, most newer sets in this range are 1080p.
Note: TV Sets listed above are all LCD top rated sets in their category based on Amazon.com user rankings with multiple reviews.