Smart TVs & Full HD: 11 Answers (For Beginners)

One of the main selling points of smart TVs is their screen resolution.

After all, who doesn’t want crisp images when watching an action-packed movie on Netflix?

Start by reading our article on how long HDTVs normally last. While Full HD is a good resolution, 4k resolution is being touted as the new industry standard smart TVs. You may be asking yourself if it’s time to shift to a higher resolution TV.

Here’s What You Need to Know about Smart TVs and Full HD.

Smart TVs are available in different resolutions. Full HD is the lowest resolution, and it is the default resolution for many streaming platforms. Many smart TVs on the market today have upgraded to 4k resolution, while some have adopted 8k, the highest streaming resolution available.

1. What’s the Difference between a Smart TV and a Full HD TV?

A smart TV connects to the Internet so you can watch programs from different apps downloaded onto your TV, like Netflix and Hulu.

A smart TV will have at least full HD, 1080p resolution, with many modern units capable of going as high as 4k and even 8k resolution.

Meanwhile, a full HD TV can display content in full HD, 1080p resolution, at the most. Also, not all full HD TVs are smart TVs.

2. Do All Smart TVs Come with Full HD?

All smart TVs on the market today will have at least full HD resolution, although they are not that abundant anymore because the industry standard now for smart TVs is 4k resolution.

3. Can a Full HD TV Be Turned into a Smart TV?

If you have a full HD TV that is not a smart TV, you can turn it into one using streaming sticks or boxes.

Devices such as the Fire TV Stick or Roku Streaming Stick let your full HD TV stream content from the Internet.

And while there are streaming devices that can display in 4k, they will also work with full HD TVs.

Learn more about turning your TV into a smart TV in our articles Smart TVs Vs. Amazon Fire Stick? 13 Answers (For Beginners) and Are FireStick And Roku Sticks The Same? (Explained For Beginners).

4. Is Full HD High Enough Resolution for a Smart TV Today?

Full HD is a perfectly fine resolution, especially considering the fact that many streaming apps do not have 4k resolutions available yet.

So, if you are on a budget and want to get a decent smart TV, it’s fine to get a full HD resolution TV. You’ll still get a great viewing experience!

5. Is Full HD the Best Resolution Available for a Smart TV?

Full HD is the most basic resolution for a smart TV; it is not the best resolution available.

The highest resolution available is currently 8k. But it is still relatively new, so only the latest smart TV models are equipped with 8k, and few programs are available for viewing in 8k.

Most smart TVs on the market today have 4k resolution. 4k is the highest viewing resolution available for many of the popular streaming services today.

6. What’s the Difference between Full HD, Ultra HD, and 4K?

Full HD is the lowest resolution available. It has dimensions of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Ultra HD includes both 4k and 8k resolutions.

• 4k resolution is the most common resolution for smart TVs on the current market. It has dimensions of 4096 x 2160 pixels.
• 8k is currently the highest resolution available for a TV. It has a dimension of 7680 x 4320 pixels.

7. Do All Smart TV Apps Stream in Full HD?

All apps can stream in full HD.

Most app’s recommended system requirements list full HD support.

8. Will a Full HD Video Work with a 4k Resolution TV?

You won’t have a problem playing full HD videos on a 4k smart TV, as smart TVs can adapt to the resolution of the content being displayed.

4k smart TVs may either scale down their displays to match the resolution of the content, or they may try to upscale the content to match the 4k resolution.

If the latter happens, modern smart TVs try their best to upscale while maintaining quality. You may not get a full 4k resolution, but you can expect something close to it.

9. How Much Bandwidth is Needed to Watch Videos in Full HD?

To watch videos in full HD, it is recommended that you have at least 5 Mbps of bandwidth, on average.

Some apps may need less, but five Mbps is a safe amount to work with.

10. Help, the Video is Pixelated in Full HD!

There are a few factors that may cause a pixelated screen.

One problem could be a lack of bandwidth or slow Internet speed. You should have at least 5 Mbps of bandwidth to watch in full HD.

Another problem could be upscaling resolution.

• If you are using a 4k TV to watch in HD, your TV might not be able to upscale the content properly. Not all 4k TVs are made equal, as some cannot upscale content as well as other TVs.
• If you plan to watch a lot of full HD content but plan to get a 4k TV, look for one with good upscaling features.

11. What Are the Most Sold Smart TVs Brands Today?

The most popular smart TV brands on the market today include:

• Sony,
• Samsung,
• LG,
• Vizio.

Here are popular models from each brand that are worth checking out.

Sony A8H

The Sony A8H is a powerful smart TV from the Japanese brand.

• It comes with an OLED display and can work in different lighting conditions. It has an infinite contrast ratio that produces sharp blacks on the screen, no matter the setting.
• The A8H has great wide viewing angles, which helps when you are seated at an angle from the TV.
• And if you have full HD content, the A8H can upscale content to bring it close to 4k quality.
• HD quality on the A8H is exceptional, thanks to its wide color gamut.

Note that the A8H features an OLED display, which contributes to the sharp imagery but is also its weakest link due to the risk of burn-in that is a risk with all OLED screens.

LG CX

The LG CX is a favorite due to its quality imagery at an affordable price.

• At the core of CX is a high-quality OLED display.
• You also get wide viewing angles, so seating is not a problem when watching with the CX.
• The CX can handle different lighting conditions. Glare and reflections are managed well, and you get deep black when watching at night.

Like the A8H, the CX is also prone to burn-in, but the risk is manageable as long as your refrain from displaying static content for too long.

Vizio P-Series

If you are on a budget, the P-Series is a smart TV worth checking.

• The P-Series comes with a VA panel that helps in achieving a high contrast ratio and full-array local dimming.
• Light is not a problem with the P-Series, thanks to its reflection and glare management.
• The P-Series has a high peak brightness to help enhance image quality when watching HD content.

The weakness of this smart TV is its viewing angles, which can wash out images when watching from an angle.

Samsung Q80T

The Samsung Q80T is a popular choice.

• You get exceptional image quality with the VA panel.
• Late-night watching is enhanced with the Q90T’s full-array local dimming.
• Lighting is also not a problem with the Q80T as it can manage glare and reflections quite well.
• The Q80T has great color accuracy. Out of the box, it will not need any calibration.
• The viewing angles are also excellent on the Q80T, thanks to Samsung’s Ultra Viewing Angle system.

Final Thoughts

Full HD resolution is the lowest resolution available on modern smart TVs. Most smart TVs on the market today have upgraded to 4k resolution.

Remember that not all streaming services support 4k, and in the case of Netflix, if your TV is not recognized as 4k-certified, even if it has a 4k resolution, it will still stream at full HD.

With that said, full HD is still decent, and until every streaming platform adapts 4k as a standard, your existing full HD TV is still good to go.

 

Sources:

How to turn your TV into a Smart TV

Understanding TV Resolutions – Do You Need a 1080p or 4K TV?

Screen Resolution: FHD vs UHD