Gamers who have built or customized their PCs better understand the need for compromise. Whether you’re working or playing, you want the most satisfactory possible visual quality and resolution on a PC.
Regarding 1080p vs 1440p gaming, what’s the difference, you ask? The 1080p resolution contains a total of 2,073,600 pixels, or 1920x1080p. The total number of pixels in a 1440p is 2560px1440p or 3,686,400. Also, there are 43.75 percent more pixels when going from 1080p to 1440p.
Using a comparison chart, we’ll learn how to identify the differences between 1080p and 1440p resolutions, as well as their benefits. And so forth and upward!
Which One Is Best For You?
Current industry standards advocate 1440p rather than 1080p for most experienced users like gamers. Since the user should sit no closer than three feet (or 90 cm) away from the monitor, we propose a 27 inches wide display with a 240-hertz refresh rate instead of 144 hertz.
The distance between the user and the display surface might impact hardware performance; therefore, it’s essential to keep reading this article if you want to get the most out of your screens and also for the PC gamer.
While more extensive displays give more room, they may not suit everyone’s demands if someone prefers taking up less desktop space. Viewing distance impacts how much real estate they utilize for individuals who sit closer than 3 feet away.
Comparison Table of 1080p vs 1440p Resolution
| Criteria | 1440p | 1080p |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz and 240Hz |
| Requirement of CPU and GPU | Medium to High end | Low to Medium end |
| Min. Viewing Distance | 2 – 3 ft. | 3 – 4 ft. |
| Best Screen Size | 27” and more | 22” and 27” |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Price Comparison | Much | Comparatively Less |
What’s the Difference?
For the time being, it seems that the option between 1080p and 1440p gaming displays is the clear winner. Let’s take a closer look at the variations between these two resolutions in terms of some of the most important aspects of a display.
1. Refresh Rates
A monitor’s refresh rate refers to how often it redraws a picture on the screen to provide the illusion of movement. As an analogy, imagine it as a page-flipper. It seems like the page flipping is less smooth the slower you go.
On a computer screen, the same holds. Stuttered movement and excessive screen flicker caused by low refresh rates may be very tiring to the eye; thus, they’re not recommended if you plan on playing for extended periods.
Moving up to 1440p is like taking two steps ahead and one back in video performance since the slower refresh rate of a higher resolution monitor is standard without screen tearing. There are many 1440p displays available with refresh rates over 150Hz, but for smooth gameplay without motion blur, you need a 120Hz refresh rate.
2. Screen Distance And Dimensions
For 1080p, a 27-inch screen is recommended. You may start to notice a decrease in image quality if the camera is any more significant than that. At 32 inches, 1440p screens have the same sharpness as a 24″ 1080p panel, making them ideal between 28 and 32 inches.
Even with high resolution, displays more than 32 inches will make it difficult to see the whole screen simultaneously while playing near-screen games at the best gaming monitor.
In addition, varied viewing distances are considered while designing these resolutions. A 3.2ft distance between your face and a 1080p display is recommended for the best visual quality and most minor strain on your eyes.
When playing at 1440p, that distance is reduced to 2.6ft, thus depending on your preferred method of gameplay like XBOX series X and the size of your gaming rig, one may be more appropriate than the other.
3. Pixel Density – PPI
The number of pixels on a display doesn’t only depend on its resolution – it also depends on its pixel density. Pixel density is simply the number of pixels per inch (PPI). A higher PPI means more detailed images.
So what does this mean for the difference between a 1080p resolution and a 1440p resolution? Well, at 1440p, the image still looks smooth due to the higher PPI. However, because there are three times as many pixels on the display as at 1080p, objects onscreen look noticeably sharper. This is why most monitors with a 1440p resolution also have a higher PPI than those with a 1080p resolution.
4. Frame Rates
Your AMD GPU and CPU work together to produce a higher frame rate, but your native resolution makes it possible. You can get more frames per second on a monitor with a lower resolution, such as refresh rates. There is more pixel density to manage, and more pixels mean a more important job on your GPU; thus, whatever frame rate your system gets at 1080p will be almost half when you raise settings to 1440p.
In the eyes of many professional gamers, the frame rate is more significant than the additional clarity provided by 1440p displays. Therefore, they opt for the lower resolution. A very rapid screen real estate will give them a higher chance of winning, but crisper lines won’t aid them in a circumstance where they need to respond quickly and instinctively.
