You might think your 1080p HDTV is on the cutting edge of television technology, but there’s a new player in town – the 4K TV. These sophisticated sets are becoming increasingly popular with home theater enthusiasts, and soon, they could become part of the mainstream. But what are 4K TVs, and should you think about upgrading to one?
The next generation of high-definition
Although 1080p is one of the highest resolutions available today, 4K aims to replace this technology by significantly increasing the pixel density of TV screens. Currently, 1080p refers to displays that feature 1,080 horizontal lines, scanned at a progressive rate. However, as their name implies, 4K TVs boast 4,000 pixels horizontally, and around 2,000 pixels vertically, resulting in a much crisper picture. At present, not all televisions marketed as 4K have this precise pixel density, which may lead to these sets being labeled as “ultra HD” in the future to avoid confusion with true 4K displays.
You might be wondering why pixel density is so important. Put simply, the more pixels a screen has, the greater the potential resolution of an image. Most current HDTVs have around 2 million pixels in total, whereas 4K TVs can have more than 8 million. The larger the screen, the more important a role pixel density plays.
Breaking down barriers to entry
As with most emerging technologies, price was a barrier for many would-be early adopters of 4K TVs. When manufacturers like LG first introduced these models, they were priced at more than $20,000 in some cases. Fortunately, the costs of 4K TVs are falling all the time, and Newegg.com has some unbeatable deals on these amazing TVs.
If you’re still not sold on the idea of 4K, it pays to look at trends in the entertainment industry to see why this technology will soon become mainstream. For example, many cinemas are now offering movies at 4K resolution, which makes this type of TV an ideal investment as part of a home theater system. In addition, movies shot in 35mm can be remastered into 4K seamlessly, resulting in breathtaking picture quality and a superior viewing experience.
It will be some time before your 1080p TV is obsolete, but there is no doubt that ultra HD or 4K TVs will be the defining technology in home entertainment in the future. When you’re ready to upgrade to this kind of set and take your movies and TV to the next level, check out Newegg.com for deals that will blow you away.
