4K Resolution: What is it?

When you watch a Blu-Ray or an HD television program, you’re probably watching it in the current higher definition resolution standard, known widely as HD Resolution (in 1080p, 1080i, or 720p). HD Resolution has completely revolutionized how we can enjoy our movies and television at home, replacing the 480i standard resolution (480×640 pixels). If you’ve watched a Blu-Ray, you’ve probably noticed that those images are clearer, crisper, and more life-like than the traditional DVDs.

Well, we’re here to tell you that our movie and TV-watching experience will only improve. A new level of resolution (3840×2160 or 4096×2160 pixels), colloquially called 4K resolution, is coming to private residences. The number of pixels that can be displayed on a 4K television (officially known as an Ultra HD TV) is 4x more significant than the HD resolution we currently use. This means that you can sit closer to a bigger screen without having to suffer through watching a pixelated image. This resolution is precious to people who like watching large screens, such as those provided by a projector; most movie theaters will project their movies in 4K by 2015.

Illustration demonstrating difference in pixels in various resolutions

If you saw “Avatar 3D” in theaters, you’ve already seen how impressive 4K resolution can be. 4K TVs can even improve the quality of 3D movies, reducing or eliminating the need for those funky 3D glasses. It is important to note that no media is sold in 4K resolution from a disc or TV transmission. However, 4K displays can upscale HD video to 4K using video processing to fill in the extra resolution. Eventually, this process will no longer be necessary because there is an increasing trend toward 4K productions, thanks partly to the development of 4K-level professional cameras and post-production tools.

Still from Avatar

The Consumer Electronics Association predicts that 4K resolution “promises to be the next big video product driving change in content, cameras, security, retailing, displays and even audio. It will drive growth across the entire consumer technology ecosystem.” We want you to be ahead of that curve.

What streaming services offer 4K Resolution?

There are several streaming services available that offer 4K resolution. The most popular is Netflix, which has been offering 4K streaming since 2014. Other services include Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. All of these services offer a variety of movies and TV shows in 4K resolution.

In addition to these streaming services, there are several other options for viewing the content in 4K resolution. Many cable providers now offer 4K channels that can be accessed through their set-top boxes. Additionally, many gaming consoles, such as the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro, can stream content in 4K resolution. Finally, Blu-ray players can play movies and TV shows in 4K resolution.

Overall, many different options are available for streaming content in 4K resolution.

Conclusion

4K resolution is an incredible technology that can bring heightened realism to our viewing experience. With its higher resolution and clarity, 4K provides an immersive experience for viewers. While the technology is still relatively new, it has already seen tremendous growth over the past few years and will likely continue to do so. In addition to TVs, 4K content can be enjoyed on modern gaming consoles, computers, and streaming services.