Understanding projector resolution: native resolution, aspect ratio, and pixel density

Understanding projector resolution is important when choosing the right projector for your needs. There are three key terms to understand when it comes to projector resolution: native resolution, aspect ratio, and pixel density.

• Native resolution
• Aspect ratio
• Pixel density

Native resolution

This refers to the number of pixels that a projector can display. The native resolution is the maximum resolution that a projector is capable of producing. For example, a projector with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 can display up to 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically.

Pixel density

This refers to the number of pixels per unit of area, usually expressed as pixels per inch (PPI) or pixels per square inch (PPI²). A higher pixel density means that the image will be sharper and more detailed.

Aspect ratio

This refers to the proportion of the image width to image height. Common aspect ratios for projectors include 16:9, 4:3, and 16:10. 16:9 is the most common aspect ratio for home theater projectors, while 4:3 is commonly used for business presentations.