What does “Full HD” mean? The picture served up on a television’s screen is described by manufacturers as either “standard”, “high” or “full high” definition. The last of these, generally referred to as “Full HD”, is the best currently available to consumers.

The difference between definitions is determined by the number of pixels – tiny digital building blocks that combine to form a full picture – packed into the screen. The higher the number of pixels, the better the picture is purported to be. Full HD offers 1920 horizontal × 1080 vertical pixels, or 2,073,600 in total. In comparison, a regular high-definition TV has 1280 x 720 pixels, which if our maths is right totals 921,600.

Why would I want one? For the superior picture quality, especially if you are a home-theatre or TV-sports buff. Another reason is that there’s an increasing number of other Full HD products coming onto the market – for example, Full HD camcorders and Blu-ray Discs (the Full HD successor to DVDs) – and you can’t get the full benefits of these without a Full HD television.

Do they cost more than other TVs? Yes. A Full HD television will cost significantly more than a high-definition model in the same size. However, the good news for consumers is that due to intense competition for your dollar from Australian suppliers and retailers, prices for Full HD sets are gradually coming down. 

Are there disadvantages to owning one? The higher price is one drawback, and to get the best out of a Full HD TV, there may be other costs as well. For instance, while you can view ordinary DVDs on a Full HD screen, you’ll probably want to watch Blu-ray Discs instead. To do this, though, you will need a Blu-ray Disc player. This will set you back several hundred more dollars.

What’s this about “p” and “i”? You might sometimes see a Full HD set badged as “1080p” or “1080i”. The number in this combination is a reference to the Full HD vertical-pixel count. As for the letters . . . that’s where things get a little technical.

The letters refer to the way in which the pixels are displayed on the screen. In the 1080i format, the "i" stands for "interlaced", which means the picture is scanned in two passes. The first fills in the odd-numbered lines, while the second fills in the even-numbered lines. Each pass lasts 1/60th of a second. The "p" in 1080p, meanwhile, stands for "progressive". In this format, the entire picture is scanned in a single sweep.

Progressive scanning is considered to be superior, and there is some debate about whether or not 1080i televisions can be defined as Full HD. It should be noted, however, that the difference probably would probably not be detectable by the naked eye.

What about HD and Full HD – is there a big difference those? Some say the difference is quite noticeable; others say that while there is a definite improvement between standard and high definition, the next step up is barely perceptible. Our advice? Take a look-see for yourself by popping into an electronics retailer and comparing screens under uniform conditions.

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