Features of 4K TVs and what is UHD (Ultra HD)

Just five years ago, purchasing a 4K TV was hardly a practical decision due to the lack of suitable video content. But now all the best films, shows and programs are released in 4K format, and home Internet speeds exceed 100 Mb/s. Therefore, you can enjoy high-definition images without restrictions. We suggest you figure out why you need a 4K TV, what it is and whether it’s worth buying.

• TOP best 4K TVs in 2021
  Philips 50PUT6023
• Samsung UE43NU7090U
• LG 55UK6300
• Xiaomi Mi TV 4 55
• LG OLED55B8S
• Sony KD-55XF9005
• In conclusion

The real benefits of 4K

UltraHD, or 4K, really makes the difference.
No matter what anyone says, but with a normal TV, such a resolution on screens larger than 40 inches justifies itself in our small apartments. A high-quality film is distinguished by its bright colors, pleasant color transitions, precision and smooth movements. Is this not enough? Then you can move closer and play one of the most modern games. Dust and shadows are more lifelike in 4K than before.

But the coolest thing is high-quality digitization of analog recordings. Like alive. This is where even parents stop grumbling: “The Irony of Fate used to be livelier than it is now.” After all, in general, they are right. And only 4K helps to cope with the effect of “colorized cinema”.

And with a 4K display, you can buy TVs of absolutely incredible sizes. The thing is that on a 65-75-inch screen the corresponding video file looks like FullHD. This means that from a distance of a couple of meters - no squares.

Next time I will buy a panel that is at least 70 inches. And I advise you.

Although there are other advantages. Let's go in order.

4K UHD movies available on disc

It must be said that many users do not understand the point of purchasing this product at all. However, on the World Wide Web there is little more film with the required resolution. And 95% of them posted on torrent trackers are ordinary fakes! To make these rips, video capture of the HDMI output on a UHD player is used.

The resourceful authors of such films, so to speak, even have access to programmatically adding HDR tags to their products. The existence of these offers can be explained very simply: they are generated by the presence of demand. But this has nothing in common with the original discs. For this reason, these rips look like high-quality aspscale Full HD video.

Formats and resolution: what 4K do we need?

Ultra-high-quality videos could revolutionize the world of home entertainment centers. But even major developers still cannot agree on a common space for new formats.

Technically, 4K refers to any graphic or video file with a horizontal resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. But some have their own opinion: for example, cheap LG TVs use RGBW matrices, where the actual resolution is 2880x2160 instead of 3840x2160.

ATTENTION: A 4K TV must have the “UltraHD” sticker. This is a generally accepted standard that prohibits such tricks. But it does not guarantee success either.

A device that complies with the standard must reproduce content with a resolution of 3840 × 2160 and a frame rate of 24 to 120. But 24-30 frames do not provide sufficient smoothness in fast-moving scenes. You need at least 60 fps.

But behind a high-quality picture there is one more factor: the quality of the file being viewed. And it, in turn, depends on the format, the codec with which the video was encoded. And the bitrate set at the time the file was created.

Low bitrate means no transitions, flat ragged shadows, artifacts. The TV must be able to play files with a bitrate above 60 Mbit/s and streaming video encoded with the VP9 codec (YouTube and all, all, all). Otherwise you will need an attachment.

Fact: Apple TV 4K cannot play VP9 - no YouTube in 4K.

How 4K differs from UHD

Equipment manufacturers are accustomed to saving money without losses. So, 1 GB of any drive on the market is equal to 1000, not 1024 MB. When ordering a 1TB hard drive, the buyer does not receive at least 24 GB of free space.

Similarly, they decided to save money on the 4K standard, equating it to UHD. The latter is 256 pixels short of the required size. Manufacturers are silent about this - it’s more profitable for them.

Historically, 4K and UHD are not related. They have common features, but they differ in scope, resolution and even possible aspect ratios. Let's compare the specified characteristics in the table.

