Is 720p Good for Gaming? How Good is 720p Resolution

When it comes to gaming, visuals play a crucial role in enhancing the overall gaming experience. While many gamers prefer playing games at higher resolutions like 1080p or 4K, others wonder if 720p is good enough for an enjoyable gaming experience.

If you also wonder if 720p is good for gaming, then the most accurate answer will be it is up to your preference. However, we can provide you with some information about 720p gaming so that you can determine whether it is good for you or not.

In this article, we have explained whether 720p gaming is still good or not, which resolution is better for gaming, and when 720p isn’t recommended. Let’s explore them below!

Is 720p Resolution Still Good for Gaming?

In the past, the hardware capabilities couldn’t offer a smooth gaming experience and we even have played games at 480p or even 240p at worse. But nowadays, gamers can play at 4K without any problem.

Again, a wide range of games supports a minimum of 720p resolution. This means you can easily play 720p gaming with modern PCs without any hesitation.

However, whether 720p gaming is good or bad depends on which type of gaming you are talking about and what are the configuration of your PC. Let’s explain.

When 720p Gaming Is Good?

720p gaming can be a good choice in several scenarios. However, it depends on your preferences, hardware, and gaming objectives. Here are some scenarios where 720p gaming can be a good option:

1. Budget-Friendly System: When you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to invest in high-end gaming hardware, or have no dedicated graphics card, 720p gaming is a cost-effective solution. In that case, 720p gaming can be a good option.
2. Monitor with Lower Resolution: If you have a monitor with a resolution of 1280×720, then it will be best if you play games at 720p. But if you have a 1080p, 2K, or 4K monitor, then 720p gaming won’t be a good option for you as the picture will be blurry.
3. Low Refresh Rate: The minimum refresh rate requirement for gaming at 720p is 60 Hz. However, 144 Hz will give a boost to performance. But if your monitor’s refresh rate is 240, then 720p gaming isn’t the best option for you as you have the ability for 1080p gaming.
4. Low-Demanding Games: If you enjoy playing, low-demanding, older, or retro games that were originally designed for lower resolutions, running them at 720p can offer a nostalgic and authentic experience without the need for upscaling.
5. Streaming and Remote Play: If you are playing online games or streaming, then gaming at 720p can help reduce latency and ensure a smoother gaming experience, especially if you have a limited internet connection.

Now, let’s identify when gaming at 720p isn’t good.

When 720p Gaming Is Not Ideal

Although 720p gaming has its own advantages, there are situations where it may not provide the best experience:

1. High-Demanding Games: If the game you’re playing requires highly detailed graphics and texture, then you might find 720p lacking in sharpness and clarity.
2. Modern High-End Systems: If you own a high-end gaming PC or a console capable of rendering games at higher resolutions without sacrificing performance, then there is no reason to play games at 720p. In this case, it’d be best to take full advantage of your hardware by playing at 1080p or higher.
3. Large Screens: On larger displays, the limitations of 720p become more noticeable and the picture looks blurry. If you have a large monitor or TV, playing at higher resolutions like 1080p or 4K can deliver a better viewing experience.

Bonus Tip: Which Resolution is Better for Gaming?

Although 720p is acceptable for watching TV shows or movies, it does not work as well for gaming. The better resolution for gaming is 1080p. It can provide you with a better visual in comparison to the 720p while gaming even on a big monitor. On the other hand, 1080p monitors are fairly reasonably priced, especially in comparison to 1440p or 4K resolution monitors. By considering all the options, we can say that 1080p is the best resolution for gaming.

Final Verdict

To conclude, whether 720p is good for gaming, ultimately depends on your preferences, hardware, and budget. It is compatible with a wide range of games and platforms and also offers a smooth gaming experience on mid-range and budget systems. However, if you have high-end hardware and a bigger monitor, then 1080p gaming would be the best option for you. We hope you have found this guide helpful in learning when 720p gaming is good and when not. For further queries, feel free to ask in our comment section below. Thanks for reading!