Getting a TV with smaller screen size and lower resolution can be affordable and risky at the same time. More than being budget-friendly, you’ll want to buy one that will last a long time and suit your viewing needs. Since you’re already here, let our resident cinephiles evaluate the pros and cons of 720p vs. 1080p TV options to make your shopping experience easier.
720p or 1080p 32-Inch TV?
Differences Between 720p and 1080p
When buying TVs as small as 32 inches, bumping across 720p and 1080p displays is inevitable. Because of this, our team listed several factors below that would help you differentiate two specifications according to your viewing needs.
Screen Resolution – It’s not a secret that higher resolutions equate to better picture quality. So if your television is specified as 720p, its resolution is approximately measured at 1280×720. On the other hand, 1080p is the one that delivers higher display specifications ranging at 1980×1080.
Pixels – The dots forming the image in your TV is called pixels, and it indicates the accuracy of your screen’s display. When content is played, a 1080p TV forms approximately two million pixels, while 720p only delivers less than a million.
HDTV Usage – While both specifications are widely used as HDTV formats, 1080p is more known to deliver smoother Full HD pictures.
Content Availability – Rendering content in 720p displays only requires average-quality operating systems, whereas its 1080p competition demands a high-end interface.
Pricing – Given that 1080p TVs are engineered with recent and advanced technologies, it isn’t much of a surprise for our team to find them more expensive than its 720p alternatives.
Similarities Between 720p and 1080p
Upon shopping for 32-inch TVs, our testers noticed that both 720p and 1080p options don’t differ much in style and construction. In fact, even their connectivity functions seem identical from the get-go and are often compatible with similar multimedia sources.
Comparing 720p and 1080p 32-Inch TVs
720p and 1080p 32-Inch TVs: Up to $200
- Roku TV Interface
- 720p HD Resolution
- Voice Control
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Table & Wall Mount
- Resolution: 1080p
- LED Display
- HDMI & USB Input
Image Quality and Resolution
Your TV’s resolution is among the many factors determining the image quality displayed on the screen [1]. Given Sceptre X325BV-FSR’s 1080p specifications, it’s no wonder that it delivered a more accurate display compared to its TCL alternative with a 720p resolution.
Technology and Smart Features
While both TVs feature power-saving and colorful LED technology, this round of 720p vs. 1080p 32-inch TV testing goes to TCL 32S335 for its Roku TV interface. Despite being on the same price tag, its smart features like voice control compatibility that Sceptre lacks impressed our testers.
Connectivity Options
While setting up both TVs, our resident cinephiles noted that these units have the standard wired connectivity options like HDMI and USB. Naturally, TCL also has Wi-Fi connectivity to accommodate its smart interface, which its competitor unfortunately lacks.
Even though it has inferior picture quality, our testers deemed TCL as a better option for its extensive connectivity, content interface, and smart functions.
720p and 1080p 32-Inch TVs: Up to $500
- 1080p Screen Resolution
- Roku TV Interface
- Voice Command
- Wi-Fi Connectivity
- Full HD 720p Resolution
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- X-Reality PRO
- Streamline Construction
Image Quality and Resolution
With 1080p screen resolution, we already expected TCL 32S327 to have a better contrast ratio and reflection-handling features than Sony. During the test, our team also noticed that it performed massively better in an averagely lit room.
Technology and Smart Features
Delightfully, most 1080p and 720p models in this price range already have smart functions. Upon inspection, we found out that both TVs are engineered with direct-lit LED technology, providing better contrast.
However, the TCL 32S327 still emerged as a better option for its accessible Roku TV interface that beats Sony’s basic smart OS with limited content selections.
Connectivity Options
It’s a pretty close comparison when it comes to connectivity options. Both 1080p and 720p TVs have Wi-Fi to accommodate wireless integration. On top of that, these selections also have enough HDMI and USB ports for wired connections.
Besides having better picture quality, TCL 32S327 proved its superiority with its accessible and bottomless multimedia content interface. It also doesn’t lack connectivity options, which is an equally crucial feature to have in television sets.
Overall Winner: 1080p 32-Inch TV
After putting 1080p vs. 720p 32-inch TV selections in head-to-head evaluations, our team still deemed 1080p models more superior than its alternative. Despite not winning a lower price range due to lack of smart features, it claimed the top place for delivering consistent image quality that remains a crucial factor when shopping for a TV.