Differences between 4K and UHD television standards

The Digital Cinema Initiatives, a standardization consortium for the modern film industry, has initiated the emergence of true 4K for cinema. Modern consumer TV models do not use this standard.

Much later, equipment manufacturers picked up the name of the new format and began to use it to refer to UHD TVs. This is how a subspecies of Ultra High Definition called 4K UHD appeared. It does not reach the width of 4000 pixels, and the letters 4K in the name of the subtype are used to attract customers.

Modern resolutions are usually named by height - 720p, 1080p... So, for the UHD size the name “2160p” is more suitable than 4K UHD.

In UHD, exactly 4 Full HD pictures fit, and in DCI Standard 4K, a stripe of 256 pixels remains. DCI 4K is four times the size of full 2K.

You can understand which specific 4K is in front of you by resolution. Almost all the sentences you come across will be signed with a value of 3840 by 2160 pixels. It meets UHD specifications.

UHD differs from full 4K not only in picture quality, but also in the way photo or video content is encoded. The latter has JPEG2000 with a bitrate of up to 250 MB.

The UHD standard is divided into several generations - UHDTV, UHDTV-1 and UHDTV-2. With the advent of new technology, resolution, color depth, dynamic range, sampling, the list of available audio formats, and frame rate increase.

The resolutions of the standards under consideration are equivalent to 8-8.8 megapixel matrices.

Colors and ranges: no need to buy obviously outdated ones

Last year, extended color range (aka HDR, High Dynamic Range Imaging) seemed like a fairy tale. But the improved colors were quickly appreciated by users and producers (Amazon and Netflix not only produce new films, but also digitize old films). Therefore, without HDR support, a new TV risks becoming obsolete in a couple of years - especially for games.

We must not forget about color display. Any matrix (or projector lamp/laser) reproduces standard 8-bit color. Sufficient for HD content. But in 4K on a large diagonal, such an image appears dim: too much of the screen area remains black. Gray transitions on 8 bits are invisible.

And this applies to all natural color gradations. For a high-quality image, you need 10-bit color - like in professional monitors for designers’ work. Requires HDR10 support. So far there are few such recordings, but this format is becoming the main one thanks to the active distribution of Apple and Sony recordings.

By the way, you won’t be able to view a file in HDR10 on a primitive TV - the colors will be incorrect and artifacts will appear. The conversion will take a long time. Either buy a TV with HDR support for growth, or stick with FullHD .

4K: evolution or marketing?

Is 4K destined to become a television standard, or will it remain a privilege available to a few?
What awaits providers who launch UHD services? In the report of BROADVISION magazine analysts you will find the answer to these and other questions. At first glance, it may seem that the quality of a television picture directly depends on the quantity: the more pixels per square inch, the better. You don't have to look far for confirmation: remember how enthusiastically viewers embraced HD and FullHD formats. However, in the case of 4K, opinions differ: some consider it just a marketing ploy that does little to improve the user experience; others boldly call it the evolution of the media industry.

Manufacturers' attempt to keep up with the growing demand for ultra-high-definition TV has already entailed not only the entry into the market of a huge selection of 4K set-top boxes and TVs, but also the emergence of new standards for data compression and transmission, as well as technologies for the production and storage of 4K content.

Is the 4K format destined to become a new technological breakthrough, or will it remain entrenched in the minds of users as an attempt to force the viewer to buy a more expensive TV? Let's see what the facts and numbers say about this.

4K TVs: a hit in the coming years

4K TVs are undoubtedly the brightest star in the 4K firmament. Users and the press are most interested in them. According to OVUM forecasts, the popularity of UHD TV will only grow. By 2021, the number of ultra-high-definition televisions worldwide will exceed 540 million - an almost tenfold increase compared to 2015.

IHS and Strategy Analytics predict that this year the vast majority of large-diagonal screens (50 inches and above) produced will support 4K. Somewhat later, the format will take root in smaller devices.

