Difference: HD Ready and Full HD

The major difference between HD Ready and Full HD is the resolution of the image, that is, how many dots (pixels) can be displayed on the TV.

Full HD displays have approximately twice as many pixels as HD Ready displays. In other words, the picture is sharper, since more pixels means a better picture.

However, it always depends on what you want to watch on TV. For example, Blue Ray movies have a higher resolution than conventional DVDs. A DVD can therefore not take advantage of the full resolution of the TV.

But that does not mean, that you can not watch DVDs on a Full HD TV or so. You can on both devices, Full HD and HD Ready devices, see it all, the picture will always be adjusted.

If you want to play it safe, you should rather buy a Full HD TV. So you are always right. If you have high resolution images, you can see them, and if not, it does not matter.
2012-09-14 at 12:51

The term "Full HD" was invented in 2005 by the European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry Association (EICTA). The reason was, that there was quite a confusion regarding the facilities of TV sets and this term should quasi be an approval to ensure that the equipment meets certain requirements. A logo was designed, that could then be taped by the manufacturer on their TVs to show customers that this TV allows viewing images in high resolution. By the way, the use of this logo for 3 devices costs 1000 Euros per year.

Then, when the resolutions grew even greater, they fastly invented alongside to "HD ready" the term "HD ready 1080p", with which also other additional requirements were associated to the devices. The manufacturers finally, invented the term "Full HD", which actually contains only a statement about the resolution and not the complete requirements of "HD ready 1080p".

Requirements for "Full HD":

• Display of 720p HD progressive (full screen with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution at 50 or 60 hertz)
• Display of 1080i HD (half screen with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution at 50 or 60 hertz)
• Inputs: YPbPr HD (analog), HDMI or DVI HD (digital)
• For all HDMI or DVI inputs, the HDCP copy protection has to be supported
• Distortion-free imaging of all video formats

Additional Requirements for "HD ready 1080p"

• Display of 1080p HD (full screen with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution at 24, 50 or 60 Hertz)
• 1:1 display of all pixels at 1080p and 1080i
• Distortion-free imaging of all video formats

For the requirements of "Full HD" there is not such a list, but "HD" usually stands for the resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
2012-09-15 at 06:15

Full HD means, that the device can display a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (1080p). HD ready means that the device can display a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (720p). It is "a minimum", because also higher resolutions fall under the term HD ready. Many HD ready televisions for example, have a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Also the Full HD resolution falls under the term HD ready as it is greater than the minimum resolution.

Therefore, when comparing the number of pixels, you have in Full HD about 2 million pixels, while HD ready devices have about the half with about 1 million pixels.
2012-09-16 at 18:19

HD ready is a protected term, the manufacturer has to pay money that he can use that term. He may, if he fulfills the above requirements written by Technocrat, such as a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

Full HD, however, is not a protected term, the manufacturers can use it as he is funny. Mostly, devices with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels are meant with that term.

HD ready 1080p is again a trademarked term that may be used for devices that have a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). In addition, there are also some other requirements necessary that can be looked up at the post of Technocrat.
2012-09-16 at 08:08