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1080p vs 1080i: What’s the difference?

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If you’ve been TV shopping recently, we’re betting you’ve had all kinds of terminology thrown at you — from HDR to Dolby to QLED, OLED, and 4K. Then there’s 1080p and 1080i. While you won’t typically see 1080i in sales copy, it’s something you’ll often see when you’re using your TV (depending on the type of content you’re watching). But what does it mean, and how does it compare to 1080p? Here’s a quick comparison of the two resolutions.

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The difference explained

We’ll start with the abbreviations — 1080p is short for 1080 progressive scan, whereas 1080i is short for 1080 interlaced scan. The difference between these two formats is how they’re displayed on your screen. In an interlaced scan, the image is displayed by illuminating odd and even pixel rows in an alternating fashion. Your TV does this so rapidly (each field flashes 30 times per second) that your eyes aren’t capable of noticing the switch, so at any given moment you see what appears to be a fully-assembled picture.

Interlaced scan example

Progressive scan, other the other hand, scans every row of pixels progressively, refreshing every row on the screen 60 times per second. Technologically speaking, this is harder to pull off, but it’s generally agreed upon that progressive scan produces superior images compared to those produced via interlaced scan. This is why you’ll often hear 1080p touted as “true” or “full” HD by people hoping to differentiate it from 1080i or 720p. The benefits of progressive scan become especially apparent during scenes with lots of motion — just take a look at the pictures below and note the stark differences in clarity and sharpness.

Interlaced scan
Interlaced scan
Progressive scan
Progressive scan

While 1080p video is definitely preferable to 1080i, it’s also worth noting that unless you’ve got above-average eyesight, you probably won’t be able to notice a difference between the two on smaller screens. Generally speaking, you need a TV bigger than 42 inches in order to discern 1080i from 1080p — and that’s also dependent on how far away you’re sitting. Generally, for fast-moving images, 1080p offers superior image quality that prevents the appearance of the screen “tearing” that can occur with 1080i.

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Another thing to consider is that nearly all new HDTVs you can buy today are capable of de-interlacing 1080i video signals so they look just like 1080p, which makes it even harder to notice a difference.

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The ugly truth about your cable/satellite service’s HD signal

If you’ve noticed that the HD content you watch on your cable or satellite box pales in comparison to the picture quality you get from your Blu-ray player, or you get frustrated when your TV’s info bar shows that you’re watching 1080i even though you have a 1080p TV, you’re not alone in your disappointment. There is a reason for this, however.

The only way cable and satellite companies can deliver 3,000 channels (ok, maybe we’re exaggerating a little), many of them in HD, is by compressing their video signals in an effort to squeeze more information into a crowded pipeline. This compression robs the signal of its pristine clarity and sharpness and can introduce blocky color gradations into the picture. For a highly revealing example of the difference, try tuning in to one of your locally broadcast HD stations on both your cable/sat box and through your TV’s tuner (you will need an HD antenna for this). Now, switch back and forth between the two and note the difference in quality.

Wait, what about 4K?

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TV
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

These days, 1080p and 1080i are old hat compared to the much more publicized 4K format available with most new HDTVs (often classed as UHD TVs). With 4K resolution, picture clarity is sharper and more colorful than ever. Consumers can also enjoy sitting quite a bit closer to their living room TV without noticing any sort of distortion in the image. This is because 4K TVs display close to four times the number of pixels as a standard 1080p set. Simply put, the more pixels on display, the better the picture quality. Better yet, most UHD sets will also upconvert a standard HD image, making your regular HD sources look closer to actual 4K.

In terms of content, it’s still a tough bet when it comes to cable and satellite boxes. With many providers just catching up to 1080p broadcasting, full

4K from your cable company

 may never arrive. And, like with 1080p broadcasts, the 4K broadcasts you’ll find right now are all compressed. Whether your street runs off fiber optics or not, it’s tough to squeeze that amount of picture info through your cable lines and into your home. For 4K TV owners, the best way to experience the resolution is through smart TV apps, a streaming device, or a 4K Blu-ray player.

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Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco has been writing about and working with consumer tech for well over a decade, writing about everything from…
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