Additionally, since 1080p is the most often used resolution during competitions, training in any lower resolution would be detrimental to their chances of success.
5. Aspect Ratio
The resolution specifies the number of pixels on display, while the aspect ratio shows the connection between the width and height. Aspect ratio numbers don’t have units since they define the dimensions concerning one another; hence the ratio is constant regardless of the unit in which it is measured.
It’s a widescreen ratio ideal for a broad range of activities, including gaming, business, and video conferencing, and it’s especially good at reducing picture distortion. The standard aspect ratio for both 1080p and 1440p is 16:9.
Compared to 1080p, 1440p has 78% more pixels; therefore, the picture will always be more transparent and sharper. A side-by-by-side examination of the two resolutions will reveal that 1080p’s lines are more straightforward, and its overall image is less fuzzy.
6. Gaming Performance
When it comes to graphics performance, higher resolutions result in smoother textures and crisper images. This is due to the increased number of pixels onscreen at any given time. In general, 1080p provides a more stable framerate than 1440p. However, many games actually perform better on 1440p than on 1080p.
The main reason for this is that 1080p suffers from pixelation and jagged lines. This becomes especially apparent when playing older games that were designed for a lower resolution – such as Crysis or Battlefield 3 – which were then ported to 1080p. On the other hand, 1440p doesn’t suffer from those issues as much because most graphics cards can’t hit those high frame rates anyway. Furthermore, newer games are often designed with 1440p in mind from the start. As a result, they typically run faster on that resolution.
So while there may be some slight differences in graphical fidelity between these resolutions, overall gaming performance should be identical unless you have a specific game that requires a higher framerate on one resolution over the other.
7. Display Cost
Consider the display’s price as a secondary consideration in your decision-making process. If we maintain all the criteria like refresh rate, panel technology, and reaction time, 1440p screens are more costly than 1080p displays.
A 144Hz refresh rate goes up if we include it in the equation, even in panel technology. The most expensive panels are OLED, followed by IPS and VA, while the least costly panels are TN.
On the other hand, if money is no object, consider OLED or IPS displays with fast refresh rates and minimal latency. However, if money is an issue, a 1440p 60Hz TN panel is preferable to a 1080p 60Hz TN panel.
However, it makes sense to have the quickest panel you can afford for competitive gaming, no matter the resolution. For example, if you have a 1080p 240Hz monitor, you’ll have an advantage over those with 1440p 60Hz panels.
What Is 1080P Resolution?
HDTV high-definition video modes known as 1080p (also known as Full HD, FHD, and BT.709) consist of 1,920 horizontal and 1,080 vertical pixels, and the p stands for the progressive scan, which means they are non-interlaced.
Assuming a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, the phrase implies that the image has a 2.1-megapixel resolution. To distinguish between 1080p and 720p displays, it is sometimes called “Full HD” or “FHD.”
However, 1080p and 2K are two different technological standards with other resolution and aspect ratio specifications.
ATSC and DVB standards in the United States and Europe enable 1080p video transmissions. Television broadcasts, Blu-ray discs, cellphones, Internet material including YouTube videos and Netflix TV episodes and movies, consumer-grade TVs and projectors, computer displays, and gaming consoles all use the 1080p standard. 1080p video and still images can be captured with various devices, including compact camcorders, smartphones, and digital cameras.
Advantages Of A 1080p
You may want a 1080p Full HD monitor for several additional reasons.
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More Customization Options For The Screen
The visual quality of a full HD projector is unaffected by the surface on which it is being used. Clear viewing of conventional projectors typically necessitates specialized screens or white walls. With 1080p projectors, this is not the case. On any clear surface, you may still have a pleasant viewing experience.
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Deeper Colors
Projectors with 1080p resolution provide images with more prosperous, more vibrant colors. To avoid any “bleeding” at the boundaries, they use a wide variety of colors. Regardless of where you sit or how far away you are from the screen, the experience remains the same thanks to the brilliant colors.
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Large, High-Definition Photos
There are no boundaries to the quality of visuals you can get with a full HD projector for your home theater if you get one. Even on a 200-inch surface, a full HD projector can provide an enjoyable viewing experience.
