Why is my PS4 resolution so bad?

The PS4 resolution appears bad due to several reasons, including outdated system software, incorrect HDMI cable or HDMI port usage, and mismatched display settings. To resolve this issue, it is essential to ensure that the TV/display’s system software is up to date, and the firmware has the latest version, and to check the manufacturer’s user manual for any additional settings that may need to be enabled to support high-resolution signals.

Understanding PS4 Resolution

The PS4 is designed to render games at 1080p, and decreasing the resolution won’t affect its performance or gameplay, although 1080p is better in looks when compared side-to-side with 720p. However, the PS4 Pro supports 4K resolution, which can provide a more pleasing level of anti-alias on the image on 1080p displays.

Frequently Asked Questions

General PS4 Resolution Queries

1. How can I make my PS4 resolution better?: To make sure 4K and the highest possible resolution are enabled, go to Settings > Sound and Screen > Video Output Settings, and set the Resolution to 2160P – YUV420 or 2160p- RGB.
2. Does PS4 look bad on 1440p monitor?: A PS4 or PS4 Pro doesn’t support 1440p, so it will just display 1080p.
3. What is the max resolution of PS4?: The original PS4 model supports up to 1080p and 1080i video standards, while the Pro model supports 4K resolution.

Display and TV Settings

4. Is PS4 1080p or 720p?: The PS4 is designed to render games at 1080p, and decreasing the resolution won’t affect its performance or gameplay.
5. Is PS4 Full HD or 4K?: The PS4 Pro supports 4K output, as opposed to the standard PS4’s Full HD 1080p resolution.
6. Does PS4 upscale to 1080p?: A PS4 Pro can generate a 4K image, or more commonly an image resolution somewhere between 1080p and 4K, and downscale that image resolution to 1080p.

Troubleshooting and Settings

7. Does a regular PS4 look good on a 4K TV?: The TV will upscale the signal output by the PS4, which really only means that you won’t have giant black borders around the picture.
8. Should I use 1080p or 1080i for PS4?: 1080p is the higher quality image, and Progressive Scan (p) is better than Interlaced (i).
9. Is it better to play in 1440p or 4K?: 4K monitors are the king for image sharpness compared to 1080p and 1440p.

Technical Specifications and Requirements

10. What resolution is PS4 Pro?: The PS4 Pro supports 4K video, which is 3840 by 2160 pixels — much higher than standard HD.
11. Does 1440p actually look better?: The resolution refers to the size of the monitor in terms of pixels, and a gaming monitor with 1440p resolution has 1440 horizontal pixels and 2560 vertical lines.
12. Why is my PS4 graphics blurry?: Make sure the PS4 is set to output at 1080p, and the TV is in Game mode, and doesn’t have anything that affects the image turned on.

Performance and Compatibility

13. Should I set my PS4 to 1080p?: No matter the resolution of the screen, it’s recommended to run it in 1080p unless more FPS is needed.
14. Does PS4 lag on 4K TV?: There is a known issue of input lag between the PS4 and 4K TVs, as the PS4 is only outputting a maximum resolution of 1080p for games.
15. Does PS4 read 4K discs?: The PS4 cannot read the 3-layer media that is standardized by Ultra HD Blu-ray, which means that the PS4 does not support 4K Blu-ray discs.