Resolution: 1080p, 1440p, 4K
What screen resolution means, the real difference between 1080p, 1440p and 4K, and whether PS5 needs a 4K TV.
Resolution is how many pixels make up the picture — the tiny dots the image is built from. More pixels means a sharper, more detailed image, because the same picture is drawn with finer pieces. Resolution is written either as the height (1080p, 1440p) or by a nickname (4K).
What is the difference between 1080p, 1440p and 4K?
It is a pixel count, and the jumps are bigger than the names suggest:
- 1080p (Full HD) — 1920 × 1080, about 2 million pixels.
- 1440p (QHD) — 2560 × 1440, about 3.7 million pixels. Common on gaming monitors, rare on televisions.
- 4K (UHD) — 3840 × 2160, about 8.3 million pixels. Four times 1080p.
How much of that you actually see depends on screen size and how far away you sit. On a large screen, or sitting close, 4K is clearly sharper. On a small screen across a room, the difference between 1080p and 4K shrinks to very little.
Do I need a 4K TV for PS5?
No. The PS5 works on a 1080p television and games run normally. What you gain from a 4K set is a sharper image, and — if the TV supports it — the option of HDR and of 120Hz modes in games that offer them.
If you are buying a television for a PS5, resolution is not the only thing worth checking. A 4K screen with a poor panel can look worse than a good 1080p one. Contrast, brightness, HDR support and input lag all affect how games actually look and feel. Check the PS5 page for consoles, games and accessories, and ask us on 16280 if you want help matching a television to your setup.