What is 4K and HDR?

4K and HDR are terms that have been tossed around a lot lately, especially since the new consoles from Sony and Microsoft will support both features. But what are 4K and HDR, exactly? We provide all the important details in Q&A format down below.

4K

What is 4K?

In regards to consumer displays, 4K generally equates to a 3840x2160-resolution panel. This means the typical 4K screen will offer 3,840 horizontal pixels and 2,160 vertical pixels. When you multiply these numbers together, you get a panel with more than 8 million pixels. This is four times the pixel density of a traditional 1080p HD panel. See the math below:

> 3840x2160 = 8,294,400 pixels
> 1920x1080x4 = 8,294,400 pixels

The term 4K derived from the fact that the film industry reached a 4096x2160 resolution standard, which is a 1.9:1 aspect ratio, but since most home monitors and TVs use a 16:9 ratio, the resolution was scaled down to 3840x2160p, which is also commonly referred to as Ultra HD.

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Why should I care about 4K?

Studies show that by 2020, the majority of US homes are expected to have a 4K-capable UHD TV.

In terms of picture quality, the increased resolution provides improved image clarity and sharpness. It also allows for larger panels, since 1080p screens stretched across a large surface will begin to look blurry with their low pixel density.

Do I need a 4K player to take advantage of 4K?

Yes. There are standalone 4K players, but gaming PCs with modern graphics cards will also be able to output to 4K as well. The Xbox One S can play 4K movies, but it doesn’t have enough power to render 4K games. Both the more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro and Project Scorpio consoles will be able to game at 4K. However, because this is a graphically demanding resolution with a high pixel density, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect some titles to be upscaled to 4K.

Is there a lot of 4K content?

Most blockbuster movies moving forward will offer 4K Blu-ray discs, but UHD content on the Web is still a growing segment. 2160p video is becoming more widely available on streaming services like YouTube, Amazon, Vimeo, and Netflix. Certain high-profile 4K Netflix shows include Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and House of Cards.

What are the issues facing 4K?

Aside from the relatively small library of 4K content at the moment, you’ll need a good Internet connection if you intend to stream 2160p video. In addition, because 4K is four times as sharp as 1080p, it can be graphically demanding for gaming.

HDR

What is HDR?

HDR stands for high dynamic range. You might have heard the term as it pertains to cameras, but when it comes to display technology, it’s actually somewhat different.

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