4K high-definition TV might seem like just some marketing keyword to up the cost on consumers but there’s a lot of science behind it. There are some key differences between 720p, 1080p, 4K, 8K, and so on that are worth understanding if you’re building a home entertainment setup.

What is 4K?

4K refers to the pixel resolution of your TV. On a 1080p TV, you’re receiving a pixel resolution of 1920×1080 which essentially puts the cap of high-definition at these parameters. On a 4K flat-screen, this resolution expands to 3840×2160 or 4096×2160 which evidently means a sharper, colorful, and more vibrant picture overall.

Will buying a 4K TV mean a better picture?

Yes but also no. Let’s say you have a 4K flat-screen TV, if the signal you’re receiving is 4K, you receive a 4K viewing experience. If the quality of the signal or video file isn’t 4K, you may only receive a 1080p, 720p, or 480p standard non high definition picture. What a 4K TV gets you is technology to allow you to see a crisp picture when and if you have a 4K signal.

Do I actually need a 4K TV?

To answer the question of whether you need a 4K TV for a home theater system, the answer’s ultimately yours to answer. Most TVs 50” and above sold today are 4K. Having it isn’t a bad thing however do you need it – for most people, probably not. Most TV signals, Internet signals, and video files will come in 1080p HD. Granted, this is still high-definition so it’s going to look great but it won’t be 4K. Some people still prefer 4K as when you get a 4K video file or signal, it looks impressive as heck!

Is 8K better than 4K?

Yes, 8K is technically more advanced than 4K with an impressive pixel count of 7680×4320. Remember when we said about most signals not being in 4K though? When today’s content producers struggle to get 4K quality, you can rest assured that you’ll find it extremely challenging trying to find anything that’s close to 8K quality. While 8K provides better quality video than 4K, you don’t need it this year and you won’t need it next. If we’re being honest, industry is still catching up to 4K technology.

We hope we’ve cleared up any misconceptions there may be with the strength and limitations of 4K televisions. In 2019 and beyond, don’t settle for 1080p or less. Elevate your 4K home theater system to the best quality picture you’ve ever had with the best 4K TV in Canada from PrimeCables.