Screen resolution, otherwise known as display resolution, refers to the display size of a computer or television screen. Specifically, it refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed.

In this guide, we take a look at how screen resolution has evolved over the years and how, in its own subtle way, it has helped shape the world we know and the technology that we use. It’s a technological advancement that many of us take for granted, and below we explore its impact on our lives before looking at what the future holds. 

Let’s start with a more detailed definition. 

What Does Screen Resolution Mean?

As mentioned above, the term screen resolution refers to the number of distinct pixels that it’s possible to display on a screen. 

This total is often shown in the format of width by height. An example may be 1920×1080. This is otherwise known as “1080p”. 

That’s the technical aspect explained, but what does this actually mean in layman’s terms?

Simply put, screen resolution determines the quality of detail and clarity that a screen can offer. The higher the resolution, the greater the detail and sharper the image. 

Conversely, the lower the screen resolution the poorer the image quality. The poorest quality is often blurred or pixelated. 

Examples Of Different Screen Resolutions

There are several different resolution formats that you may have heard of before. They include:

• High Definition (HD) – this screen resolution has now become the standard for video quality. Often referred to as 720p, it offers a crisp, clear image with lots of detail. It’s also a very versatile resolution, making it good for movies and gaming. Most modern TVs and computer monitors come with HD as a minimum. 
• Full High Definition (FHD) – FHD is a higher level of quality than standard HD. It is often known as 1080p. Again, this format is widely used.
• Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K) – the name for this format is often known as either UHD or 4k. This is currently one of the best picture qualities you can get right now. As the name suggests, it offers a quality so sharp you could cut yourself. This screen resolution is often reserved for the very best TVs, home cinemas and computer monitors.
• 8k UHD – there is still one level about UHD and 4k, and that’s 8k. The resolution is a staggering 7680×4320 pixels and can be found in only the most high end televisions. 

So, that’s the technology currently on offer. Let’s take a look at how we reached this stage by exploring its evolution. 

How Has Screen Resolution Evolved Over The Years?

As we’ve seen above, there is a wide range of different screen resolutions currently in use. Some of those resolutions offer unparalleled levels of quality, but the journey to get to this point hasn’t been an easy one. 

The earliest screens relied on a technology known as cathode-ray tubes. These tubes utilized electron beams to illuminate a phosphorescent material onto a screen. It created only a low-resolution display, and mostly in black and white. They were also quite temperamental to use. 

Cathode-ray tubes were used right up until the 1980s when the Video Graphics Array (VGA) was introduced by the company IBM. It offered a standardized video format at 640×480 pixels and became the de facto display right up until the 1990s. 

It wasn’t long before VGA got an upgrade to Super VGA (or SVGA), which offered a resolution of 800×600 pixels. An even more powerful version, the eXtended Graphics Array (XGA) offered even more at 1024×768 pixels. They became standard in most desktop computers, projectors, and televisions. 

Thereafter came the age of HD which we’re still enjoying today. 

The Impact Of Improved Screen Resolution

Improving the technology surrounding screen resolution has enabled other industries to develop and flourish. 

Mobile technology, for example, has enjoyed a boom in advancements over the last decade or so. With crisp and clear touch screens, mobile phones have become almost an essential item for many people around the world. 

Such is their power nowadays; they can be used to stream UHD movies or play games. 

The online casino industry, for example, has been able to offer mobile players a deeper and more immersive experience by unlocking the potential offered by screen resolutions. For example, players can now live stream roulette and pontoon games straight to their phone or tablet in HD, something that wasn’t possible until recently. 

What Does The Future Hold?

The evolution of screen resolution technology hasn’t stopped at UDH and 8k UHD technology. 

In the last few years, there has been a significant push for the adoption of virtual reality (VR) technologies. Companies such as Meta, formerly Facebook, have pivoted their entire business models to the virtual world. Computer game companies are investing heavily in developing VR games too. The hope is that this technology will take off in a major way.

But none of these advancements would have been possible without improvements in screen and display resolution technology. 

Screen resolution in VR is vital to help achieve clear images, such that the player is deeply immersed in the world of the game. A higher resolution also helps reduce the chance of the player experiencing the “screen-door effect”. This is where it’s possible to see more individual pixels. 

A high screen resolution is also necessary in VR when it comes to field of view. The higher the resolution the wider the display without any impact on image quality. This has a huge difference on immersing the player in the game. 

High-quality screen resolution is also needed to help with rendering the images that are being displayed. If the visual technology cannot match the computing power needed for a high-end technology like VR, it could see the VR system fail. It also helps create a more stable environment for players, reducing motion sickness and discomfort and allowing them to play for longer.