Multiple screen resolution standards have emerged over the years; SD, HD, QHD, WQHD, UHD, and many others. Wherever you go shopping for a monitor or a phone, it is common to come across confusing terms and acronyms. You will need to know about these terms to figure out the resolution you want.
Commonly, the terms you hear often nowadays are QHD and WQHD. To get to the picture verdict, one needs to know what is QHD and WQHD, QHD vs WQHD, and which one is better.
Luckily, you will learn about the two HD formats in detail to make a better purchase decision.
QHD vs WQHD
The main difference between QHD vs WQHD is the number of pixels. Both terms are often used interchangeably and many novices believe that the main difference is only the name.
Furthermore, both share many similarities in terms of installation, connectivity, panel technology, and refresh rate. To understand the differences better, learn about these resolutions separately.
QHD
QHD otherwise known as Quad HD or Quad High-Definition Display falls under 1440p resolution. 1440p and QHD measure 2560 x 1440 in pixels and are often referred to as 2K HD resolution.
QHD is four times better than the Standard High-Definition format. It is also significantly better than the 1080p resolution and has a 16:9 aspect ratio. QHD is priced reasonably and a step up from HD.
WQHD
The W in WQHD stands for wide, simply put, it is a widescreen version of QHD.
Similar to QHD, it also falls under 1440p and 2K umbrella, however, a little wider than QHD.
Both are labeled as 2K and have a 16:9 aspect ratio which adds to the confusion. To cut down confusion, Wide Quad High Definition has a slightly greater resolution and broader screen size than QHD.
Difference Between QHD vs WQHD
QHD and WQHD share many commonalities and a few differences. The differences lie in the number of pixels, screen sizes, resolution quality, and price.
Resolution
WQHD (3440 x 1440) and QHD (2560 x 1440) do not have the same number of pixels.
Both HD formats fall under the 2K resolution and have the same number of pixels on the vertical side. For the horizontal pixels, WQHD has an additional 880 pixels.
This is perfect for displaying content on broader and larger screens to give them a panorama view. To understand it better, screens that are black on the horizontal sides lack WQHD.
In particular, the extra 880 pixels make a great difference for widescreen. This pixel count is ideal for gaming monitors, offering image clarity and future-proofing.
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Screen Size
A large gaming monitor is inevitable for playing action and arcade games where players have to keep an eye on all sides. QHD displays are effective for 24 or 27 inches screens.
On the contrary, if you have a wider screen bigger than or equal to 34 inches, the WQHD would do a good job.
Price
Both monitor screens are available at the top end of the bracket, however, WQHD is more expensive than the QHD.
QHD is available within the price range of $200-$300 whereas the WQHD is sold between $400-$500.
Quality
Owing to the extra pixels, WQHD has a sharper resolution without getting black bars or stretched images.
To clarify, QHD would also not look boxy or stretched, however, WQHD fits widescreen better than its QHD counterparts.
Pros and Cons of QHD & WQHD
QHD
Pros
- QHD has slightly better resolution than HD and Full HD formats.
- It can be a little pricer than 1080p resolution, however, worth the price if 4K is out of your budget range.
- Quad HD suits flawlessly for screen sizes of 27 inches or slightly bigger.
Cons
- QHD does not support panorama display
- It eats up more electricity and drains batteries quickly when used in laptops.
WQHD
Pros
- It supports UltraWide 1440 Pixel panorama display visuals without the occurrence of black lines.
- The added 880 pixels are perfect for widescreen and 16:9 aspect ratio.
Cons
- Not as good as 4K
- Shares all the drawbacks of QHD in panorama display
Which One is Better?
It is not possible to choose a clear winner as it depends on the situation, screen size, and purpose. For a widescreen, WQHD would be a better option for displaying sharper and brighter images without straining thanks to the additional pixels.
QHD would display a sharper resolution on screens between 24 inches to 27 inches. Depending on the screen size, you can invest in either QHD version.
Conclusion
To sum up, the difference between the two QHD versions is minimal as both share the exact resolution and PPI. The notable difference is that WQHD is more effective for wide-angle screens (above 27″ to 35″) due to the extra pixels.
