4K TV: Everything You Need to Know

January 5, 2015 2:58 PM EST

Another Consumer Electronics Show has arrived, and again tech companies are trotting out shiny new television sets that they hope will convince you to upgrade from your plain old flatscreen.

Since 3D TV has been declared dead, manufacturers are now pivoting to 4K TV, a new super-high-definition resolution that’s supposed to put your current 1080p set to shame. But 4K (also known as “Ultra HD”) is still a new technology that’s yet to see wide mainstream adoption.

Here, we offer a primer on the ins and outs on 4K and how to know whether it’s worth splurging on a new higher-def TV.

What is 4K?

4K is a screen resolution format that displays significantly sharper images than traditional consumer HDTVs. 4K resolutions can vary slightly, but the most popular resolution for consumer TVs is 3840 x 2160 pixels, which conforms to the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio for TV sets and computer monitors. The format is called “4K” because the images are around 4,000 pixels wide.

What is a 4K TV?

A 4K TV is just a TV that has the ability to display images at the 4K resolution. These sets are being billed as the next big jump in TV-watching in the same way that 720p and 1080p high-definition televisions were the big improvement from old big-box CRT sets. All the big TV manufacturers, such as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and LG, are now selling 4K TVs.

How much better is a 4K TV than a regular HDTV?

In terms of specs, an image at 4K resolution boasts 8.3 million pixels, which is four times the number of a 1080p image. That means the image is significantly sharper and you can get much closer to the screen before being able to discern the individual pixels. It also means you can cram more content onto an individual screen–on a 4K computer monitor, for instance, it’s easier to have multiple windows open at once and have them still be readable.

However, the benefits of 4K resolution are limited by the ability of the human eye to perceive detail. The further you are from the screen, the harder it will be to discern the increased resolution on a 4K set. On a 55-inch 4K TV, Sony recommends sitting within five to six feet of the screen to get the full benefit of the bump in resolution. But a typical living room is set up to place the TV significantly further away from the viewer. In a room where the viewer is ten feet from the TV, for instance, various experts estimate that the screen would need to be at least 80 inches large before a typical person would notice the boost in resolution over 1080p.

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**Nest** Acquired by Google in Jan. 2014, Nest Labs wants to turn your home into a smart device. The home automation system includes Internet-connected smoke detectors and thermostats, which have screens and chic, round designs — a huge design boost for devices that haven't really changed in recent decades. Aya Brackett—Nest

DJI Inspire 1 The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean. — **DJI Inspire 1** The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean.DJI

**iPhone 6 and 6 Plus** Bigger is better, or so the critics cried, calling for Apple to make a supersized phone. That was before Apple quieted them with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in September, the company’s largest iPhone ever. With an alluring 5.5-inch display that makes it feel something like a portable iPad, the phone is is a challenge to Samsung’s larger models. Along with a powerful 8-megapixel camera and longer battery life, the phone is more a statement than an answer.Apple

**Osmo Tangram** Tired of seeing your kids staring at screens like zombies? This iPad game brings virtual play to life. A reflector equipped with artificial intelligence snaps over your iPad's camera and can sense when objects are moving (or being drawn) on a pad in front of it. Osmo comes with three games, all of which promote creativity and—because it’s best played in groups—social intelligence. The best way to understand how Osmo works is by watching the video of kids who have never played with the device before testing it out for the first time.Osmo

**Tesla 2014 Model S** Tesla 2014 Model S has been praised both for its luxury feel and high-tech interior. The electric car offers instantaneous acceleration from a stop, a function very few other cars on the market provide. Tesla

Jawbone's Up3 wristband — **Jawbone's UP3 Wristband** Depending on your view, Jawbone is on the road to making us all super fit athletes or brutally efficient cyborgs who operate by data alone. How many minutes of REM sleep did I get last night? What’s the difference between my heart rate while resting and during a workout? How hydrated am I? How many calories did I burn on my last run? Jawbone UP3 answers all those questions better than any other Jawbone did before. The $179 wearable fits on your wrist and comes in black and silver.Jawbone

**Square Stand** The iPad holder and credit card reader launched last year with the goal of transforming an iPad into a point-of-sale. The sleek, white stand also offers an enhanced credit card reader, and can be adapted to include a cash register.Square

**Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster** Last year, Nerf decided to even the battlefield and create a new line of guns, arrows and crossbows specifically for girls. The resulting Nerf Rebelle line takes a cue from the success of *The Hunger Games*: The box is covered with tweens styled like that series' hero, Katniss Everdeen.Hasbro

Oculus Rift Crescent Bay The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015. — **Oculus Rift Crescent Bay** The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015.Oculus VR

**Qualcomm WiPower** Sick of tangled phone charging cables? Qualcomm WiPower allows you to power up your phone without plugging it in — a function that, to most people, is basically magic. The wireless charging pad eliminates the fuss of power chords, while also allowing you to turn everyday furniture like tables and chairs into charging surfaces.Qualcomm

What content can I watch in 4K resolution right now?

Not much. TV content is only being broadcast in 4K resolution on a few select channels around the world, and the FCC has only just begun experimenting with the format in the U.S. Netflix has cobbled together a limited selection of “Ultra HD” content that includes all of Breaking Bad, season two of House of Cards and the movie Ghostbusters 2, but it costs an extra $3 per month to access those movies and shows.

Amazon also recently began streaming some of its original shows and other content like BBC America’s Orphan Black in 4K at no extra charge to users. Meanwhile, Sony and Samsung offer media players that can play certain 4K content, but they’re wildly expensive. 4K Blu-ray players are expected to launch by the end of the year, but it seems likely that streaming services will be the most common and affordable way to access 4K content in the future (though even that will require an extremely fast Internet connection).

For now, the main benefit of a 4K TV is that it can upscale lower-resolution content. Customers who decide to get a 4K TV should make sure it has a quality upscaler so that TV programming, DVDs and regular HD video streams still look good on the set.

How much will a 4K TV cost me?

Just a couple of years ago 4K TVs were running about $20,000, but 2015 will be the year they hit mainstream prices. Sharp, for instance, just announced a new line of 4K TVs that will start under $750. But just like in the early days of HDTV, you should be wary of especially cheap sets because manufacturers are still working out the kinks in 4K technology.

So should I get a 4K TV or not?

For the average couch potato, a 4K TV probably isn’t an essential investment yet. The sets still cost a lot more than HDTVs, which are now dirt cheap. There’s a limited amount of content available at that high of a resolution in most cases that content costs more than regular HD shows and movies. Even if you get your hands on some 4K video, you won’t be able to notice the improved image quality unless you’re pretty close to the TV set.

If you have an elaborate home theater set up that can accommodate a massive screen and have money to splurge on cutting-edge tech, a 4KTV is a reasonable long-term investment, since TV manufacturers and content creators are betting on it as the future. But regular old high-def TV isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so you can also rest easy skipping out on 4K for now.

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About 4K TVs

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