We clear all your doubts about QHD and FHD screens for gaming laptops
Are you hesitating about getting the newly introduced QHD screen for gaming laptops? We know that many gamers use FHD for its high refresh rate, correct battery life, and decent price. QHD also has its benefits, like more vivid colors, for example. However, before jumping into either QHD or FHD, consider the difference in frame rates and pixels. Below, we show you the differences, benefits, and some recommendations to choose the right screen for you.
QHD vs FHD Screens: What’s The Difference?
Overall, there are differences in the number of pixels and image quality. Let’s explore the difference between QHD and FHD laptops in more detail.
- FHD = 1,920 x 1,080.
- QHD = 2,560 x 1,440 Quad HD
- 4 K = 3,840 X 2,160
- More pixels = sharper image
- More pixels = lower battery life
Quad High Definition
QHD is the acronym of quad high definition, which offers four times the pixel definition count of HD. It has a display resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, which is referred to as 2K. QHD laptops, however, often come with display standards and not with video standards. You’ll need to upscale if you want to enjoy videos in 1080 pixels on your 1440p screen. We recommend using QHD for bigger screens to benefit from sharper image quality and clarity.
You will see another acronym for QHD, WQHD, which stands for wide quad high definition. However, both have the same resolution with emphasis on widescreen.
Full High Definition
FHD 1080p, also known as full high definition, is a very common display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The FHD display is more or less a standard, as it is suitable for everyday use but is also cheaper than QHD displays. For example, you can watch videos streamed at 1080p (FHD) or maybe 4K. Though FHD displays are not as sharp as 1440 QHD displays due to their resolution. Overall, the more pixels a display has in width and height, the sharper the image you’ll get. We recommend going for an FHD display for a smaller screen size to make images more visible, especially for professional creators.
QHD vs FHD Power Consumption
As we mentioned above, the more pixels your display has, the sharper the image and, therefore, the lower the battery life. This is the case of QHD screens; they have more pixels and consume more power than FHD displays. Not only do QHD laptops need to power graphics, but also display processors. On the contrary, FHD laptops come out with high refresh rate options, clarity, and correct power consumption. For this, many manufacturers decided to set displays to FHD or 4K, which is acceptable for gaming.
Another thing to consider about laptops and resolutions is how much GUI scaling you need. Here is the importance of a QHD screen: if you drop the settings on the laptops to 1080p, the image still looks good, and it is tough to see the difference. For example, if you are a web programmer and you need to see if all the text fits on your screen, you need to scale to see anything reasonably well, and text will look tiny but crisper for the high amount of pixels.
QHD vs FHD: Which One is Best For Gaming Laptops?
In the past, many gaming laptop manufacturers offered a choice between a 1080p or 4K screen or to output to a 1440 monitor (to purchase separately), but luckily, this is changing. Today, many gaming laptop brands, such as Razer, are finally building gaming models with high-refresh-rate QHD screens. In 2021, most brands announced they would introduce QHD on their gaming lines (think Acer Nitro 5, Razer Blade 15, and Lenovo Legion).
Many laptops come with 1080p resolution, which can be considered acceptable for gaming. For this reason, many gamers like FHD laptops due to their high refresh rate and features such as G-Sync and FreeSync, which ensure a smooth experience. Users can game at 1440 or 4K resolutions with powerful GPUs for a realistic experience. For example, you can use an FHD to play games like Watch Dogs Legions, because it’s a slower-paced game, in which you don’t need to compete with other multiplayer players, so there is no need to take advantage of higher settings.
However, QHD allows the latest high-end graphics chips to run games, and it has more screen room to fit in more content at once, making images crisper with better color accuracy. Plus, QHD gaming laptops allow you to play games comfortably like War Zone, in which you are fighting with somebody else, and you might want to match the high frame rate. The only downside is that they consume more battery.
Our recommendation is that if you are going to use your laptop only for gaming, get an FHD laptop. You’ll save money and get a higher refresh rate. But if you are going to do more than just gaming, like working on video editing, we suggest getting a QHD laptop. You can scale the settings to 1080p for playing your games and then change the settings up for excellent visual fidelity and sharp text that works fine.
How Much Is a QHD or FHD Gaming Laptop Worth?
If you currently own a QHD or FHD gaming laptop and are thinking of selling it, Gadget Salvation will ensure the transaction is smooth and fast. We have listed some examples of what you can receive depending on the condition and brand model.
- For a fully functioning Razer Blade 14-inch QHD + Touchscreen Intel Core i7 CPU Mid-2016 in flawless condition, you can expect to receive $314 in cash.*
- For Razer Blade 14 QHD + Touchscreen Nvidia GTX 1060 Late 2016 in flawless condition, you’ll get up to $299.*
- If you want to trade in an Acer Nitro 5 Series AN515 Intel Core i5 8th Gen CPU in good condition and fully functioning, you can get about $194 for it.*
We offer a no-hassle online laptop trade-in process. To get an estimate, answer a few questions about the computer’s condition, print the prepaid UPS shipping label, and ship it. We will mail or transfer the funds (seller’s choice) within two working days of receiving and inspecting the shipment.
Bottom Line
Which screen resolution would you choose for gaming, QHD or FHD? QHD laptops have more vivid colors, pixels, and longer battery life. Also, QHD laptops are even more expensive than FHD gaming laptops. However, if you only want to play games on your laptop, we recommend saving your money and going for FHD, you’ll get a high-end refresh rate and decent battery life.
*Priced on 03.11.2021. Subject to change.
