Overview

Most resolutions fall into one of three eras, eaching with a specific identifier abbreviation patterns. Each shift marked by a significant bump in pixel-count, compared to the previous one at the time.
  1. Graphics Array
    , suffix from canonical VGA then the late XGA.
  2. High-Definition
    , suffix from canonical HD, or alt. identifiers 720p, 1080i, etc. as pixel-height plus scan-method character.
  3. nK Resolutions
    , suffix K approximating pixel-width e.g. 4K, 8K
Aspect-Ratios
Name Fraction Approximation
Classic 4:3 1.333
Wide (GA) 3:2 1.5
Wide-Quad (GA) 16:10 1.6 ≈ φ
Wide (HD) 16:9 1.777
DCI 4K 256:135 1.8962
Consumer Ultra-Wide 64:27 2.037
Ultra-Wide 21:9 2.333
Anamorph. Wide 12:5 2.4
Super Ultra-Wide 32:9 3.555
Video Graphics Array
Identifier Long Small
XGA 1024 px 768 px
DoubleVGA 960 px 640 px
SuperVGA 800 px 600 px
VGA 640 px 480 px
hVGA 480 px 320 px
qVGA 320 px 240 px
hqVGA 240 px 160 px
qqVGA 160 px 120 px

High Definition
Identifier Long Small
UHD or 2160p 3840 px 2160 px
FHD or 1080p 1920 px 1080 px
HD or 720p 1280 px 720 px
qHD 960 px 540 px
576p 720 px 576 px
DV or 480p 720 px 480 px

K-Resolution
Identifier Long Small ρ Total
4K UHDTV 3840 px 2160 px 1.777 / 16:9 8.294 Mpx
4K DCI 4096 px 2160 px 1.896 / 256∶135 8.847 Mpx
8K UW 7680 px 2160 px 3.555 / 32∶9 16.59 Mpx
8K UW 7680 px 2400 px 3.2 / 16∶5 18.43 Mpx
8K UW 7680 px 3200 px 2.4 / 12∶5 24.58 Mpx
8K UW 7680 px 3240 px 2.370 / 64∶27 24.88 Mpx
8K UHDTV 7680 px 4320 px 1.777 / 16∶9 33.18 Mpx
8K DCI 8192 px 4320 px 1.896 / 256∶135 35.39 Mpx
8K DCI 8192 px 4608 px 1.777 / 16:9 37.75 Mpx
8K DCI 8192 px 5120 px 1.6 / 16:10 41.94 Mpx
8K Square 8192 px 8192 px 1 / 1∶1 67.11 Mpx

High-Definition

HD Resolutions are written 720p, 1080i, etc. The numeric part designates the vertical line-count (i.e. the pixel height, or rectangle small-side with standard horizontal displays). The last letter designates the scanning method, to show the image:

  • p: progressive scan. Single-pass capture. Prevents artifacts, but demands a higher band-width.
  • i: interlaced scan. Two time-shifted passes. Prone to artifacts but more economical on band-width.
The trade-off is a compromise, both may be preferred depending on needs. Regardless 1080i and 1080p have the same pixel counts, this holds in all HD resolutions. In the rest of the page, they are used interchangeably.


K-Resolutions

The terms are simply the numerical pixel-width (vs. pixel-height for HD standards): given ρ=16:9, 2K is equivalent to FHD or 1080p, 4K is equivalent to UHD or 2160p, 8K (highest in the Rec.2020 UHD-TV standard) is equivalent to 4320p. There are two standards around the same terms, used in two different industries:
  1. UHDTV (Television and consumer media)
  2. DCI (Movie projection)