The digital entertainment industry has seen some big changes over the past few years, and TV sets are no exception. When people jumped from standard 480p resolution to 1080p full HD TV sets a few years back, there was a sense of excitement and appreciation for the new technology.
Now 4K has arrived as the new and powerful player in the market. 4K TV sets promise a higher resolution and better viewing experience.
What is 4K?
So what does 4K mean? Simply put, 4K is four times the resolution of standard HD 1080p resolution. Normal HD TV sets operate at a resolution of 1920 x 1080, while 4K TV sets operate at a resolution of 3840 x 2160. The result is stunning picture quality with lifelike clarity and dynamics.
Make sure you check for these resolution figures when you visit the market for a new 4K TV. Simple HDMI ports can’t handle the data demands of 4K resolutions, so you need an HDMI 1.4 for 30fps or HDMI 2.0 for 60fps 4K pictures. An upscale 1080p video on a 4K TV won’t produce much of a difference as compared to real 4K video.
The term “4K” is used in movie theaters where movies were displayed in this resolution. That’s why most of the top brands have changed to calling this technology “UHD” (Ultra High Definition)—it offers more exclusivity in terms of branding.
UHD is almost the same resolution as 4K, except for that fact that movie theaters project their movies at a resolution of 4096 x 2160. Therefore, UHD is the modified version of movie theater resolution introduced for corporate digital displays and home theater systems.
Do all these extra pixels matter on a 4K TV?
Is it worth spending your money to upgrade?
Extra pixels and high resolution will produce a more immersive and dynamic picture quality than normal high definition TVs. Therefore, the content becomes more interesting and engaging. More engaging content leads to a more enjoyable TV entertainment experience.
Choosing a 4K TV
When shopping for a 4K TV, first look for “HDR,” or High Dynamic Range. An HDR 4K TV can produce dynamic ranges of brightness for a better clarity – the whites are brighter and the blacks are darker. HDR adds to the already awesome viewing experience of the 4K content.
Secondly, check for 10-bit color depth because it will produce 1024 variations or shades for each primary color. We recommend avoiding the old 8-bit color depth as it only processes 256 shades.
If you love gaming, make sure to choose a 4K TV with a better refresh rate and lower input lag.
Break All the TV Rules
If you’ve already upgraded to a 4K television, here’s a tip: sit close to it. Yes, this is exactly the opposite of what you were told by your parents. For a lifelike viewing experience with sharp images and the highest levels of clarity, you should sit close to your 4K TV, and there is a scientific reason to back it up.
To take advantage of all this high resolution and extra pixels, you should fill your field of view with the content coming from a 4K TV. This way, you’ll have a more immersive viewing experience.
4K TVs Moving Forward
Most online video platforms are incorporating 4K videos in their database, and if you own a 4K TV set, then the viewing experience can be the best you’ve ever experienced. Netflix, Ultraflex, YouTube and a few other video streaming platforms are already offering 4K content. Many Hollywood studios have also realized the latest industry trend and are producing 4K movies for better profits. Watching a 4K movie on a 4K TV set is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Most TV broadcasting companies are holding back on 4K because of intense data demands and taxing transfer rates. But there’s good news for sports lovers as BT Sports – a pioneer in sports broadcasting – recently introduced its Ultra HD channels. Along with watching soccer, you can enjoy Aviva Premiership Rugby on BT Sports with lifelike picture clarity.