- The graphic display resolution is the width, or horizontal, and height, or vertical, dimensions of a TV screen display, which is measured in pixels: 720p translates to 1,280 by 720 pixels and 1080p to 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. Thus, the numbers 720 and 1080 stand for the height of the display. As of the time of publication, 1080p is the best resolution that the PlayStation 3 supports and HDTVs use. The 720p mode, on the other hand, represents the lowest HDTV display standard.
- Despite 1080p placed above the 720p, the benefits are either evident or hard to distinguish between the video modes, depending on the screen size of the HDTV. PlayStation 3 users might not be able to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a TV set that is smaller than 40 inches in diagonal measurement. The 720p mode, however, is better with TVs smaller than 40 inches; anything larger than that would require a wider pixel dispersal, and consequently leads to degradation of the gaming display. Thus, 1080p is best with PlayStation 3-connected TVs larger than 40 inches.
- The "p" suffix of the 720p and 1080p stands for "progressive scan." A more accurate term is "sequential scanning," since video modes with this feature draw each line that makes up the screen display in sequence. Progressive scanning is also called non-interlaced scanning to set it apart from interlaced video, which constitutes alternation between odd lines and even lines. Thus, progressive scan mode sends twice as much data to the screen as interlaced mode.
- In addition to 720p and 1080p, the PlayStation 3 also supports the 1080p's interlaced counterpart, which is 1080i. The fourth and fifth resolution standards that the PlayStation 3 supports are 480p and 480i, which stand for a display resolution of 640 by 480 pixels. This standard is used by analog TVs, and represents the absolute lowest video mode with which the PlayStation 3 is compatible.