Resolution is the number of pixels that make up the image on a screen. The more pixels there are, the more detailed the picture, but the heavier the load on the graphics card. 1080p means 1080 lines vertically at a 16:9 aspect ratio, that is, those same 1920×1080 dots. The letter "p" stands for progressive scan: the frame is drawn in full rather than every other line. In gaming nobody has paid attention to that letter for a long time, and people simply say "ten eighty" or "Full HD".
Where the name comes from
The name Full HD appeared when high-definition TVs were divided into "HD ready" (1280×720) and "full HD". For computer monitors this format became the standard for many years, and the habit of naming it by the number of lines became established in gaming as well.
How the term is used
Players use 1080p in several situations:
- when choosing a monitor: "I'm getting a 1080p at 240 Hz";
- when setting up a game: "at 1080p the FPS stays stable";
- when comparing with other formats: 1440p (2560×1440, also called 2K or QHD) and 2160p (3840×2160, usually called 4K);
- when recording and streaming: a streamer chooses the resolution in which to send the picture to viewers.
Why 1080p is popular in competitive games
The main argument is frame rate. It is easier for a graphics card to process two million pixels than four or eight million, so at 1080p it is easier to get a high and steady FPS, and in fast-paced shooters smoothness and responsiveness are often more important than detail. Another reason is price: 1080p monitors with a high refresh rate are noticeably more affordable, and a mid-range graphics card is enough to run them.
There is a downside too. On a large screen, a 1080p image looks less sharp: the pixels become more noticeable. On 24–25 inch monitors this is almost invisible, and that size is considered the most familiar for competitive play.
An example from a game
A shooter player is building a computer for ranked matches. He picks a 24-inch 1080p monitor with a high refresh rate, because a mid-range graphics card will deliver stable frames on it without drops in intense firefights. At 4K the same computer would produce noticeably fewer frames, and he would have to lower the graphics settings.
Don't confuse
The screen resolution and the in-game resolution do not always match. You can run a game at 1080p on a 1440p monitor, in which case the image will be stretched and look softer. Also, 1080p is a pixel count, not a refresh rate: a 1080p monitor can run at 60 Hz or at 360 Hz, and these are independent characteristics.