The video resolution of the monitors

Pixel, HD, 4K how to untangle the tangle of resolutions

We have purchased a new monitor, TV or smartphone or we are about to do so, whatever the case, we have certainly come across definitions such as 4K, FullHD or figures such as 1920×1080, what do they mean? Don't worry, with our simple guide you will be able to find the right resolution for you and understand how this mechanism works. In fact, very few people know the real meaning of resolution and what both the acronyms and the numbers above mean, in fact it is enough to understand a few basic notions to understand how it works so as to be able to clearly read the technical characteristics of any screen , whether from a smartphone or a TV.

PIXELS
Let's start from the basics, especially the pixel. In fact, the Pixel is the smallest element that creates the image, specifically it is a small electric diode which, lighting up in different colors according to the need, gives life to the image that appears in the monitor of any electronic device.

Having understood the basics of creating an image on a monitor, let's now look at the direct correlation between pixels and resolution.

RESOLUTION
The term resolution is certainly the most used in the field of screens, TVs or smartphones and must be the basic point that will make one choose one device over another.
To understand what resolution is, let's go back to the pixel, in fact these small "luminous dots" are arranged following a precise arrangement inside our screen, in fact they make up a perfect grid like a chessboard. It is precisely the correlation between the number of pixels arranged in height (column) and width (row) that "creates" the resolution. Taking an example, if our PC monitor has a resolution of 1920×1080 it means that in each column we will find 1920 pixels while in each row we will find 1080 pixels for a total of approximately 2 million pixels or more simply 2 megapixels. It goes without saying that the higher the number of pixels on a screen, the higher the quality of the images, which is also correlated to the actual size of the screen.

Over the years the world of technology has really made great strides and monitors are no exception. If in the 80s we had monochrome monitors with a resolution of 80 columns by 25 rows, we have now arrived at screens with an 8K resolution (7680×4320 pixels) and billions of colors. With this enormous cauldron of different resolutions it was decided to give a definition and a standard to all of this, to exemplify everything and to also make the lives of developers easier. Below we will look at all the types of resolutions that have appeared over the years. It must be said that currently many resolutions are no longer used as they are too obsolete.

MDA
The MDA (Monochrome Display Adapter) resolution was the first video resolution introduced in 1981 by IBM, it is not a real graphics mode in fact it only allows the display of text arranged in 80 columns by 25 rows, you will surely have only seen this type of monitor in TV series or movies set in the 80s

CGA
The CGA (Color Graphics Adapter) standard was also introduced in 1981 by IBM and like its predecessor it was able to transmit only text but this time in two different resolutions 320×200 and 640×200 pixels )

EGA
It was the natural evolution of the CGA. In fact, the EGA (Enhanced Graphic Adapter) standard developed by IMB in 1984 allows you to display 16 colors and no longer just text with a resolution of 640x350 pixels, mind-boggling for the time.

VGA
This was the turning point standard for the beginning of computer graphics, in fact the VGA (Video Graphics Array) standard allowed users to display up to 256 colors on video with a maximum resolution of 640×480 pixels in 4:3 monitors.

XGA
The Roaring '90s ushered in the exponential growth of technological achievements. The XGA (Extended Graphic Array) standard in fact derives directly from VGA but introduces notable improvements. We find up to 65,536 colors with a depth of 16bit and a maximum resolution of 1024×768 pixels, always on screens with a 4:3 ratio.

WXGA
With the introduction of Wide Screen monitors, therefore no longer with a "square" format but a horizontal 16:9 or 16:10, it was necessary to resort to measures regarding the adaptation of the resolution standard, and thus the birth of WXGA (Wide Extended Graphic Array). This standard brings with it a resolution of 1280×768 pixels for monitors in 16:9 format while 1280×800 pixels for those in 16:10 format.

HD 720
With the HD 720 standard or more commonly called HD Ready, the first step towards high resolution has been taken, in fact for a long time it was the television and IT standard with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels in monitors with a 16:9 format.

FullHD
FullHD is without a doubt currently the most widespread resolution standard, just think of digital terrestrial in our home TVs. Finally we can talk about true high resolution with its 1920×1080 pixels and 16.7 million colors which returns sharp and well-defined images.

2K
The evolution of FullHD is certainly the 2k standard with a resolution of 2048×1080 pixels. It is widely used by many smartphone manufacturers for their flagship products.

4K
Initially used only in very high-end equipment, it is now becoming the standard for home TVs. The UHD (Ultra High Definition) resolution commonly called 4K has 4096×2160 pixels and a color depth of 24 bits. In the information sector, therefore for the monitor of our PCs, unfortunately it is not yet very widespread as the high cost limits many users in purchasing a 4K screen and therefore a machine capable of managing this amount of resolution.

8K
The evolution of the 4K standard is represented by 8K. With a resolution of 7680x4320 pixels it will perhaps be the standard of the future, currently equipment with stratospheric prices, but soon we too will be able to enjoy a resolution of this type.