What Is 2K Resolution? A Basic Definition
Understand the difference between 2K and other display resolutions.
2K is a common display resolution. A screen's resolution explains how many pixels it has in width x height format (the more pixels, the sharper the image). A monitor or display is considered 2K if its width falls in the 2,000-pixels range.
The Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), a group of motion picture studios that creates standards for digital cinema, defines Standard DCI 2K resolution as 2048 x 1080 pixels. But you'll rarely see this resolution when buying a PC monitor or choosing a laptop. You'll often find 2K displays with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. However, that resolution is officially considered Quad HD (QHD). As such, many monitors and gaming laptops claim their resolution as 2K/QHD.
Common Monitor Resolutions
| 5K | 5120 x 2880 |
| 4K | 3840 x 2160 (typical monitor resolution); 4096 x 2160 (official cinema resolution) |
| Ultra HD (UHD) | 3840 x 2160 |
| QHD aka WQHD aka 1440p | 2560 x 1440 |
| 2K | 2560 x 1440 (typical monitor resolution); 2048 x 1080 (official cinema resolution) |
| WUXGA | 1920 x 1200 |
| Full HD (FHD) aka 1080p aka HD | 1920 x 1080 |
| HD aka 720p | 1280 x 720 |
This article is part of the Tom's Hardware Glossary.
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Scharon Harding has over a decade of experience reporting on technology with a special affinity for gaming peripherals (especially monitors), laptops, and virtual reality. Previously, she covered business technology, including hardware, software, cyber security, cloud, and other IT happenings, at Channelnomics, with bylines at CRN UK.
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Barty1884 I don't think 2K really has any relevance in monitor marketing - even when it is mentioned, it's mentioned in conjunction with something else.Reply
There should only really be
HD/720p / 921,600 pixels
FHD/1080p / 2,073,600 pixels
WQHD / 1440p / 3,686,400
4K / 3840x2160 / 8,294,400 pixels
.....and wide-screen variants.
In that format, pixel count ~doubles per 'step' up, and is fairly clear/straightforward.
2K is marketing blurb for TVs (where pixel count increased <10%), that has been misappropriated into the monitor space, IMO. -
marie811 2K displays are those whose length falls in the 2,000-pixels range. The Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), a group of motion picture studios that creates standards for digital cinema, defines Standard DCI 2K resolution as 2048 x 1080.Reply