What Is 4K Resolution? Ultra HD (UHD), which you frequently hear about, so good? You will learn everything you need to know about 4K from this guide.
Display resolution for 4K, Ultra HD, or 2160p is 3840 by 2160 pixels, or a total of 8.3 megapixels. As more and more 4K material becomes available and 4K displays become more affordable, 4K resolution is gradually taking the place of 1080p as the new norm.
It’s absolutely worthwhile if you can afford the hardware needed to run 4K smoothly.
The lower screen resolution designations, such as 1080p for 1920 x 1080 Full HD or 1440p for 2560 x 1440 Quad HD, refer to the number of vertical pixels, whereas 4K resolution refers to the number of horizontal pixels, around 4,000.
It is also known as 2160p because 4K or Ultra HD contains 2160 vertical pixels.
In contrast to the 4K UHD standard used for TVs, monitors, and video games, which is also known as the UHD-1 or UHDTV resolution, the 4K resolution used in professional film and video production is known as DCI-4K (Digital Cinema Initiatives), with a total resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels, or 8.8 megapixels.
While 4K UHD has the more typical 16:9 aspect ratio, the Digital Cinema Initiatives-4K resolution has the more unusual 256:135 (1.9:1) ratio.
Additionally, there is the 8K resolution, often known as 8K Ultra HD, which has a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels. Even sharper picture quality is possible because to the high resolution.
What Is 4K Resolution?
One of the newest things on the display market right now is likely 4K resolution. But what is it exactly? The term “4K resolution” refers to the display, TV, or monitor’s resolution based on its name. The 4K number of pixels is referred to. Either 3840×2160 or 4096×2160 will do.
Ultra HD, or simply UHD, is one of the various names for 4K. It is capable of a 4K display if you have seen that option on the videos you watch. While 4K is frequently utilized in movie theaters, it is becoming more popular in homes.
4K on PC Gaming
Even though 4K monitors are getting more and more accessible, a pricey high-end CPU/GPU build is required to adequately power it if you want to play games at 4K with smooth performance.
To have a respectable framerate at 4K, you will need at least an RTX 3060 or 6600 XT, and even then, many settings will need to be reduced.
You should purchase at least an RTX 3080 or 6800 XT if you want to play the newest games at high picture settings and high framerate at 4K.
Performance can be greatly improved by using an AMD or NVIDIA graphics card with a FreeSync or G-SYNC monitor, respectively.
This has the advantage that the image is really sharp and crisp, so you won’t need to apply anti-aliasing to get rid of the “staircase effect” as you would with lower resolutions. Additionally, this will allow you to play video games at a faster frame rate.
At least for the time being, playing games in 4K essentially means giving up gameplay smoothness for greater image quality. Therefore, if you play competitive games, a 1080p or 1440p 144Hz gaming display is best for you. However, if you want superior visuals, a 4K monitor is the way to go.
You must have either an HDMI 2.0, a USB-C (with DP 1.2 Alt Mode), or a DisplayPort 1.2 connector on your graphics card in order to stream standard 4K content at 60Hz.
4K on Console Gaming & Home Entertainment
It is undoubtedly worthwhile to get a 4K display for your 4K-capable consoles, such as the PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One X, as the majority of console games are restricted to either 30 or 60 FPS (Frames Per Second).
Although the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X support 120Hz at 4K, most users opt to use 120Hz at 1080p (for the PS5) or 1440p due to the resolution’s high system requirements (for Xbox).
If your favorite television programs and motion pictures support 4K resolution, a 4K TV will let you experience them at a whole new level.
Today, there is a ton of 4K video from a few series available on websites that offer streaming content, such Amazon Video, Netflix, YouTube, and many others.
Having said that, it’s also important to keep in mind that some broadcast/cable services don’t yet provide 4K programming. Therefore, be sure you’ll have a supply of material before you go out and purchase a 4K TV.
If you’re thinking of streaming 4K content, be aware that you’ll need a strong internet connection—at least 25 Mbps is required for smooth playback.
Pixel Density
When purchasing a 4K display, you need also consider the screen size, which has an impact on the pixel density, or pixels per inch.
A 43-inch 4K TV will have 102 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), whereas a 55-inch 4K TV would have 80 PPI. The pixel density decreases with screen size.
This basically means that, in order to avoid noticing pixels and enjoy a better viewing experience, you should sit farther away from a bigger TV than you would from a smaller one. The optimal viewing distance for various TV sizes at 4K is shown in the chart below.
HDR
The next step is to purchase a 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range) display if you want an image quality that is even better than that of a 4K screen.
In summary, HDR improves the image quality by giving compatible content a wider color gamut, a better contrast ratio, and a greater brightness level, which brings the content closer to the creator’s original goal.
You’ll need an OLED display or an LED display with a good local dimming solution to get the best HDR viewing experience.
LCD LED vs OLED for 4K
Finally, you must choose between an OLED display and a standard LED LCD.
OLED displays, in contrast to LED, tiny LED, and QLED (quantum dot + LED), are self-emissive, meaning that each pixel generates its own light.
With true blacks, no backlight leakage, and instantaneous pixel reaction time speed, the contrast ratio can effectively be unlimited.
If you’re not careful and leave a picture with static elements on the screen for too long, OLED displays run the risk of screen burn-in. Additionally, they are not as bright as similarly priced LED/QLED screens.
The decision between the two ultimately boils down to personal preference and price range. More information about OLEDs and how they vary from other panel technologies can be found here.
Only a few OLED monitors are available, despite the fact that OLED TVs are becoming more and more common.
FAQs
Does 4K actually make a difference?
The resolution of 4K is 3840 by 2160. There are now almost 8 million pixels in the entire image, which is a significant increase. As always, an image will be sharper the greater the resolution.
Is 4K resolution necessary?
If you intend to make use of the 4K resolution, the short answer is yes. You would be better off with a 1080p resolution if you didn’t. Despite the minimal content that is currently available in 4K resolution, it won’t be long before nearly all content (including videos and games) is transformed to this higher quality.
Is 4K worth it vs 1080p?
In the case of TVs, upgrading from 1080p to 4K is only worthwhile if you’ll be sitting close enough to the screen (depending on the size of the TV) to see the extra pixels, i.e.
What is the downside of a 4K TV?
The number of pixels will be greater with higher resolution, and as more pixels are present, the image will be sharper and more defined. On the down side, since they no longer need to stretch to fit the screen resolution, objects like icons and logos are more likely to seem smaller than before.
Can humans tell the difference between 1080p and 4K?
Therefore, contrary to what you may have heard, the human eye is capable of distinguishing between a 1080p and a 4K screen. The three most crucial things to bear in mind are your eyesight’s condition, the size of your screen, and the viewing distance.
At what size TV does 4K matter?
The quick answer is that a 55″ or 65″ The Sony 4K Ultra HD TV is best viewed at a distance of between 5 and 6 feet. On a 55″, however, you can now get 3.6 feet away from the screen and still see a clearly smoother, more detailed image (you won’t be able to make out individual pixels).
Conclusion
Even those who can afford 4K PC gaming will have to give up frame rate for better visual quality because it is so demanding.
The newest (and priciest) gaming monitors make it possible to have both a high refresh rate and 4K. However, a pricey high-end graphics card is necessary to actually benefit from a high refresh rate at 4K UHD.
Due to recent appealing price cuts and the expanding availability of content, purchasing a 4K TV or monitor is unquestionably worthwhile if you’re merely looking for a display to enjoy your favorite TV shows, streams, and movies on.
