Video Resolution Standards

Resolution describes how much detail a video frame can hold, based on the number of pixels across and down. Comparing frames by their resolution standards helps you judge and compare video quality.

SD, HD and UHD

SD (standard definition) is a lower resolution video format, so the picture can look softer and less detailed. HD (high definition) has a higher resolution than SD and comes in more than one level, such as 720p and 1080p; the number is close to the number of pixel rows down the frame. A higher HD level has more pixels than a lower one, so it can show finer detail.

UHD (ultra high definition) is a higher resolution than HD, and the UHD family is split into two tiers, 4K and 8K.

Why it matters

Higher video resolution significantly improves picture quality because more pixels can show finer detail, cleaner edges and more realistic textures. For example, a clip of a busy market filmed in SD can look blocky on a large screen, in HD the signs on each stall are easy to read, and in 4K you can pick out individual price tags.