What You Need to Know About Ultra HD and 4K
What is 4K, Ultra HD, HDR, LED, and OLED?
There’s an abundance of abbreviations to keep track of when it comes to digital display technology. You’re probably aware that each of these has some factor in delivering a stunning viewing experience. If you’ve been to an electronics store recently, you’ve probably come across a 4K UHD display and become captivated by the marvelous resolution.
So, what is 4K? And is it different from Ultra HD?
Today, we’re going to help you by breaking these variants down and seeing which one would work best for your specific situation.
What is 4K?
Essentially, 4K Ultra HD is just a moniker for digital displays that have a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (UHD). The previous industry standard was 1080p Full HD (a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.)
The standard is now shifting to Ultra HD as digital display technology is improving and costs are sinking. With a pixel count that’s four times as compressed as the previous generation, you get a sharper, clearer picture.
What's the difference between UHD and 4K?
Since several of these abbreviations are interchangeable, it’s become difficult for some to decipher the difference between what’s a 4K TV and what’s Ultra HD.
For most people, they’ll be purchasing a home TV, and they’ll take home a 4K TV that has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160. However, this isn’t true 4K. To get true 4K resolution with a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160, you would need to purchase a cinema projector.
So, while Ultra HD isn’t technically giving you a true 4K experience, the labels on the boxes aren’t going to change any time soon.
Keep in mind that resolution is everything when it comes to your next TV set. For a long time, the race was to see who could pack as many pixels into a screen as possible. The goal is starting to shift to see who can produce the best color and contrast in a natural manner.
This is where the abbreviation HDR (high-dynamic-range) comes into play. An HDR TV (which usually also has 4K resolution) supports one or more HDR formats. HDR vastly increases the viewable range between light and dark areas of the screen, while also displaying colors in a more vibrant and realistic way.
However, not every HDR TV is built equally. One of the primary factors that will affect your screen’s ability to utilize HDR fully will be whether your display is equipped with OLED, LED, or LCD.
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) are significantly more expensive than LED (Light Emitting Diode) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), but an OLED display has the potential to fully utilize the HDR format. However, a 4K HDR LCD/LED display will still give you amazing results.
Why you need 4k Ultra HD
Display technology is advancing rapidly. While your Full HD TV most likely won’t be rendered obsolete in the same fashion that DVD pushed out VHS, once you sit in front of an Ultra HD set, you’ll want to make the upgrade.
As streaming services continue to consume more of our screen time and begin supporting more titles delivered in 4K resolution, you may feel pressured into getting a smart TV that has 4K HDR compatibility.
With the sharper and more vibrant image, you’ll be happy that you upgraded. The immersion provided by a 4K set will make you feel like you’re part of the action, versus being a spectator.
The experience will only be heightened if you settle for a larger TV. The difference between a 50-inch Full HD 1080p display and a 50-inch Ultra HD 4K display is like night and day. Though the screens are the same size, the 4k display is providing four times the information, resulting in a clearer, more lifelike picture.
As mentioned previously, display technology is advancing rapidly, and 8K TVs are already here. It’s still too soon for them to begin making a huge impact on the market share due to their significantly higher price point. This is also coupled with the fact that in order to truly take advantage of the tech, you would need to invest in a TV at least 60-inches or bigger.
How to pick the right 4K UHD TV
Over the last few years, TV prices have seen a noticeable decline. Currently, you can find a fantastic 4K smart TV under one thousand dollars.
To choose which TV is right for you, consider a few factors.
Price
The ultimate decider in what you’ll purchase will be the price. While modern TVs are the ultimate case for bigger is better, if a 4K OLED TV is outside of your budget, that shouldn’t deter you from getting a 4K LED.
Distance
As TV sets are becoming impossibly thin, having a wall is all that is needed to place the set. The best way to determine which screen size would be right for you would be the distance you're sitting from.
If you’re sitting between 6–8 feet from the display, a 55-inch screen would be ideal. If you’re sitting more than 10 feet away, then you can increase that to 65 inches.
Streaming
Smart TVs have become the standard. This means that by choosing a Smart TV you can cancel your cable subscription and pick up a streaming service. Many TVs come with native apps like Netflix, Prime, Hulu, YouTube, and Disney+ pre-installed. So, unless you enjoy the randomness of cable. You can now free yourself from an additional box in your entertainment center.
SNA Displays
At SNA Displays, while we don’t sell TVs for your home, we can help you with special-purpose LED screens that are customized to fit your business needs. We have experience creating some of the highest quality displays on earth, including the highest resolution screen in Times Square.
If you want to know more about Ultra HD displays, speak with our experts today at 866-848-9149 or contact us through our online form.