A while ago we wrote extensively about whether it is wise to prepare for 4K Ultra HD, but in the meantime a few things have changed, so that we can be a little more positive about the purchase of a 4K Ultra HD TV. In this article, we therefore list five reasons to choose a 4K Ultra HD TV .
4K, Ultra HD and UHD are terms used to describe TVs with a high resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. We see more and more models appear, varying in price from 3,000 euros to 20,000 euros. So we cannot call it cheap yet, but is it a good investment for the future when you buy a 4K Ultra HD TV now?
Five reasons to choose a 4K Ultra HD TV- Falling prices of 4K Ultra HD TVs
As indicated above, the prices of the 4K Ultra HD TVs that are currently in the shops are not really feasible for the average consumer. However, the good news is that these prices are falling rapidly. Since the introduction of the first models at the end of last year, we have already seen a decrease of an average of 500 to 1,000 euros per model. It is expected that these prices will fall further in the coming months and that we will see the first really affordable UHD TVs with prices between 1,500 euros and 3,000 euros early next year. For the price, you will soon no longer have to give up when you are looking for a high-end TV.
Five reasons to choose a 4K Ultra HD TV- Ready for the future
A few months ago, it was still unclear what to expect in the field of HDMI and therefore it was difficult to recommend buying a 4K Ultra HD TV. The HDMI 2.0 standard has now been presented and the first TVs equipped with it have also been launched. In addition, most manufacturers who have already released 4K Ultra HD TVs provide an option to update or upgrade to HDMI 2.0 . So if you are going for a 4K Ultra HD TV, it is wise to choose a model that comes standard with HDMI 2.0 or gets a (free) update / upgrade.
Apart from that, with a UHD TV you are completely ready for the future. You can display content in the high resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels and more and more companies are supporting this resolution. Netflix, various broadcasters and pay channels, and manufacturers such as Sony and Panasonic are busy with (plans for) the distribution of 4K content.
4K content
The story about the production and distribution of 4K content is not yet entirely clear, but slowly but surely the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together. Sony and RED, among others, have started a platform with which 4K content can be streamed to the living room via the internet, and 4K Blu-ray seems to be around the corner. Various pay channels and satellite providers have also indicated that they will use 4K in the near future. That’s not all, because more and more consumer cameras can also record 4K content. There are even smartphones with a 4K camera. An Ultra HD TV is therefore required to enjoy this content. And then we are not even talking about the impressive gaming experience that 4K Ultra HD can offer. No games in this resolution have been announced yet, but it won’t be long.
Upscaling to 4K
Still, a 4K Ultra HD TV is not only suitable for native 4K content. You can play your current DVDs and Blu-ray discs on it without any problems. The big advantage is that the 4K TVs have an upscaler , an advanced technique for converting HD material to the high 4K resolution. From our first experiences with 4K Ultra HD TVs, we can conclude that this function (on most models) actually offers added value and makes HD material appear impressively detailed. Your HD content will therefore look a lot tighter and sharper on a 4K Ultra HD TV. As a result, you are not only dependent on the available native 4K content to also enjoy the higher resolution.
More than just resolution
We are of course mainly talking about the resolution, which is what 4K stands for, but there is more than that. 4K also stands for higher frame rates , a wider color gamut and a higher contrast. The new and improved standards are all supported by HDMI 2.0, which is why it is a requirement that TVs have this. The higher frame rates, in contrast to the resolution, also offer advantages at longer viewing distances. Images should therefore appear more natural and detailed.
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