It’s pretty easy to choose the 1080p, 1440p screen by opting to go with which one has the greater resolution. However, a factor that so often goes unnoticed is Pixel Per Inch, PPI. This reads pixels per inch. Some scenarios are in favor of 1080p, having better views because of advantages in higher PPI when smaller screens are concerned.
What is Pixel Per Inch (PPI)?
The term PPI stands for pixels per inch. This is the number of pixels occupied by an inch of the display screen. This is directly related to how sharp or clear images will appear on the screen. In simple terms, therefore, the higher the PPI, the denser are the pixels and hence the more detailed images that it is capable of putting up. However, PPI is also dependent on both the resolution and size of the screen.
Why is PPI so important?
- A pixel per inch thus measures the pixel density in each inch, thereby defining the sharpness and clarity of a screen.
- Higher PPI can give more definite and sharp images and texts, meaning better display quality.
- Higher PPI is particularly very effective for purposes that consume a lot of visual detail, for example, reading, photo edit, or gaming.
- The effect of the PPI varies according to the screen size as well as the viewing distance. Typically, at smaller screens, or when viewed from further distances, the visual difference is less pronounced because of PPI.
Mathematical Breakdown
- 1080p 1920×1080 pixels
- 1440p 2560×1440 pixels
- Screen size 24 inches (diagonally)
clearly, 1440p has more pixels per inch on the same screen size as compared to 1080p 122.38 PPI vs. 91.79 PPI. That is a higher resolution with sharper images. Then why does 1080p find itself in better scenarios than 1440p?
Why 1080p is Better in Some Cases
1. Readability of the text
- At smaller screen sizes (21-24 inches), the PPI contrast between 1080p and 1440p is hardly noticeable unless you sit extremely close.
- When at a comfortable distance, text readability becomes easier with 1080p, not like you need to scale anything.
- For everyday activities, 1080p would probably look sharp and crisp enough for most users.
2. Performance
- More powerful resolutions like 1440p demand far more power from your graphics card.
- If your hardware is not capable of running games or applications at 1440p, then you can experience performance drops.
- It uses lesser resources, and that makes it a smoother performance with good visual quality since it uses 1080p.
Conclusion
The deciding factor between 1080p and 1440p will be based on the amount of PPI, yet sometimes it is handy to have the size of the screen and the effect on performance in relation to choosing between these two options. In a 24-inch monitor, the 1440p screen will present greater pixel density however, if you sit far or are only using the monitor for a task that doesn’t necessarily require high resolution, then 1080p will provide balance between sharpness and better performance.
The decision between the two will depend on your needs whether you want pixel-sharp images or smooth performance.
