1366x768 Resolution Explained: Specs, PPI, and Verdict
1366 x 768 is the resolution you'll find on countless budget laptops, and it raises a fair question: is it good enough? This guide explains what it is, why it became so common, how sharp it looks, and how it stacks up against 720p and 1080p, so you'll know whether to live with it or upgrade.
What is 1366x768 resolution?
1366 x 768 is a display resolution of 1,049,088 pixels, often called WXGA or, loosely, HD. It uses a roughly 16:9 aspect ratio and has long been the default on entry-level laptops. It sits just above 720p in pixel count but well below the Full HD standard of 1080p, so it's firmly in budget territory.
In everyday terms, it's just over one megapixel, which is about half of what a 1080p screen packs in. That's the core of what to understand about it: it works, but there isn't much detail to spare. To see the gap against 1080p at a glance, here they are drawn to scale:
1366x768 specs at a glance
Here are the numbers that define 1366 x 768, and the one slightly odd detail worth knowing about its shape.
| Spec | Value |
|---|
| Pixels (W x H) | 1366 x 768 |
| Total pixels | 1,049,088 (~1.05 megapixels) |
| Other names | WXGA, HD |
| Aspect ratio | ~16:9 (15.98:9) |
| Pixels vs 1080p | ~51% of 1080p |
| Pixels vs 720p | ~14% more |
The aspect ratio isn't exactly 16:9, which is a quirk of how the WXGA standard was set, but it's close enough that 16:9 content fits with only minor adjustment. You won't notice the difference in normal use.
Why is 1366x768 so common on laptops?
1366 x 768 became common because it was cheap to manufacture while still meeting the "HD" label for marketing. For years it let budget laptops advertise an HD screen at the lowest possible cost, so it spread across entry-level models worldwide and became the default you'd see on shelves.
That cost advantage has faded as 1080p panels have gotten cheaper, so 1366 x 768 is slowly being replaced. It still turns up on the most affordable laptops, where every dollar of the build matters, but it's no longer the automatic choice it once was. If you're shopping, it's worth treating a 1366 x 768 screen as a sign of a bottom-tier panel.
How sharp is 1366x768?
On the small laptop screens where you'll find it, 1366 x 768 is reasonably sharp, but it falls behind quickly as the screen grows. Pixel density tells the story: on a 14-inch laptop it's around 112 PPI, which looks fine up close, but stretch it to a 15.6-inch panel and it drops to about 100 PPI.
| Screen size | 1366x768 PPI | How it looks |
|---|
| 11.6 inch | ~135 PPI | sharp |
| 14 inch | ~112 PPI | acceptable |
| 15.6 inch | ~100 PPI | a bit soft |
So on a small netbook-style screen it's passable, but on a larger 15.6-inch laptop the low pixel count starts to show. Check any screen's density with our PPI calculator.
Is 1366x768 good?
1366 x 768 is acceptable for basic tasks on a small laptop screen, but it's below today's standard. On a 14-inch or 15-inch laptop, it handles web browsing, documents, and video well enough, and its low pixel count is easy on weak hardware, which is part of why budget machines use it.
The downsides show in detail and screen space: text looks softer than on 1080p, and you fit noticeably less on screen at once, so you'll scroll more and see fewer windows side by side. If you have the choice, a 1080p laptop is a clear upgrade for not much more money. See our 1080p resolution guide for the step up.
1366x768 vs 1080p
1080p has roughly twice the pixels of 1366 x 768, so it's noticeably sharper and shows more content at once. 1366 x 768 holds about 1.05 million pixels while 1080p holds 2.07 million, which is close to double.
| Resolution | Pixels (W x H) | Total pixels |
|---|
| 1366 x 768 | 1366 x 768 | 1,049,088 |
| 1080p | 1920 x 1080 | 2,073,600 |
For browsing and office work, 1080p's extra space makes a real day-to-day difference: more of a web page, more rows of a spreadsheet, and room for two windows side by side. It's the single upgrade that most improves a budget laptop. To see where both sit among all standards, check our screen resolution chart.
1366x768 vs 720p
1366 x 768 is slightly better than 720p, though the two are close. It has about 14% more pixels than 720p (1280 x 720) and a bit more screen space, so it's a small step up rather than a real jump. Both sit below 1080p and neither is a modern standard.
The practical takeaway is that if you're choosing between a 720p and a 1366 x 768 laptop, the latter is marginally better, but neither should be your target if 1080p is within reach. Our 720p resolution guide covers the resolution just below it.
Can you upgrade from 1366x768?
You can't change a 1366 x 768 laptop to a higher resolution, because resolution is a physical property of the screen panel. The screen simply doesn't have more pixels to switch on, so no setting will turn it into 1080p. This trips up a lot of people who go looking for the option in display settings.
You have two real paths to more pixels. Buy a laptop with a native 1080p (or higher) panel, or plug your current laptop into an external 1080p monitor, which most budget laptops can drive. The external-monitor route is a cheap way to get a sharp, spacious screen at a desk while keeping the laptop for portability. Learn more in our screen resolution guide.
The bottom line
If you already own a 1366x768 laptop, it's fine for browsing and documents, but it's not worth seeking out. When you next buy, insist on a 1080p panel, which is far sharper for little extra cost, or plug into an external 1080p monitor at your desk.
- 1366 x 768 = WXGA = loosely "HD", about 1.05 megapixels.
- It's the classic budget-laptop resolution, roughly half of 1080p.
- Fine for basic tasks on small screens; soft on 15.6-inch panels.
- 1080p is a clear upgrade with nearly double the pixels.
- You can't switch a 1366x768 panel to 1080p; the pixels aren't there.