This will lead to the fact that by 2021 every fourth family in the world will own a brand new UHD TV. The North American market will be ahead of the rest, where 4K penetration will exceed 45%. In second place is the Western European region; the last in this race will be the market of Africa and the Middle East.

If we talk about individual countries, 4K TV is conquering Japan the fastest. According to the Mitsubishi Research Institute, by 2020, half of Japanese households will already have UHD TVs.

The real heavyweights in the 4K TV manufacturing market will be China and South Korea. The largest factories for the production of UHD displays operate in these countries. The main exporter in this pair will be South Korea, since Chinese manufacturers sell most of their products domestically.

4K TV Set-top Boxes: Solid Market Share

The set-top box market is also expected to grow fourfold.
By 2021, they will make up a quarter of all 4K devices sold. Sales of UHD set-top boxes are growing by 10 million units per year, and it is planned that by 2021 more than 50 million of these devices will be sold.

According to OVUM, by 2021, 4K set-top boxes will be installed in more than 225 million homes across the planet. UHD content will be consumed through the set-top box by 80 million viewers from North America and 65 million viewers each from Europe and Asia.

Services market: in the role of catching up

Sales of 4K TVs and set-top boxes are growing steadily. However, their owners have already encountered a significant problem: they have nothing to watch. There are several reasons for this:

• Technological: the production of 4K content is complex and expensive, despite the fact that FullHD content is still popular and pays off well.
• Logistical: not all homes have high-speed Internet.
• Economic: users do not want to buy a subscription because it is quite expensive and the choice of content is limited.

Despite all the difficulties, this problem will be solved in the near future.
The media industry has already faced a similar situation with the advent of the FullHD format. Owners of the then-new devices had to wait several years before they had enough content to watch. The growing choice of UHD video, lower prices for TVs, 4K set-top boxes and subscriptions will steadily lead to explosive growth in the number of users. Most of them will be urban residents of the middle and upper classes living in the North American, Pacific and Western European regions.

In 2021, a larger number of subscribers will fall on cable, satellite and IPTV broadcasting services. Terrestrial TV, with a few exceptions, will not be able to offer viewers UHD resolution.

Internet TV in 4K

4K-IPTV
Although IPTV services still have fewer subscribers than their cable and satellite competitors, IPTV providers will be able to earn more from each individual viewer. The main reason for the dispersion of profits is that IPTV providers quickly introduce new popular functions into their services, which attracts the most solvent users.

According to OVUM forecasts, by 2021 the number of subscribers to IPTV services with 4K will exceed 10 million. This is more than a 20-fold increase compared to 450 thousand in 2021. TV viewers from Western Europe will be most active in connecting to such services: in 2021, the number of subscribers in this region will be more than 3 million. They will bring operators $1.2 billion in income, and this is almost half of global revenue.

4K-OTT

According to Juniper Research, OTT services that provide access to 4K content will become especially popular in the next 5 years. According to forecasts, by 2021 the number of unique consumers of “over the top” content in 4K will reach 190 million, and service revenues will cross the $5 billion mark.

TVs will remain the main user device for viewing 4K-OTT content, but the widespread introduction of multi-screen technology will make UHD content available on smartphones, tablets and desktops.

Summing up

We can safely say that 4K content will not be long in coming, and its popularity will only grow. But let's look at the main factors that influence the speed of technology adoption:

Growth factors.

• Demand for high-end electronics.
• The emergence of new UHD channels and services.
• Cheaper 4K equipment.
• Development of compression algorithms and data transmission technologies.

Limiting factors.

• Currently, UHD equipment is still unaffordable for the majority of the population.
• Since the market is just emerging, not all investors take the risk of investing in it.
• Creating 4K content is many times more expensive than creating FullHD content.
• The network infrastructure necessary for transmitting 4K video is not developed.
• Residents of remote or small settlements do not have access to high-speed Internet, and 4K content will not be available to them for a long time.

