What Is 2K Resolution & How It differs from 4K and 1080p
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Resolutions are not just crucial to gamers or videographers because they determine the quality of an image or video. Unfortunately, they look blurry and unclear with the wrong resolution, lack detail, and we do not get to enjoy high viewing quality. 2K resolution pictures are the most common one. This article highlights what 2K resolution is and why 2K resolution is above other resolutions.
In this article
01 What Is 2K Resolution?
02 2K vs 1080p vs 4K
03 FAQs Related to 2K Resolution
Part 1: What is 2K Resolution?
Information about Resolution
A graphical image comprises pixels; these pixels’ total height and width are the resolutions. For 2K resolution standards, there are specific sizes that make up a 2k resolution. It may transform a laptop or desktop computer with a 2K display. It enables full-screen viewing of Full HD media material. You’ll also discover that the higher image quality makes multitasking and content creation easier (especially if you have one screen). Adobe’s Creative Suite, for example, works better with higher screen resolutions since you can work with greater file sizes at full screen.
Aside from 2K resolution, there are other screen resolutions such as 4K, 8K, and HD.
What Resolution Is 2K?
If the width of the monitor or display falls in the 2000 pixels range, it is considered 2K. Within the range, there are numerous resolutions.
The standard DCI 2K resolution is defined as 2048 x 1080 by DCI (the Digital Cinema Initiatives), who creates standards for digital cinema. But this 2k resolution is not popular when you choose a laptop or buy a PC monitor.
The most common 2K resolution is 2560 x 1440.
2560 x 1440 is officially called QHD (Quad HD), because it contains four times the number of pixels as 720p. These extra pixels provide a larger picture and more detailed recording. That’s why it’s often shortened to 1440p and many monitor or gaming laptop providers claim their resolution as 2K/QHD.
When zooming in on license plates or street signs, 2K is ideal since there is less noise and artifacts. However, even when zoomed in, the image retains its clarity. As a result, it formed the foundation for high-quality photographs.
One of the advantages for gamers using 2K resolution monitors is quick response time.
When Did 2K Resolution Come Out?
The Digital Cinema Initiatives collaboration produced a standardized format for a 2K video projection in 2005. It is the native resolution for DCI-compliant 2K digital projectors and displays.
The term “2K” itself is generic, was not coined by DCI, and does not refer specifically to the DCI 2K standard. Usage of the term “2K” predates the publication of the DCI standard.
Different Resolutions of 2K and Their Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio is the proportion of one thing to another. Width to the height of the image.
The following are the resolutions classified as 2k resolutions, implying that their width falls within the 2000 pixel range;
Resolution |
Aspect Ratio |
Format |
| 2048 x 1080 | 1.90:1 (256: 135) (17:9) | Native resolution |
| 1998 x 1080 | 1.85:1 | Flat cropped |
| 2048 x 858 | 2.39:1 | CinemaScope cropped |
| 2048 x 1536 | 1.33:1 (4:3) | QXGA |
| 1920 x 1200 | 1.60:1 (16:10) | WUXGA |
| 1920 x 1080 | 1.78:1 (16:9) | Full HD |
Part 2: 2K vs 1080p vs 4K
FHD or Full-HD is referred to as 1080p resolution. Many technologies, including Blu-ray, televisions, computer screens, and mobile device displays, use 1080p as a standard.
The 1080p resolution displays 1,080 pixels vertically and 1,920 pixels horizontally across the screen.
Ultra High Definition (UHD) or 4K refers to one of two high definition resolutions. You can also call any horizontal resolution with approximately 4,000 pixels a”4K.” roughly 4,000 pixels are “4K.” The dimensions of 4K are 3840 horizontal pixels by 2160 vertical pixels or 4096 horizontal pixels by 2160 vertical pixels. 3840 x 2160 is used in television and consumer media. It is the 4K standard, whereas the movie projection industry uses 4096 × 2160 due to the larger projection size.
The image may be viewed on a bigger screen without distortion because of the number of pixels. The 4K resolution features fewer visible pixels than 1080p when zooming in on the footage.
The Difference between 2K, 1080p, and 4K
The difference between resolution lies in their pixel size and compatible devices. The more the pixels, the better the picture quality, which determines which resolutions are better.
The 2K resolution, which has a percentage of 2048 x 1080 pixels, is a compromise between Full HD and Ultra HD and is not currently available.
The DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) film business is mostly using 2K. Therefore, it is commonly used on displays with a 19:10 aspect ratio.
Although this model’s 3840 x 2160 aspect is the most important, the 4K resolution has several differences. With a 4096 x 2160 ratio, one of these was accepted by Digital Cinema Initiatives.
