4K TVs are getting very popular, but a key question for many is whether 4K is worth it if they don‘t already have a 4K TV. Here is an in-depth look at the pros, cons and things to consider when deciding if now is the right time to upgrade to 4K.
What is 4K Resolution?
First, let‘s understand what 4K resolution refers to. 4K refers to a horizontal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. The most common 4K resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels. This is exactly 4 times the 1920 x 1080 resolution of full HD 1080p TVs. The extra pixels provide more detail and clarity, allowing 4K TVs to display images with over 8 million pixels versus just 2 million pixels on 1080p TVs.
4K Content Availability
| Format | 4K Titles Available |
|---|---|
| Streaming | Netflix – 600+, Amazon Prime – 300+, YouTube, Hulu |
| Blu-ray Disc | 300+ 4K UHD Blu-ray movie titles |
| Broadcast TV | Limited channels and events available |
| Gaming | Xbox One X, PS4 Pro, High end gaming PCs |
While 4K content is increasing, it still lags far behind 1080p content in availability as shown above. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are expanding their 4K libraries, but a majority of their content is still 1080p. For disc content, while over 300 4K UHD Blu-ray titles are available, the vast DVD/Blu-ray catalog still vastly outnumbers this. Broadcast TV and cable providers currently offer very few 4K channels and programming. Overall, native 4K content is limited compared to abundant 1080p sources.
Upscaling and HDR
The benefit of getting a 4K TV even without much native 4K content is that most 4K TVs can upscale lower resolution 1080p content very well. Upscaling won‘t match native 4K visually, but it will look noticeably better than viewing 1080p content on a 1080p screen. Many 4K TVs also support HDR, which improves picture quality through higher contrast, a wider color gamut and better color depth. This helps provide a better viewing experience for both 4K and 1080p content.
Screen Size Considerations
To fully appreciate the enhanced clarity and details of 4K resolution, bigger screen sizes viewing from moderate distances is ideal. As a rule of thumb, you need to sit within 1.5 times the screen size to best notice the impact of 4K. So for a 50 inch TV, you would need to sit within 5-7.5 feet. At distances further than 1.5 times the screen size, the extra resolution of 4K becomes hard to discern. So 4K makes the most impact on TVs 55 inches and larger.
4K TV Technologies Compared
| Technology | LED | OLED | QLED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture Quality | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Viewing Angles | Decent | Superb | Good |
| Brightness | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Blacks/Contrast | Good | Superb | Excellent |
| Burn-in risk | Minimal | Moderate | Minimal |
While LED TVs have been most popular due to lower cost, OLED and QLED TVs provide the best 4K picture quality as illustrated above. However, each technology has some tradeoffs to consider like brightness, risk of burn-in etc.
Gaming Features
For gaming and streaming, 4K TV features like low input lag, HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rate (VRR, AMD FreeSync), and auto low latency mode (ALLM) optimize performance. Console gaming has also moved towards 4K with enhanced consoles like the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro outputting games in 4K resolution. So 4K provides a more future-proof purchase for gaming needs.
8K TVs
8K resolution takes things even further with over 33 million pixels. While 8K TVs are emerging, very little 8K content is available now and prices are quite high. For most buyers, 4K provides the ideal blend of improved resolution at relatively affordable prices. 4K upscaled to 8K will still look better than 1080p upscaled to 8K. So 4K is a smart choice for long-term viability.
Factors When Choosing a 4K TV
| Screen Size | 55"-65" ideal for 4K. 70"+ also excellent but very expensive. |
|---|---|
| Display Tech | OLED best overall picture. QLED also great. LED most affordable. |
| Price Range | Entry models start under $500. Mid-range $800-$1500. High-end $2000+. |
| HDR Support | HDR10 standard. Also look for HDR10+, Dolby Vision for superior HDR. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz effective refresh rate minimum for 4K. |
| HDMI Ports | At least 3-4 HDMI inputs, HDMI 2.0 or newer. |
| Smart TV | WebOS, Android TV, or Roku TV recommended. |
While resolution is important, also consider the other factors above like HDR support, refresh rate, connectivity, smart TV capabilities etc. when selecting a 4K TV.
Connectivity Considerations
To enjoy 4K streaming and content, your other home entertainment gear needs to be 4K ready as well:
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HDMI cables – High speed HDMI cables with ethernet required. HDMI 2.0 or newer ideal.
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4K streaming devices – Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast Ultra, Apple TV 4K etc. enable 4K from apps.
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4K Blu-ray – 4K Blu-ray player needed to enjoy 4K discs in full quality.
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Gaming consoles – Xbox One X, PS4 Pro or newer output 4K gaming. Xbox Series X and PS5 support 4K at up to 120Hz.
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Internet speed – Minimum internet speeds of 20-25 Mbps recommended for 4K streaming.
Ideal Viewing Distances by Screen Size
| Screen Size | Minimum Viewing Distance | Ideal Viewing Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 55" | 4.5 ft | 5.5 – 7 ft |
| 65" | 5.4 ft | 6.5 – 9 ft |
| 75" | 6.2 ft | 8 – 10 ft |
| 85" | 7 ft | 10 – 12 ft |
Refer to the table above for recommended viewing distances by screen size to fully enjoy 4K resolution and picture clarity. Sitting too far or too close negates the benefits of 4K.
Settings to Enable Full 4K Capabilities
To ensure your 4K TV delivers the maximum resolution and picture quality for 4K sources, enable these key settings:
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Turn on HDMI UHD Color for all HDMI ports – allows HDMI 2.0/2.1 4K signals to pass through.
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Enable HDCP 2.2 on required HDMI ports for 4K content sources. Secures transmission of 4K content.
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Set Chroma Subsampling to 4:4:4 – eliminates color compression for purest color reproduction.
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Match content frame rates – allows 4K at 60Hz from 60 fps sources. Enable motion smoothing to upscale 30 fps videos to 60 Hz.
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Adjust HDR settings like Auto HDR Tone mapping for optimal contrast and brightness.
The Bottom Line
While native 4K content is still catching up, a 4K TV provides future-proofing for the higher resolution format. The upgraded performance and features of 4K TVs also improves your viewing experience even for lower resolution 1080p content. With smart upscaling and HDR, you can still enjoy many benefits of 4K without having to wait until 4K content becomes as mainstream as 1080p. While not essential yet, 4K delivers tangible improvements in clarity, detail and immersion that are worth the investment, especially for larger screen sizes.