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Portability
Full HD projectors are more considerable than even the most sophisticated flat-panel TVs despite the current trend toward ever-smaller consumer devices. You can fit your projector into a backpack that can also hold your laptop. ‘ With a 32-inch TV, you can’t take it anywhere without much difficulty.
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Improved Clarity And Precision
The typical 1080p projector gives five times the resolution of your standard-definition television. Instantly noticeable is the tremendous change in crispness. For example, in the eyes of video characters, you’ll see color flecks and other tiny features that might usually be overlooked.
The clarity provided by a 1080p projector is superior to that of lesser resolution alternatives, whether you need it for work or your home theater.
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Surround Sound Using Dolby Digital 5.1 Technology
720p (or below) projectors can only depict a portion of the audio when playing back video encoded with 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Only by using a full HD projector can the entire experience be shown.
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Eye Health Improvements
These high-definition pictures can be seen from any angle without putting pressure on your eyes, making them ideal for your vision health. To put it another way, if you move from an SDTV to an HDTV, you’ll notice that your eyes are adjusting right away. While taking an eye exam, it’s common for people to struggle to see tiny writing quickly after reading big text.
What Is The Resolution Of 1440p?
An example of a 1440-pixel-wide video display resolution is known as 1440p. A progressive scan, or non-interlaced video, is denoted by the p. Double the vertical resolution of 720p, the 1440 pixel vertical resolution is one-third (approximately 33.3%) higher than 1080p.
In the 16:9 aspect ratio, 2560 x 1440 pixels are referred to as “Quad HD” or “Wide Quad HD” (Wide Quad HD). Quad HD has several applications, including smartphone screens and game consoles with high-definition graphics.
You may show 1440p video at 1920×1440 or greater resolutions such as QXGA or 2304×1440 via scaling, windowbox, pillarboxing, or other methods. An aspect ratio of 16:9 needs an explanation of 2560*1440 (WQHD), which may be achieved with WQXGA, 2560*1920 (or greater) with letterboxing, scaling, or window boxing. WQXGA, which is widescreen 1440p, is supported by HDMI 1.3.
The Advantages Of 1440p Resolution
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More Explanatory
Compared to 1080p, the picture is sharper and more detailed since there are more pixels. A 1080p display illustrates what you may expect to see on this page. Think back to your previous 1080p 144hz experience, but picture it considerably sharper and fuller of small details. 1080p and 1440p 144HZ are effectively two different resolutions.
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Best For Spot Players
Competitive Fortnite players may benefit from using a 1440p display with a IPS panel, which makes it easier to see far away opponents and other game elements (assuming a view distance of far or epic). In light of Epic’s decision to further saturate the skin pool, recognizing all skins is critical, and extra pixels can never hurt.
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Images Of The Best Quality
Those who are fussy about the resolution at which you play will undoubtedly notice a quality improvement when moving to 1440p. Returning to 1080p will seem unthinkable once the flaws of that resolution become abundantly clear. It’s like when you went from 60fps to 144fps for the first time.
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Enhancements To The Gaming Experience
You may notice a tiny improvement in your gaming if you choose 1440p, which has a more considerable number of pixels. To put it another way, the more pixels you have to aim at, the better your chances of getting a headshot in Battlefield 1 or other gaming performance. 1440p has a 10-pixel representation of your target’s head, compared to 5 pixels in 1080p.
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Runs At 144HZ
Choosing a gaming monitor might be one of the most challenging components of building a high-end gaming PC since many factors are to consider. Although this isn’t a must, a good monitor should have the resolution and refresh rate you choose for gaming. Also, consider the GTG’s reaction time and other factors like screen size, VESA mountability (if relevant), speakers, and more.
Professional vs. Home Use: 1080p vs. 1440p
A 1440p monitor resolution, particularly with a 27-inch or larger screen, provides more extraordinary real estate for productivity, content production (such as video and picture editing), and general usage. Two programs may be open simultaneously on the same screen to maximize your workspace.
Playing a Full HD movie at 1080p vs 1440p gaming display may lower the quality somewhat (due to the media player’s upconversion) for media consumption. However, 4K videos are already available on YouTube and other streaming media providers. As a result, for the optimum picture quality, use a 1440p monitor.
