Resolution refers to the number of dots or “pixels” that comprise the image. Take care to note the "native" resolution of the projector you're interested in - while a projector may be able to work with several resolutions, there is one native resolution at which it works best. Here are the most common resolutions explained:
SVGA - 800 x 600 - This is a very popular resolution for projectors because of their attractive cost. SVGA is good for projecting simple graphics and presentations, or for use in low cost home theatre systems.
WVGA - 854 x 480 - An excellent way to achieve a native 16:9 aspect ratio and keep the cost down, WVGA is good for the entry level home theater environment. Since most DVD's are still sending a 480p signal at best, these projectors actually produce an outstanding display for that medium, since no scaling is required.
WSVGA - 960 x 540 - Another home theater 16:9 aspect ratio display, but with slightly higher resolution than WVGA for a more detailed picture.
WSGA - 1024 x 576 - WSGA inches closer to high-definition display, best for home theater 16:9 aspect ratio display. Many entry-level to midrange home theater projectors feature this resolution to achieve only slightly scaled HDTV images at a reduced price.
XGA - 1024 x 768 - XGA is currently the most common resolution and is suitable for the higher resolution images that most presenters prefer from videos, spreadsheets, and graphics.
WXGA - 1280 x 720 - Featuring native HDTV resolution, WXGA is currently the most popular hi-quality resolution for use in 16:9 home theater environments since HDTV and equivalent content can be viewed without scaling.
SXGA - 1280 x 1024 - SXGA projectors are considered very high resolution for computer and presentation graphics, and are notably more expensive than XGA. These products are targeted for high-end workstation applications. They are used primarily for command and control, engineering and CAD/CAM applications where acute resolution of small details is important.
WXGA - 1366 x 768 - Hi-resolution home theater projectors, featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio, can take advantage of WXGA's balance between resolution and cost.
SXGA+ 1400 x 1050 - SXGA+ is a resolution that is appearing more and more on laptops and flat panel displays. The additional "screen real estate" and enhanced detail are ideal for road warriors and boardrooms alike.
WXGA+ 1400 x 788 - A widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) version of SXGA+, this resolution provides enhanced clarity for high end computer applications, but is still outstanding for home theater.
WSXGA - 1600 x 900 - WSXGA features the extremely hi-definition and vivid picture of a hi-resolution home theater (using the 16:9 aspect ratio) display.
UXGA - 1600 x 1200 - UXGA is for very high resolution workstation applications that are detail or information intensive. These are high-end projectors that support a broad range of computer equipment.
UWXGA - 1920 x 1080 - 1920 x 1080 is the highest widescreen resolution available today for home theater projector applications. This makes the system suitable not only for high-end home theater use but also for critical viewing venues such as museums and post-production screening rooms. No scaling is required for 1080i/1080p content so this resolution is ideal for today and tomorrow's highest definition content.
QXGA - 2048 x 1536 - QXGA is for extremely high resolution workstation applications that are very detail or information intensive. End users who need extreme detail displayed on a huge screen will find what they need at this resolution. |
