What is the Difference Between a 1080p and 1080i HDTV?
High definition television (HDTV) is a welcome change from the old standard analog TVs, but there is no shortage of confusion when it comes to choosing a unit. One of the most asked questions is what is the difference between a 1080i and 1080p HDTV? The question itself mixes apples and oranges but marketing has led to much of the confusion. In reality a 1080i HDTV is a 720p HDTV. But let’s start at the beginning. There are two types of HD broadcasts: 720p and 1080i. Broadcasts in 720p utilize a resolution of 1280 x 720, or a picture composed of 1280 pixels across and 720 pixels high. The “p” in 720p stands for progressive scan, meaning the picture is painted from top to bottom in a single pass, refreshed (repainted) 60 times per second. Broadcasts in 1080i utilize a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080, theoretically resulting in better quality picture. However, the “i” stands for interlaced. Interlaced images are painted in a two-pass process. The first pass paints every other line, the s
