Answer:
The higher the resolution the better — granted that you can afford it and that you have a powerful enough GPU.
In comparison to 1920×1080, 2560×1440 provides you with more vivid details and more screen real estate (just how much more depends on the screen size and pixels per inch), but it’s also more power-hungry when it comes to gaming.
If your GPU is too strong for 1080p, you should definitely invest in a 1440p display.
1920×1080 or Full HD is still considered the standard resolution since most content out there is in 1080p. Moreover, it’s not very demanding on GPU — and nowadays, 1080p displays are quite affordable.
However, many users are not happy with the image quality.
So, what exactly will 1440p offer you as opposed to 1080p, at what cost, and is it worth it?
1920×1080 vs 2560×1440 – Everyday Use
1920×1080 amounts to 2,073,600 pixels while 2560×1440 or WQHD has 3,686,400 — that’s 78% more pixels! Both resolutions have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The best way to illustrate the difference between the two resolutions is by comparing how they look on the same-sized display, let’s say a 27-inch monitor.
This is where pixel density plays a key role.
Pixel Density
On a 27-inch monitor, the 1080p resolution offers roughly 81 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), while 1440p provides around 108 PPI.
Essentially, this means that the picture on a 27-inch 1080p monitor will be pixelated and have smudgy text and blurry details in comparison to the 1440p variant.
That’s why we don’t recommend getting a monitor larger than 25 inches for Full HD resolution.
With 108 PPI, on the other hand, you hit the pixel density sweet spot as you get plenty of screen space as well as sharp and vivid details without having to use scaling!
In contrast, 4K UHD resolution on a 27-inch monitor has ~163 PPI giving you even more details and space, but in this case, you’d need to scale your interface in order for small text to be readable.
Professional and Everyday Use
For a practical example, the 2560×1440 resolution on a 27-inch monitor allows you to have two browsers open next to each other and comfortably view content from both without anything overlapping. This makes 1440p monitors ideal for multi-tasking and professional purposes, especially if you can get two for a dual setup.
Another thing that you should have in mind is the resolution of the content you’ll be watching.
When watching Full HD 1080p content on a 1440p monitor, a video player uses an upscaling (or upconversion) process that matches the number of pixels in order to deliver the full-screen viewing experience.
In theory, this decreases the quality of the image, but the drop in quality is not really noticeable in comparison to 1080p content playing on a 1080p display. The bitrate of the video also plays a big role here.
For instance, 1080p Blu-ray movies look amazing on 1440p resolution displays, while some lesser quality videos won’t be as sharp — but still watchable.
While gaming is taxing on your graphics card at 1440p, everyday use is not. As long as you’re just doing basic stuff on your computer, such as web surfing, you will be fine — even with a good integrated GPU.
1920×1080 vs 2560×1440 – Gaming
The most important thing to consider when choosing between a 1080p or a 1440p monitor for gaming is the hardware requirements for a certain video game and the desired picture settings/FPS (Frames Per Second).
To maintain a steady 60 FPS at WQHD resolution and high settings in the latest AAA titles, you will need at least something equivalent to an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or an AMD RX 6600 XT.
For higher frame rates in eSports titles, you will also need a fast CPU.
Running video games at 1080p and 60 FPS with high settings is doable with more affordable graphics cards.
In the end, it all comes down to your personal preference, PC rig and budget.
Nowadays, 1440p 144Hz gaming monitors can be found for as low as $200, which is not that more expensive than the budget 1080p 144Hz models.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many facts to take into account when it comes to 1920×1080 vs 2560×1440. For everyday use, there aren’t as many factors to consider apart from the monitor price and size.
When it comes to gaming, you will have to choose between gameplay fluidity and better graphics unless you can afford a more expensive display/PC setup.
