720p Vs 1080i: Which Format Is Better?
Every TV which is described as HDTV or HDTV Ready is required to support both 720p and 1080i formats, but you still should know the difference between 720p vs 1080i. A 720p signal is made up of 720 horizontal lines. Each frame is displayed in its entirety on-screen for 1/30th of a second. This is know as progressive scan (hence the ‘p’). The quality is like watching 30 photographic images a second on TV.
A 1080i signal comprises 1080 horizontal lines but all the lines are not displayed on-screen simultaneously. Instead, they are interlaced (hence the ‘i’), ie every other lines is displayed for 1/60th of a second and then the alternate lines are displayed for 1/60th of a second. So, the frame rate is still 30 frames per second, but each frame is split into two fields, which your brain then puts together subconsciously.