Others Resolutions You Need To Know
2160p / 4K Resolution
Until recently, 4K gaming displays were out of reach for most consumers due to their high cost, but that is changing rapidly. In our opinion, playing at a higher refresh rate is more crucial than playing at a higher resolution for your gaming experience. To play 4K games at high refresh rates like 240Hz, you’ll need a top-of-the-range PC. If you can’t get 240 Hz at 4K, our recommendation is to remain with 1440p at the same framerate.
4320p / 8K Resolution
If you don’t have the most incredible gaming system with several GPUs, we recommend avoiding 8K displays at this time. The performance requirements are incredibly high to run 8K games with an acceptable frame rate/refresh rate. If you want to appreciate the additional visual detail, 8K gives, you’ll need a considerable monitor and be seated pretty near it. This will necessitate moving your head to view the corners of the screen, which will distract from the gaming experience.
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A Few More Variables To Consider
1. Distance Between Your Eyes And The Screen
At a distance, it’s more challenging to see minute details. As a result, if you like to work at a distance from your monitor, investing in a high-resolution display may be a waste of money. Using this chart from Forbes, you can see how far away from your screen you should be to get the best viewing experience, depending on the resolution and size of your display.
2. Content You Are Viewing
Some of the material you see may have been upscaled, which means the best resolution has been artificially increased with a better graphics card. This means that the content doesn’t seem as lovely as it should. To be offered to customers, certain Ultra HD Blu-rays, for example, must be upscaled from a lower resolution (often 1080p) to a higher resolution (usually 4K).
3. The Monitor’s Size
Each resolution has an ideal monitor size that prevents the pixels on the screen from being stretched over the screen to the point where the sharpness is compromised. Please see this page for more information on the best sizes for many popular resolutions and their ideal sizes.
4. Your Monitor’s Rate Of Refresh
To summarize, the refresh rate measures how many times the screen redraws itself per second. 60 Hz is more than enough for most applications, including video gaming.
5. Handling PC Capability
Generally, 1080p and 1440p work on the most recent desktops and laptops. But for higher-resolution displays, your PC will need more special hardware to support the additional resolution. There are also some configurations and factors of your PC which play a vital role in increasing your monitor’s performance.
Performance vs. Resolution
We’ve reached the point where we need to make the sacrifices we discussed at the outset of this piece. Depending on what you’re looking for, you may discover high-performance monitors, those with the greatest resolution on the market, and displays that fall somewhere in between. Monitors that give the best of both worlds are complicated to come by. A decrease in frame rate directly results from increasing resolution and vice versa.
Most 1440p monitors can provide a 60 Hz refresh rate without breaking the bank if you’re just a competitive gamer or only interested in single-player games. If you’re more of a competitive player (and aren’t afraid to spend much money), you may want to consider a 1080p monitor. It’s possible to run 1080p at a maximum resolution of 144 or 240 Hz with 1080p, and it’s cheaper. High refresh rates are more expensive than 1440p capabilities.
Some More About The Topics
1. Is 1440p really worth it for gaming?
As a whole, 1440P will not benefit every player. Competition-level players on a tighter budget may be better served by an HD 144Hz HD 1080p display. A 4K 60Hz display may be a better choice for gamers who love to play visually attractive games.
2. Do pro gamers use 1440p?
It all relies on your system’s capabilities. Even though I play at 1920×1080 on a setup with a 144Hz panel and an RTX 2060, you’ll have frame drops and a frustrating gaming experience if you run the game at a higher render resolution. If you’re a pro, you don’t need to play at 1440p.
3. Why do pro gamers use 24-inch monitors?
As a result, you won’t have to shift your head about as much while playing competitively on a 24 Inch Monitor. Professional gamers, particularly those preparing to play for long periods.
4. Is 24 or 27 better for gaming?
24 or 27 displays, which is better? 27-inch at a regular viewing distance, this would deliver the optimum gaming experience. If you’re looking for a better gaming experience, 24″/1080p 27″/1440p is a great option.
5. Is 1440p bad for competitive gaming?
The best gaming resolution for competitive players is 1080p. In other words, although the game may appear better on a 1440P or 4K display, the overall experience is better if the refresh rate is increased rather than the screen resolution.
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the verdict on 1080p Vs 1440p gaming? 1440p appears nicer than 1080p. However, the difference may not be obvious until your screen is at least 25 inches in size. If you’re looking for an ultra-high-resolution 1440p display that’s also fast enough to compete with a 1080p display, expect to pay a hefty price.