The Ultra Wide HDTV (5120 x 2160 pixels) is another version.
8K
These screens feature a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, four times that of 4K. It’s also known as UHD or Full Ultra HD (FUHD). Additionally, this resolution is available in various screen ratios, including 16: 9, 17: 9, and 21: 9.
There’s also an 8K Full dome version with a size of 8192 × 8192 pixels. You can also find this paradigm in projection systems.
Is 2K Better than 1080p?
The number of vertical lines in 2K and 1080p resolutions is 1,080.
A 2K image, on the other hand, is somewhat broader than a 1080p image, making it the bigger of the two. While DCI 2K has 2,048 pixels along the horizontal axis, 1080p only has 1,920 pixels. Thus, in terms of a broad area, 1080p (or Full HD) is around 6% smaller than 2K — 2,073,600 total pixels against 2,211,840 total pixels.
Is 2K Better than 4K?
The native resolution of a 2K display is 2,048 x 1,080 pixels, resulting in a total pixel count of 2,211,840. 4K resolution, on the other hand, is 4,096 x 2,160 pixels, with a total pixel count of 8,847,360. A DCI 4K picture has four times the overall resolution of a 2K image, with horizontal and vertical dimensions twice as large as 2K.
People also use the terms UHD and 4K interchangeably. However, the two resolutions are not technically identical. On the other hand, ultra-high-definition pertains to television, whereas 4K denotes digital cinema projection. UHD resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels, four times the size of Full HD (twice the height and width) but less than DCI 4K.
Video Tutorial on 4K vs 2K vs 1080p
Frequently asked questions
Is 1440p 2Kor 4K?
1440p is a 2K resolution with a width in the 2,000-pixel range.
Are 1440p and 2K the same?
No, they are not the same. 2K is 2048 x 1080 whilst 1440p is 2560 x 1440. A 1440p monitor is a 2K display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This one has the maximum pixel density of all the 2K display kinds.
What is 2K resolution size?
2K resolution size is 2048 x 1080
Is 2K full HD?
Yes, 2K is full HD.
The Bottom Line
Understanding resolutions for the best quality in images, graphics, and videos are essential. Knowledge also influences our gadget choices. 2K resolution is relatively perfect for viewing or working by an amateur. It is accessible and the most used on screens.
1080p
HD, 2K, 4K – What does it all mean?
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HD, 2K, 4K – What does it all mean?
Monitors are in more sizes today than ever before.
But with all the resolutions to choose from – which one is right for you? Lets’ start with the basics – screens are made up of pixels. A Pixel is basically a point on a monitor that is composed of 3 dots Red, Blue, and Green.
And the term Resolution refers to how many pixels are on the screen both horizontal and vertical.
The standard from a few years ago was 720P, nowadays we’ve gone way past that.
- 720 x 1280 — HD is 720p
- 1920 x 1080 — FHD is 1080p
- 2560 x 1440 — QHD (Quad HD) is 2K 1440p
- 3840 x 2160 — UHD (Ultra HD) is 4K 2160p
Also, as monitor physical sizes have increased the need for more resolution has also increased.
This is because of the number of pixels needed to create sharp imagery. The term PPI or Pixels Per Inch basically measures pixel density. The higher the PPI the more pixels make up any image and create a sharper visual.
The benefit of a larger screen and higher resolution is that images onscreen are sharper and you can fit more windows and programs on-screen for increased productivity.
For anyone using graphics or video programs this is a no-brainer, but even spreadsheets and web browsing is enhanced with greater resolution displays.
For all your monitor needs – look no further than V7 Ingram Micro.
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What is 2K resolution and how does it differ from 4K and 1080p
Resolution is not only important for gamers or videographers as it determines the quality of an image or video. Unfortunately, they look blurry and fuzzy at the wrong resolution, they lack detail, and we don’t enjoy high quality viewing. Images 2K Resolution are the most common. This article explains what 2K resolution is and why 2K resolution is superior to other resolutions.
In this article:
01 What is 2K resolution?
02 Compared to 2K, 1080p, 4K
03 FAQs about 2K resolution
Part 1: What is 2K resolution?
Resolution information
A graphic is made up of pixels; the total height and width of those pixels is the resolution.
For 2K resolution standards, there are certain sizes that make up 2K resolution. It can transform laptop or desktop computer with 2K display. It provides full screen viewing of Full HD multimedia content. You’ll also find that higher image quality makes multi-tasking and content creation easier (especially if you have a single screen). Adobe Creative Suite, for example, works better at higher screen resolutions because you can work on large files in full screen mode.
In addition to 2K resolution, there are other screen resolutions such as 4K, 8K and HD.
What is the resolution of 2K?