Already, operators are faced with a difficult choice: to create their own 4K service, while there is no competition, and demand is steadily growing;
or focus on FullHD until their viewer networks are ready for 4K broadcasting. A high-quality picture is not enough to win the love of users. The content should be interesting. This is confirmed by shows that were filmed on a smartphone camera, but were able to win millions of audiences.

What does it take for a TV to become UltraHD?

A good matrix and formal support for 4K does not mean that you can watch movies in the appropriate resolution on your TV. Suitable data transfer interfaces are needed.

It’s better not to rely on dual-band Wi-Fi. In apartment buildings and 5 GHz is occupied. And to watch streaming 4K video, you need a stable channel with a “clean” speed of 100 Mbit/s or higher. “Clean” - after taking into account losses. This means that the router and provider must provide almost 250-300 Mbit/s to the server.

A fashionable remote control can always be replaced with a Buetooth keyboard - it’s more convenient. But you need the notorious Bluetooth or USB-HID (a protocol that allows external devices to work).

By the way, USB 2.0 allows viewing only “light” files. If you need a direct connection, you need USB 3.0 , and the ports must support both the speed and power of the standard. So it’s better not to count on them.

What can't you do without? In order:

• HDMI 2.0 (1.4a does not work with HDR);
• Ethernet (better than Wi-Fi);
• support for working with network drives (DLNA and a home computer, or a file server can replace any service);
• Miracast or AirPlay (depending on the platform - it’s just useful, it’s convenient);
• optical output to speaker systems (often this is easier than purchasing a receiver to implement multi-channel sound).

TOP best 4K TVs in 2021

Those who want to purchase one of the most modern 4K TVs should pay attention to models that have recently appeared on sale, but have already earned high ratings from users.

Philips 50PUT6023

Model with a diagonal of 50″ (127 cm). The Philips 50PUT6023 boasts 4K UHD resolution as well as stereo sound. The screen refreshes at 50Hz. This TV does not have Wi-Fi, so you won’t be able to use online services. The sound power coming out of the two speakers is decent – ​​16 W. The average price is 26,000 rubles.

TV Philips 50PUT6023

Samsung UE43NU7090U

4K TV with a diagonal of 43″ (109 cm). Supports HDR10, HDR10+ formats. Frames are updated at 100 Hz. There is an Edge LED backlight and stereo sound. Supports Smart TV function. The model has an acoustic system with two speakers, surround sound function and sound power of 20 W. The average price is 27,000 rubles.

TV Samsung UE43NU7090U

LG 55UK6300

LG TV with 4K UHD resolution, HDR has a diagonal of 54.6″ (139 cm) and a TFT IPS matrix. HDR format: HDR10. The model has a built-in Direct LED backlight. The image is updated at a frequency of up to 50 Hz. There is Smart TV on the webOS platform. The model stands out with an image viewing angle of 178°. It doesn’t lose in sound either: two speakers produce surround sound with a power of 20 W. The average price is 35,000 rubles.

TV LG 55UK6300

Xiaomi Mi TV 4 55

The 54.6″ (139 cm) LCD screen has a 4K UHD, HDR resolution. The model supports the HDR10 format. There is a Smart TV on the Android platform. Frames in dynamic content are refreshed at 60 Hz. There is Edge LED backlighting with white LEDs. The Xiaomi Mi TV attracts buyers with a wide viewing angle of 178°. The acoustic system consists of two speakers, the sound power is 16 W. The average price is 50,000 rubles.

TV Xiaomi Mi TV 4 55

LG OLED55B8S

This is an OLED TV with low power consumption and good color reproduction. Screen diagonal – 54.6″ (139 cm), resolution – 4K UHD, HDR. The frame refresh rate reaches 100 Hz. If necessary, users can use Smart TV on the webOS platform. Acoustics LG OLED55B8S is represented by two speakers. Powerful sound – 20 W. There is surround sound and voice control. The average price is 83,000 rubles.

