For playback of high-end videos the projector should have a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or more. In addition to the number of pixels, it's also the design and the image chip quality that count. With transparent LCD panels the pixel structure is usually more clearly visible than with reflective DLP or LCoS chip technology. The manufacturers of high-quality LCD projectors try to reduce visibility of the gaps between pixels for LCD panels by incorporating microprisms in order to come as close to photorealistic image representation as possible.
Here are two examples for different pixel structures:
LCD panels
Lcos image chips
Of course, a high-quality projection lens will also add to the quality. What stands out is usually excellent sharpness even in the image corners as there are no flatness problems as seen in slides. One-chip DLP system usually feature good sharpness as the image is produced by one single image chip. Systems with three image chips have some convergence errors which are caused by tolerances in image chip adjustment and can have a distinct negative influence on sharpness.
The following abbreviations have become established for particular resolutions:
VGA (640 x 480 pixels), outdated standard
SVGA (800 x 600 pixels), for SD video
XGA (1024 x 768 pixels), for business presentations
WXGA (1280 x 720 pixels), HDTV at a lower resolution
SXGA (1280 x 1024 pixels), CAD and business presentations
SXGA+ (1400 x 1050 pixels), CAD and business presentations
UXGA (1600 x 1200 pixels), CAD and business presentations
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), HDTV at full resolution
WUXGA (1920x1200 pixels), CAD and high-end video, HDTV at full resolution
QXGA (2048 x 1536 pixels), HDTV and high-end video, HDTV at full resolution
WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels), CAD and high-end video, HDTV at full resolution
UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels), new standard for TV sets
Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels), new home cinema standard
See also