If the width of the monitor or display falls within the range of 2000 pixels, it is considered to be 2K. There are numerous resolutions within the range.
DCI 2K standard definition is defined as 2048 x 1080 by DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives), which sets standards for digital cinema. When you choose a laptop or buy a PC monitor, this 2k resolution is not popular.
2560 x 1440 is the most common 2K resolution.
2560×1440 is officially called QHD (Quad HD) because it contains four times as many pixels as 720p. These extra pixels provide a larger image and more detailed recording. That’s why it’s often shortened to 1440p and many monitor or gaming laptop manufacturers claim their resolution is 2K/QHD.
When enlarging license plates or road signs, 2K resolution is ideal as it reduces noise and artifacts. However, even when zoomed in, the image remains sharp. As a result, it has become the basis for high-quality photographs.
One benefit for gamers using 2K resolution monitors is the fast response time.
When did 2K resolution appear?
In 2005, a standardized format for 2K video projection was developed in collaboration with Digital Cinema Initiatives. This is the native resolution for DCI compliant digital projectors and 2K displays.
The term “2K” itself is generic, not coined by DCI, and does not specifically refer to the DCI 2K standard. The use of the term “2K” predates the publication of the DCI standard.
Different 2K resolutions and their aspect ratios
An aspect ratio is the proportion of one object to another. The width corresponds to the height of the image.
The following are resolutions classified as 2k resolutions, meaning their width is in the range of 2000 pixels:
Resolution |
Elongation |
Format |
| 2048 x 1080 | 1.90:1 (256:135) (17:9) | Native resolution |
| 1998 x 1080 | 1.85:1 | Flat short |
| 2048 x 858 | 2.39:1 | Cropped CinemaScope |
| 2048 x 1536 | 1.33:1 (4:3) | QXGA |
| 1920 x 1200 | 1.60:1 (16:10) | WUXGA |
| 1920×1080 | 1.78:1 (16:9) | Full HD |
Part 2: Compared to 2K, 1080p, 4K
FHD or Full-HD is referred to as 1080p.
Many technologies, including Blu-ray, TVs, computer screens, and mobile device displays, use 1080p as a standard. A 1080p screen resolution displays 1080 pixels vertically and 1920 pixels horizontally.
Ultra High Definition (UHD) or 4K refers to one of two high definition resolutions. You can also call any horizontal resolution around 4000 pixels “4K”, around 4000 pixels is “4K”. 4K dimensions are 3840 pixels horizontally by 2160 pixels vertically, or 4096 pixels horizontally by 2160 pixels vertically. 3840 x 2160 is used in television and consumer media. This is the 4K standard, while the film industry uses 4096×2160 resolution due to the larger size of the projected image.
The image can be viewed on a large screen without distortion due to the number of pixels. When zooming in on footage, 4K resolution has fewer visible pixels than 1080p.
The difference between 2K, 1080p and 4K
The difference between resolutions is their pixel size and compatible devices.
The more pixels, the better the image quality, which determines which resolution is better.
2K resolution, which is a percentage of 2048 x 1080 pixels, is a compromise between Full HD and Ultra HD and is not currently available.
The DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) film business primarily uses 2K. Therefore, it is usually used on screens with an aspect ratio of 19:10.
Although the 3840 x 2160 resolution is the most important in this model, the 4K resolution has several differences. One of them, with an aspect ratio of 4096 x 2160, was adopted by Digital Cinema Initiatives.
Ultra Wide HDTV (5120 x 2160 pixels) is another version.
8K
These screens have a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, four times the resolution of 4K. This is also known as UHD or Full Ultra HD (FUHD). In addition, this resolution is available for various screen ratios, including 16:9, 17:9, and 21:9.
There is also a full dome 8K version with a resolution of 8192 × 8192 pixels.
You can also find this paradigm in projection systems.
Is 2K better than 1080p?
The number of vertical lines in 2K and 1080p is 1.080. On the other hand, a 2K image is somewhat wider than a 1080p image, making it the larger of the two. While DCI 2K has 2048 pixels on the horizontal axis, 1080p only has 1920 pixels. So in terms of wide area, 1080p (or Full HD) is about 6% smaller than 2K – just 2,073,600 pixels versus 2,211,840 pixels.
Is 2K better than 4K?
The native resolution of a 2K display is 2048 x 1080 pixels, giving a total of 2,211,840 pixels. A 4K resolution, on the other hand, is 4096 x 2,160 pixels for a total of 8,847,360 pixels. A DCI 4K image has four times the overall resolution of a 2K image, and has twice the horizontal and vertical dimensions of a 2K image.
