It’s hard these days not find a 4K TV when you buy a new set. Now the dominant standard for high-definition viewing, UHD TVs are available in a range of sizes, with a variety of features and other add-ons to enhance the experience. While 8K TVs are taking up more and more space (with 16K models not too far behind), 4K sets are what you’ll need to maximize the performance of today’s HD components. We’re talking about things like gaming systems, Blu-ray players, and streaming media platforms.
Whether you’re shopping for your first 4K TV or just want to brush up on the tech, we’ve got you covered with this in-depth analysis of the most sought-after pixels on TV.
What is 4K Ultra HD?
In short, 4K Ultra HD is the name given to a screen whose resolution is four times higher than the resolution of a Full HD (1080p) TV. This means that 8 million pixels are crammed into the same space that a Full HD TV fits only 2 million — which is achieved by making each pixel four times smaller. The result for the average viewer? Clearer picture, more accurate color and with most new TV devices, High Dynamic Range or HDR (more on that a little later).
Since each pixel is smaller, and therefore each assigned a small part of the larger image, it makes no sense to increase the resolution on smaller screens — the extra pixels have more of an impact on a large screen because you can fit more of them. As such, you’ll be hard-pressed to find too many 4K TVs with screens smaller than 40 inches.
Is there a difference between 4K and UHD?
At the consumer level, no. These two terms are practically interchangeable. But talk to professionals in the video production or cinematography industry and they’ll tell you that what we humble consumers call 4K isn’t really 4K at all. Technically, they are right.
In the professional world, 4K is the digital cinema standard that requires a resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels. That first number is the horizontal measurement and the latter is the vertical measurement, and they work because they match the 1.85:1 ratio. Looking at those numbers, it makes sense to use the term 4K, because the horizontal measurement is in the neighborhood of four thousand and is twice the size of the previous standard 2K (2048 x 1080).
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Still with us? Good, because now we’re going back to the land of consumer television, where the vast majority of us live. Here we are looking at TVs with an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 1.78:1. That’s not as wide as what the pros use, so the pixel resolution we end up with is 3840 x 2160 — double the horizontal and vertical measurements of Full HD (1920 x 1080). Do the math on that and that’s four times the pixel resolution.
In 2013, the Consumer Electronics Association — now called the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) — decided that Ultra HD should be the official name for the new resolution standard, to eliminate confusion and ease marketing. Unfortunately, people have been calling it 4K for so long that the name hasn’t really stuck, so manufacturers have turned to branding their latest models as 4K Ultra HD or just 4K.
Do I need a 4K Ultra HD TV?
One could also ask: Do I need Porterhouse steak? No, of course not! You can do just fine with a roast beef, can’t you? Likewise, your 1080p HD TV will still work years from now because 1080p digital broadcast standards won’t disappear the way analog transmissions did in 2009, even with 4K quickly becoming the industry standard. Still, you might be tempted to upgrade when you sit down in front of a 4K Ultra HD device.
In short: If you’re happy with your TV, there’s no need to upgrade, but if you’re buying a new TV, you’d be foolish not to jump to 4K Ultra HD. Not that price will stand in your way either. There are countless budget 4K TVs on the market, with prices starting around $300 for a modest 50-inch model, $400 for a 55-inch, and $500-$600 for a whopping 65-inch model. Not bad, right?
Which brands make the best 4K Ultra HD TVs?
There is no shortage of 4K TVs on the market, almost every manufacturer produces them. But that doesn’t mean they’re all worth your hard-earned money. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s best to stick with top-of-the-line models from major TV brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony, while those with less money hoping to get the biggest screen for the lowest possible price should look to TCL, Hisense, and Vizio, brands that produce stunning 4K panels that are starting to compete with the big players.
As for which is best, it’s relative to your price point and what you hope to get out of the television. If you’re looking for a simple interface, with a ton of streaming features, you can’t go wrong with the TCL Roku 4K TV. For the best possible visuals, you’ll want an LG, Samsung, or Sony — QLED or OLED, to be exact. And for a lot of screen real estate and performance on a budget, it’s the Vizio.
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Do all 4K Ultra HD TVs have HDR?
High dynamic range — called HDR — on TVs includes multiple formats that produce brighter whites and darker blacks, increasing color volume and shading and better contrast than standard displays, ultimately resulting in more vivid detail. Many people (including us) say that HDR is a more noticeable upgrade than 4K when done right, and if you’re looking for a new reason to buy a TV, this is a great one.
