What are 4K TVs?
Are you interested in buying a 4K TV and wondering whether it's the right choice for you? Maybe you'd like to learn more about what 4K means and how it impacts the way you watch TV. Check out our 4K TV buying guide for more information about 4K technology and what it means for your viewing experience.
What does 4K mean?
With an ever-increasing amount of streaming shows and movies being produced in 4K, you'll want to take advantage of higher resolution shows and movies with an ultra high definition (UHD) TV that can display 4K content in all its glory.
But what does 4K mean, exactly?
The term 4K refers to the resolution of your TV—in the same way that your might think about High Definition TV. The difference between an HD TV and a 4K TV is that the latter provides 4 times more pixels, creating a crystal clear picture for optimal TV viewing. And now that 4K has arrived, there are plenty of types of 4K TVs to choose from.
If you’re in the market for a new TV, it’s definitely worth checking out a few different types of 4K TVs from Samsung, like the Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV, The Frame or Crystal UHD 4K TV.
What is 4K resolution?
And what is native 4K?
Put simply, a 4K TV is a TV with 4K resolution. The “K” in 4K stands for Kilo (1000), meaning a TV that has achieved a resolution of almost 4,000 pixels wide (3840 x 2160), which is four times the total pixel count of Full HD displays (1920 x 1080). HD resolution is often referred to as 1080p, while 4K is called 2160p.
When we refer to TV resolution, we’re talking about the density of the pixels on your display. Individual pixels collect together to make up the image you see on the screen, so the higher the pixel count, the higher the resolution.
If there are fewer pixels and they’re dispersed further apart from your screen, you could see a fuzzier picture. If there are more pixels and they’re displayed close together, you’ll get a much clearer picture.
What is 4K upscaling?
Do 4K TVs upscale everything?
4K upscaling is the technology that increases lower-quality resolution to 4K by converting and optimizing it to fit the display panel of a 4K TV. In other words, it doesn't just stretch the image—it upgrades it for the 4K display.
Upscaling automatically analyzes resolution to reduce noise, improve details and provide optimum contrast and color so that you can view this content in 4K-like quality. So if you were to come across content that isn’t developed with 4K in mind, your viewing experience won't be impacted.
Are UHD and 4K the same?
The difference between 4K and HD is simple—4K TVs have four times more pixels than traditional Full HD (1920 x 1080) TVs. Even on TV screens of the same size, the 4K TV picture quality ends up being more vivid and detailed thanks to the greater pixel density—which makes them especially great TVs for gaming.
This difference is particularly obvious on big screen TVs. For example, if you compare the picture quality of an HD TV with a 65” 4K UHD TV, you'll notice the pixels are smaller than a lower-resolution TV of the same size. That means you'll enjoy a more immersive experience and a crisper picture.
Which is better, UHD or 4K?
UHD stands for Ultra High Definition and generally refers to any TV with a 4K or greater resolution. When choosing between a 4K or a UHD TV, you needn’t worry—they are the same and just as good as each other.
What is Crystal UHD?
If you are researching different types of 4K TVs you will likely come across Crystal UHD. This refers to a lineup of Samsung televisions that display 4K resolution. There are various expressions to talk about 4K including 4K TV, Ultra UD, Ultra High Definition TV and 4K UHD TV. They all are essentially the same thing. UHD is an industry standard for TVs that display 4K. Samsung Crystal UHD TVs have advanced processors to display high-quality 4K with enhanced color.
Today, most manufacturers and distributors now use the term 4K TV or 4K UHD TV. Recently, another type of UHD TV has begun to show up on the market: the 8K TV.
What’s the difference between 4K TV and 8K TV?
Exactly in the same way that 4K differs from HD TV, 8K has four times as many pixels as 4K—and even more impressively, up to 16 times as many pixels compared to a 1080p TV. Ultimately, more pixels result in a sharper, clearer image and 8K offers up an impressive 160 pixels per inch (PPI), delivering a truly smooth and crisp image.
Learn more about what the difference is between 4K TV and 8K TV.
What 4K content is available?
Find out what content is in 4K.
When 4K TVs were first introduced, there weren't a lot of 4K films or TV shows to watch—which meant many people were unsure about buying a 4K TV. But thanks to rapid development in the quality of streaming services and TV and film production, there is plenty of great content to watch in native 4K resolution.
Now, 4K content is available everywhere you look, from 4K broadcasting to 4K streaming services to 4K Blu-ray players and even User Generated Content (UGC) filmed with 4K cameras or smartphones.
There are approximately 80 channels worldwide that broadcast in 4K (according to Wikipedia), plus streaming and VoD services that offer a wide range of content, including:
• Netflix
• Amazon Prime
• Disney+
• Rakuten
Plus, if you have a 4K Blu-ray player you can easily purchase and enjoy 4K videos from places like Amazon.com.
What is color volume on a Samsung TV?
Color volume refers to the number colors your TV is capable of displaying at different levels of brightness. It can be the difference between seeing the small highlights in a skyline or the vivid hues of a field of flowers, or a less clear image where colors merge. So, choosing a 4K TV with good color volume is important.
Samsung TVs use Quantum Dot Technology to provide 100% Color Volume, so you won't miss a shade at any level of brightness. With Quantum Mini LEDs, you'll have access to over a billion shades of color, delivering our most intensely realistic 4K picture yet.
Samsung's best 4K TVs
Available in 43" up to 85"
Samsung Neo QLED 4K & QLED 4K TVs
Upgrade your viewing with Quantum Dot Technology for a deeply immersive 4K experience.
Available in 55" up to 65"
Samsung OLED 4K TVs
Pump up the color volume with deep blacks and 8.3 million self-lit pixels for a dazzling 4K picture.
Available in 32" up to 85"
Lifestyle 4K TVs
Find a 4K TV that fits into your life, from form to function and beyond.
Available in 43" up to 85"
Crystal UHD 4K TVs
Step up to Crystal UHD 4K essentials and enjoy next-level color at a great value.
Explore our different types of 4K TVs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need a soundbar with a 4K TV?Soundbars are fantastic for adding additional audio quality to TVs that already have a premium picture quality. Samsung TVs already have excellent sound quality, but soundbars can increase this even more—explore our soundbars to find out more.
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Do I need a 4K TV for gaming?You don’t necessarily have to have 4K in a TV for gaming, but it can make the experience even better than it would be with a standard HD TV. 4K delivers four times as many pixels as HD does, which can make playing your favorite PS5 or Xbox games all the more exciting.