People also use the terms UHD and 4K interchangeably. However, the two permissions are not technically identical. On the other hand, ultra high definition refers to television, while 4K refers to digital cinema projection.
UHD resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels, four times the resolution of Full HD (twice the height and width), but less than DCI 4K.
FAQs
1440p 2K or 4K?
1440p is a 2K resolution with a width in the range of 2000 pixels.
1440r and 2K is it the same thing?
No, they are not the same. 2K is 2048×1080 and 1440p is 2560×1440. A 1440p monitor is a 2K display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has the highest pixel density of any 2K display.
What is the 2K resolution size?
2K resolution size is 2048 x 1080.
2K is Full HD?
Yes, 2K is Full HD.
Final Ideas
Understanding resolutions for the best image, graphics, and video quality is essential. Knowledge also influences the choice of gadgets. 2K resolution is relatively ideal for amateur viewing or work. It is available and most often used on screens.
27 inch monitor for PC gaming?
With so many games and other 4k content now available, buying a 4k UHD monitor sounds like a lot of fun at first glance. However, is it really so?
When shopping for a monitor, as with any major purchase, there are many things to consider. Is your PC capable of delivering 4k without sacrificing the player’s reaction time? Are you ready to invest such a significant amount?
As an alternative to expensive 4K monitors, 2K or 1440P monitors have grown in popularity over the past five years.
2k resolution is considered the middle ground between 1080p and 4k for many reasons. In this article, we detail why a 27-inch 2k monitor is a great choice for a gamer.
The perfect ratio of size and resolution
In case you play sitting at a table very close to the screen, then a 27-inch monitor will be the best choice, which will not take up too much gaming space on the table.
However, monitors of this size with 4k resolution have too high a pixel density. Text on the screen will appear tiny, and any image will need to be artificially scaled, which will inevitably reduce image quality. It can also affect games, especially if you’re a fan of role-playing games (RPGs), or any other genre that emphasizes story, which means there’s a lot of text. It can also lead to eye fatigue.
With a 27-inch 2k display, you can enjoy games in amazing quality without feeling left out. 2k or QHD resolution is a very noticeable improvement in picture quality over 1080p.
While Full HD delivers just over 2 million pixels per frame, with 2k the pixel density almost doubles to 3.6 million. The pixel-per-inch ratio of the 27-inch QHD monitor is 108, which is ideal.
So, 27” and QHD / 1440p / 2K are a perfect match, as the BenQ EX2780Q shows.
BenQ EX2780Q 144Hz HDRi Gaming Monitor
- 27″ IPS Panel 2K QHD
- HDR technology and FreeSync support
- USB-C™ connector
Less is faster
With a 27-inch 2k monitor, you can enjoy every detail without eye fatigue, and also get access to faster frame rates. Currently, there is a very limited choice of hardware that is capable of running 4K games in high detail and at over 60fps. At the same time, the existing options hit hard on the pocket. By switching to QHD, you won’t have to worry about buying new equipment. Mid-range graphics cards and processors will be able to run almost any game with decent detail settings and impressive refresh rates.
In contrast, if you’re using a 4k monitor, you’ll definitely have to pay more for 144Hz panels, but on QHD those numbers are much more achievable. The BenQ EX2780Q has a 144Hz panel, so you’re not limited to 60fps or even 120 frames per second. This is a definite plus for fans of competitive games.
The same goes for response time – the larger the screen, the slower the response, because it takes more time to update each pixel. While the difference between 32 and 27 inches may not seem like much, it can be a determining factor in game latency.
Among other things, you should pay attention to FreeSync support. With AMD FreeSync technology, your PC and monitor are always in sync, so you won’t be affected by tearing issues no matter what refresh rate you use.
Excellent picture quality
Taking the EX2780Q as an example, it’s clear that 27″ QHD monitors can deliver the same high picture quality as more expensive large displays.
You get HDRi – HDR, which automatically adjusts according to the image and room conditions; 10-bit panel and 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space.
This way, you don’t compromise by choosing a smaller monitor, but on the contrary, you optimize and actually get more for less money.
Connectivity galore
Modern 27-inch monitors offer all the same connectivity options as expensive 4K monitors. For example, with the BenQ EX2780Q, you get two HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C. You will be able to connect your computer via DisplayPort and then your Xbox and PlayStation to the HDMI ports. Or maybe an Apple TV. The choice is yours, as all of these devices natively support QHD 2560 x 1440.
Conclusion
The 27″ QHD monitor is an excellent choice in many ways. In terms of resolution, the screen size is perfect for its resolution. In terms of cost, QHD monitors remain more affordable than 4K. Every game and console supports 2k, and you get higher frame rates as well. By choosing 27 inches 2k you are not missing anything!
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