What is a 4K TV?

With four times the detail of high definition television, 4K Ultra HD is starting to become more widely available. But is it worth buying a 4K TV? The number of 4K movies and shows you can watch in ultra-high definition is always on the rise and if you’re going to buy a new TV it should definitely be a 4K TV.

You’ll also see names like Ultra HD, UHD, and even 4K Ultra HD being advertised, but they all refer to the same thing. This is a TV with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, more than 8m pixels in total, which is four times the number in Full HD (1,920 x 1,080).

What is 4K?

4K, also known as Ultra HD, refers to a TV resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That’s four times more pixels than a full HD TV, for a total of around 8.3 million pixels. Having that many pixels means a higher pixel density and you should have a clearer and better defined image. It’s not necessarily about sharpening, but about letting in more detail and texture.

What is the difference between 4K and Ultra HD?

4K is more commonly used, but you’ll also find people calling it Ultra HD or UHD. For the average consumer who buys a TV, these are the same thing. But there is a small difference.

In its proper use, true 4K refers to a resolution of 4096 x 2160, first introduced in digital cinemas. UHD refers to a resolution of 3840 x 2160, which is the resolution you actually get on the TVs you bring home.

So technically, 4K is the wrong term for 3840 x 2160 display and content, but it’s so often said that two terms are interchangeable.

What does a 4K TV offer?

Quite simply, 4K resolution adds better definition and clarity. The result is images that look lifelike, closer to looking through a window than to watching TV.

4K TV is particularly effective on very large screens, so ideally you’ll be content with a 55-inch or even larger TV. The effect is most noticeable if you switch to 4K from a TV of the same size.

Let’s say you have a 50-inch HD TV and upgrade to 4K – you’re filling four times the number of pixels in the same amount of space and this makes for a noticeably denser picture with finer details.

8K has been released on the market, although it is still in its infancy there are 8K TVs available for purchase. They are, however, expensive and will need a screen of at least 65 inches to get the best out of them. There is currently no native 8K content or very little.

What’s so special about a 4K TV?

Watching 4K TV at its best, you will see everything on the screen with crystal clear clarity and sumptuous detail. There’s a level of detail and depth that HD TVs can’t quite reach – it feels almost 3D at times. All the big brands, including Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony, now have a wide range of 4K TVs, from entry-level models to monstrous TVs costing many thousands of euros.

You will typically find that 4K TVs are models with a large screen of 40 inches or more. This is because to really appreciate the … superior picture quality you need to watch it on a large TV, as it is rather getting lost on a small screen.

Should i buy a 4K TV?

Since most TVs released by big manufacturers are 4K, they tend to release good quality devices, while Full HD is typically only available on budget TVs. Also, the prices of 4K TVs keep going down, so if you’re looking for a new TV, we recommend buying one with a 4K display.

But with HD still leading the way with most of the content available for viewing, if you have an HD TV that you’re happy with, you shouldn’t feel the need to rush into replacing it. That said, our tests found that 4K TVs are better than HD and Full HD ones.

A new technology is emerging that can compress the huge amount of data involved in the 4K format into forms that are easier to distribute not only on television, but also on Blu-ray discs and on the Internet.

Although HD TV has taken more than a decade to become a mainstream after the first HD TVs launched in 1998, we don’t think it will take that long for 4K ultra HD. You definitely won’t be wasting your money by choosing a 4K TV that costs a lot, but keep in mind that there isn’t a lot of 4K content yet.