“What is 4K TV?” It can be a frequent question popping into your mind If you are buying your first 4K TV or want a refresher on the tech with the best resolution. 4K TV maximizes the performance of today’s HD components. A TV set with 4K resolution has 3840 horizontal pixels, 2160 vertical pixels, and 8.3 million pixels.
4K televisions are available in various sizes, along with a range of features and some other add-ons to enhance your experience. Nowadays, it is easy to find a 4K TV set that will give you the standard for high-definition viewing. After doing profound research, I have covered you with a detailed breakdown of what is 4K Tv in this article.
Why is it called 4K?
For a simple and better understanding, it stands for 4Kilo, meaning four thousand. 4K is named after the image width rather than the image height. The four states how many thousands of pixels are in the TV set. If you hand around the ultra-technical, you may hear that 4K is referred to as 2160p.
What is 4K TV?
4K Ultra HD looks spectacular with four times high-definition telly. They are most widely available. The number of 4K movies or shows you can watch in Ultra HD mode is increasing daily, so the demand for 4K tv is growing eventually, making you buy 4K TV sets.
When researching for high-end resolution, you will see names being bandied like Ultra HD, UHD, or 4K Ultra HD, as they all refer to the same thing. 4K TV has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, four times the number in full HD.
The result for the viewer is a clearer image and more accurate color with modern TV sets or HDR (High Dynamic Range). In addition, 4K, having 8 million pixels, significantly impacts the screen as it has more capacity for resolution. According to a survey, Global sales of 4k televisions are forecast to amount to over 100 million units.
Is there any difference between 4K and UHD?
4K and UHD are practically interchangeable. At the consumer level, there is no difference between the two. The professionals have the perfect sense of understanding for 4K TV. 4K has 4096 x 2160-pixel resolution. The measurement fits a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
The horizontal measurement of 4K resolution is double to 2K(2048 x 1080) standard in four thousand neighborhoods. Most of us live in consumer television land where we watch a television with a 16:9 or 1.78:1 aspect ratio. So we get a pixel resolution being 3840 x 2160, it is four times the pixel resolution of Full HD(1920 x 1080).
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) decided to end the confusion and to make marketing easier. So ultra HD was the name for the new resolution standard. But people are accustomed to calling it 4K for a while, so the name stayed the same. Eventually, the manufacturers turned to brand them as 4K Ultra HD or 4K.
Do You Need a 4K TV?
After asking yourself what is 4K TV? The other question that eventually comes is whether you need a 4K TV. If you already have a 1080p HD TV, that will still work for years as its digital broadcast standards will not disappear as suddenly as analog broadcast did. But once you sit in front of a 4K TV set, you will be tempted to upgrade your TV.
In a 4K TV set, you will see everything crystal clear and in great detail. Sometimes it gives the feeling of 3D by achieving depth and detail. You can quickly get your hands on this set as all the big brands like Samsung, Panasonic, LG, and Sony have many 4K TVs of different price ranges.
To appreciate the higher picture quality, 4K TVs have big screen models like 40 inches or more. In short, are you happy with your TV set? If yes, you might not need to upgrade. If you are ready to purchase a new TV, then know that there is a myriad of budget 4K TVs on the market, and do not be foolish by not leaping a 4K TV set.
Lighting, Dimming, and High Dynamic Range of 4K TV
HDR is one of a 4K TV set’s most impressive features, allowing you to view the broader color spectrum. However, the content you watch must support HDR to get a more vibrant look than nonsupportive HDR content. For that purpose, HDR-capable TV is also required along with HDR-supported content.
The most common standards of HDR are HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. HDR10 is the most common format that content providers and various manufacturers support. HDR10+ is the newer version offering more in terms of capabilities as compared to HDR10.
Dolby Vision is another competing HDR standard, and it supports a broader range of colors and gets supported by content makers and manufacturers. If you are about to buy a new set, then keep in mind that support for more standards is always the best.
LEDs light up the LCD screen in today’s TV set. Edge-lit and back-lit lighting are the two major lighting technologies that light your screen using LEDs. Edge-lit is responsible for your TV brightness and screen perimeter and illuminates the picture from outside to the center.
Edge-lit TVs are thinner than their back-lit counterparts, proving a more aesthetically satisfying option. However, do not sacrifice image quality for the thinness of the TV.
Edge-lit does not reproduce the best dark scenes, and you get the dark greys instead of the inky blacks you are looking for. Back-lit sets give a more uniform picture, and it puts the LEDs behind the screen itself.
The lighting technology in the 4K TV set also affects another feature: local dimming. Local dimming controls the LED’s brightness, which increases the contrast of the TV’s brightest white to the darkest black. More zones or sections provide more precise control over the scene, giving an overall better picture.
What Brands Make the Best 4K TVs?
If you want to watch 4K content, you need a suitable TV. Along with that, the right and quick internet connection is also required. And the majority of 4K streaming services require a speed of 25 Mbps or more significant. It would help if you had a wired ethereal connection to your TV for the streaming.
There are various options to choose from if you want the best 4K TV. Unfortunately, not all of the brands are worth your hard-earned cash. But if you have a considerable budget, you can stick to higher-end models from renowned TV brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony. According to a survey, among numerous TV brands, the most popular by far in 2020 was Samsung.
While some brands with the lowest possible; price turn the attention toward themselves and have started to rival the big brands. TCL, Hisense, and Vizio get the giant screen, producing stunning 4K panels. A survey shows 4K TV shipments reached 3.06 million in Japan in 2021.
The answer to what brand is the best for a 4K Tv depends solely on your price point of view and what you expect to get out of your television. TCL Roku 4K TV provides streaming features baked in with a simple interface. LG, Samsung, and Sony give you the best possible visuals. Vizio has a lot of screens and real estate with performance on a budget.
Watch this video: What Is 4K TV All You Need To Know!
Final Words
4K TV can play full HD content, and it is the next big thing you will find this technology quite affordable. 4K TV has become the industry’s new standard, and this is the first time new technology will replace it. So refrain from bleeding your wallet by jumping into another technology clout, as 4K TV sets are much more capable of the current mainstream.
If you want to invest in some excellent resolution, 4K TV is the only resolution, and it will be around for a while, serving you better in the long run.