TV LG OLED55B8S

Sony KD-55XF9005

Model with 4K UHD resolution, HDR and 54.6″ (139 cm) diagonal. Frames are updated at 100 Hz. Like many other modern TVs, the Sony KD-55XF9005 has a Smart TV running on the Android platform. The realism of the image is achieved thanks to the viewing angle of 178°. The acoustic system has two speakers, the total sound power is 20 W. There is surround sound, capturing voice commands. The average price is 64,000 rubles.

TV Sony KD-55XF9005

No 4K without a media server

But you can get away with analog/digital television decoders. Of course, several 4K channels in Russian are consistently broadcast in packages from well-known satellite television providers. But online cinemas and YouTube turn out to be perhaps the most popular way to obtain content.

On the other hand, Netflix HDR and Amazon 4K are not relevant in Russia (without spoken English). There is not much 4K in OKKO and Amediateka Most 4K HDR movies in the iTunes Store - but you need to buy each one. Not every TV, especially in the lower price segment, can work with all the necessary services.

Therefore, you cannot do without a multimedia player (especially if you have a network file server). I connected the Android box - and there were no problems with support for codecs, formats, and fast file conversion. Actually, there are few options - either them (as an option - Shield), or Apple TV box 4K. Or only the content that the TV manufacturer has allowed. Then you need to choose a model on Android TV .

Fact: WebOS, OperaOS, tvOS still limit the user. And to watch 4K, you can't rely on just one streaming service or website.

How much content is available for 4K TV

There are enough 4K videos to regularly fill up terabyte hard drives. All modern cinema has switched to 4K, and old films have begun to be adjusted to it.

To get content you can use:

• search networks;
• satellite telecom operators - most offer 4K packages;
• streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime;
• discs with licensed products.

For the last 3 options considered, you will have to pay a subscription or one-time fee.

If you want to watch old movies, buy an expensive TV

Older films were shot with either analogue or digital cameras. With analog everything is clear - we digitize, retouch frame by frame, connect and watch (tedious and expensive). But it initially contains more data than early digital records.

With “digital” it’s generally more difficult. It is impossible to increase the resolution of a digital file in HD - the quality will not increase due to manipulation.

Some manufacturers equip TVs with a software increase in resolution - “upscaling”. Don't confuse upscaling with simple stretching. The first one tries to fill in the missing ones based on the colors of neighboring pixels. The second one does nothing - large squares of the same color remain.

Real life example: I have 2 TVs with UltraHD : LG with upscaling and Hisence without it. You can watch old films only on the first one.

So far, old films are being transferred to 4K very reluctantly (only Hulu and the Japanese are actively working on this). If you don’t want to cry tears of blood from squares on half the screen, choose the right model.

4K, Full HD, Ultra HD – similarities and differences

Full HD has long maintained global dominance. Differences between 4K and Full HD:

• improved detail is observed in the newer format;
• 4K colors are richer and brighter;
• 4 times more pixels than Full HD.

If you buy a small 4K TV, the image quality will be similar to Full HD, since the technology simply won’t work on a small screen.

Ultra HD is an ultra-high definition format that can support 4K and 8K resolutions. It is not yet widely used in the production of televisions, so it is difficult to judge whether it will become a breakthrough in this area.

Should you buy a cheap 4K TV?

Yes, if you find a model with a good image that meets all the above conditions. In the process of choosing mine, I came across 4K TVs

• to which you cannot connect a single source via HDMI - only via Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
• with RWGB with excellent images and problems playing UltraHD through external inputs (without its own processing)
• on proprietary operating systems - without streaming services, or without support for playing files from the network
• with slow processors and terrible lags during playback

In any combination. Be careful when choosing. And think through the whole system: understanding what, where and what to look through allows you to save a lot of money.

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86 votes, overall rating: 4.15 out of 5)