You Say You Want a Resolution

These are the main choices in the world of resolutions when it comes to projectors. How can you possibly know which resolution you need? Looks like an Algebraic equation from a demented professor. Don’t fret, it’s much easier than it looks.

VGA = 640 x 480    SVGA = 800 x 600    XGA = 1024 x 768   
WXGA = 1280 x 800    SXGA = 1280 x 1024    SXGA+ = 1400 x 1050    UXGA = 1600 x 1200    QXGA = 2048 x 1536

VGA – This resolution is obsolete – a dinosaur.
SVGA – A good resolution for budget-conscious buyers.
XGA – The most popular resolution in projectors. Most people buy XGA projectors.
WXGA – Same as XGA, but widescreen format which is best for video.
SXGA – Very high resolution for high-end, detail-oriented design, architecture, medical.
UXGA – Ridiculous resolution. Only super large venues. We’re talking amphitheatres.
QXGA – Now, you’re just being silly.

Ignore the rest. SVGA, XGA, WXGA and on the rare occasion, SXGA are the only resolutions you need to concern yourself with.

Simply put, the higher the resolution, the more pixels found in the projected image or video which translates to better quality. So, XGA is higher resolution and will produce a better image than SVGA. But not as good as SXGA. So, give me the highest resolution, you may say. Not so fast, higher resolution means more money as well.

So, how do you know which resolution will make you giddy and fit your application like a glove?

XGA Resolution: it’s the most widely sold projector resolution, is compatible with most all computers and produces great presentations and video.

·         Best for newest computers/laptops

·         Great for high-detailed presentations / spreadsheets

·         Much better than SVGA for video

SVGA Resolution: Still a widely accepted choice for today. Good quality resolution for those that want to save a little more money. However, I would equate SVGA with cassettes and XGA with CDs – one day, advances in resolution may cause SVGA to disappear, just as VGA did. We’ll call VGA BetaMax just for fun.

·         Great choice for large image presentations, like PowerPoint
·         Good for viewing standard TV
·         Works well with SVGA computers; however SVGA resolution computers are few and far between these days

WXGA Resolution: One question, will the projector mainly be used for home theatre. If not, I would choose XGA instead. If it will be and you like the widescreen look, this resolution is your cup of tea.

SXGA Resolution: If you think you have a specialized application where you need the added resolution, I advise you to do further research. Many times, a bright, good quality XGA resolution projector is sufficient.

·         High tech applications – CAD / Medical
·         Very fine details – Photographers, artists, architects, etc.
·         Cost has come down over the past couple of years, but still costs more than XGA

We tend to find that most corporations purchase XGA resolution projectors to go in their boardrooms, conference rooms and for traveling sales tools. Many schools purchase SVGA projectors for smaller classrooms in order to save some money with their tight budgets. Most churches, government institutions and home theater customers require XGA resolution to get the most out of their images and video. And medical facilities, institutions of higher education and specialized fields such as design and architecture may require SXGA resolution. Just depends on the environment.

But that should give you more than enough information to find the right resolution for your needs.