Dan Baker/Digital Trends
It’s rare these days to find a 4K TV that doesn’t have built-in HDR — though it’s still worth checking to make sure the one you’re watching has it, especially if you’re targeting the lower end of the market. With that in mind, there are several different varieties of HDR, including Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), which is a broadcast-focused model that is starting to reach the mainstream, HDR10, and its more dynamic counterpart, HDR10+. HDR10 is the most common variant, while Dolby Vision and HDR10+ will usually be found on premium models, with some brands opting for one over the other. HLG may be important one day, but is currently a minor factor in the US.
Can 4K Ultra HD TVs play Full HD (1080p) content?
Yes, 4K Ultra HD TVs can play Full HD content, but it won’t be displayed in the standard 1920 x 1080 resolution we’ve all come to know and love. Instead, to fill the extra pixels that make up a 4K Ultra HD display, content must first be scaled up. The same applies to content recorded or rendered in SD resolution.
To be clear, this doesn’t mean you have to wait for HD shows to be converted to a higher resolution before you start watching. Zooming takes place in real time as the material plays. However, keep in mind that while most 4K Ultra HD TVs from big-name manufacturers do a solid job of upscaling, some low-end brands don’t, so we suggest sticking to the above brands for best results.
However, if you’ve already pulled the trigger on a 4K TV with less-than-perfect upscaling, you have some options: you can leave it to a mid-to-high quality A/V receiver with built-in 4K upscaling, or if you play DVDs, you can invest in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player (or even an Ultra HD Blu-ray compatible Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X) since most of them have their own upscaling processor under the hood.
Where can I watch 4K Ultra HD content?
There are a growing number of on-demand streaming options available, including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, and even Hulu has rejoined the fun (to a lesser extent). If you’re more of a physical media type of person (and enjoy the extra performance quality they offer), the launch of Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2016 opened up a host of additional choices — a significant portion of which can be rented via Netflix DVDs (That, it’s still a thing) or purchased on Amazon. There are also multiple download services that offer 4K resolution content, including iTunes, Google Play, and others.
And finally, there are likely to be a number of new streaming services that will host 4K content soon. Disney has added a significant portion of its own Disney+, which has hundreds of hours of movies and shows ready to fill all those pixels.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
When it comes to live TV, you still won’t find 4K packages from many cable or satellite companies, but Dish Network, DirecTV and Comcast have all started dabbling in the space, but it’s still very limited and mostly relegated to pre-recorded or streamed content . For now, 4K is mostly introduced for special events like the Olympics or other sporting events.
As for over-the-air TV, Ultra HD isn’t available yet, although ATSC 3.0, the next-generation broadcast standard, is coming and will permanently pave the way for 4K broadcasts.
Should I buy a 4K TV or wait for 8K?
While 4K Ultra HD may seem like the next big thing, there’s already a new kid on the block. It’s called 8K, and with a resolution of 7680 x 4320 (or 4320p), it’s four times larger than 4K Ultra HD and 16 times larger than Full HD. That might seem too tempting, but there are a few reasons you’ll want to stay away from them for now — the first being that 8K TVs incredibly expensive.
Even if your pockets are deep, we still advise against carrying it in a bag right now. 4K Ultra HD is just about to become the new industry standard, and it has a lot of work to do before 8K replaces it — even if development seems to be taking leaps and bounds. TV technology is likely to mature greatly between now and then, which could ultimately render current models obsolete.
To make matters worse, the industry is already starting to talk about 16K, which you shouldn’t even consider unless you’re a member of the 1%. Even then, there is currently no real 16K content, other than some pseudoscience that allows manufacturers like Sony to show its fidelity as best they can. The same goes for 8K, so you’d just be bleeding your wallet for the privilege of technological power. Your only real reason to go for something in this category right now is if you have big screen needs, as the latest TV technology supports sets much larger than what current mainstream 4K models are capable of.
Your best bet is to invest your budget in the best QLED or OLED TV (depending on your preferences) that you can find. It will serve you better in the long run and you won’t risk owning an 8K TV that may become obsolete before 8K even becomes popular. Right now, 4K Ultra HD is the only resolution worth your investment, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn