Earlier today, just a handful of hours ago actually, I covered a rumor about the next Nexus that said the phone was going to ship with a 720p display instead of a 1080p panel. At first I was upset, furious even, but then I began trying to understand the logic behind the decision.

I have no problem admitting that I’m in total love with screens. I have a 17 inch laptop and a 5.5 inch Galaxy Note II. Give me pixels or give me death. But several weeks ago, in Kuala Lumpur, I found myself inside a Sony store, playing with the Xperia Z, and I thought to myself that it just wasn’t right. The phone itself was decent, but the display was just … off. The same thing happened in Bangkok with the OPPO Find 5.

Given the fact that screens are one of the most expensive components inside a smartphone, it looks like manufacturers are purposefully buying B grade 1080p panels in order to hit a BOM (bill of materials) that isn’t out of this world.

And that brings me back to the rumor.

Google knows that the next Nexus has to hit a certain price target. And they have a choice. Do they ship a phone with a 1080p panel that has acceptable contrast levels and run of the mill color reproduction, or do they pick the best 720p panel money can buy?

Think about it for a second. How long have 720p panels been in production? At least a year, which means it’s a mature process. The kinks have been ironed out. The process has reached peak efficiency, so costs are low. It’s just a win win all around.

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m more than willing to “sacrifice” having a 1080p screen if it means I’ll get one of the best 720p panels that the channel has to offer.

Am I alone in this line of thinking?