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It may seem like only yesterday for many that high-definition television was introduced. HD TV gave us better resolutions, more fluid motion, bigger screens and even DVD players. Fast forward 20 years and it is now 4K TV that is starting to become more prevalent and is changing the television landscape.
4K vs. HD Resolution
HD TV actually encompasses three resolutions: 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Sometimes referred to as Full HD, 1080p is by far the most prevalent. Nevertheless, there are still 720p televisions available, and Netflix and other streaming services may stream in 720p if your internet connection is not fast enough. That said, 1080p refers to a 1,920- by 1,080-pixel resolution. The newer tech—4K, which is sometimes called Ultra-HD—refers to a 3,840- by 2,160-pixel resolution. That is a lot more pixels! In fact, it is four times as much—8 vs. 2 million—which allows for much greater fidelity when it comes to image quality. Having a fast internet provider like HughesNet internet and Spectrum internet will give you full experience in streaming your favorites movies in Ultra HD. Its just like you are watching on a cinema.
Upgrade to a 4K TV
If you want to have 4K content available in your home, then the first thing you will have to do will be invest in a 4K TV. Not having a 4K TV is a deal breaker since even if you have all of the other items we will mention, you will not be able to see those additional pixels. Do not worry that most of your content is still in 1080p. Even less-expensive 4K TVs have scalers that do a solid job of making content look good. Be mindful that 4K TVs start out at about 43 inches. The reason for this is that 4K is essentially pointless on a screen smaller than that, and if you want a smaller screen, stick with your 1080p content for now.
Subscribe to Services That Offer 4K Content
Now that you have your 4K TV, you will need access to some 4K content to watch. Be mindful that the industry is in a transition phase since most people still have HD televisions. If you prefer pay-TV options, DirecTV has three full-time 4K channels available through its box. All of the other major satellite and cable companies are beginning to offer 4K as well but most do not yet support it through the box. That means that you will have to stream it, and we will discuss those challenges in the final section. If streaming is not a problem for you, then Amazon Prime, iTunes, Netflix, and YouTube are all excellent examples of service providers that offer 4K and are continuing to add more on a regular basis.
Upgrade Your TV Equipment if Applicable
If you are going to access 4K content via streaming, then you will need a streaming device that can handle it. There is, for instance, 4K Roku boxes available, and the existing box that you already have probably will not work. There are also streaming media boxes from Amazon, Google and Apple, and if you have either an Xbox or PlayStation video game console, you can use them as well. Another common question asked is whether you need to upgrade your HDMI cables. Chances are that if you bought your cables in the last decade, no, but this is something you will certainly want to investigate.
Upgrade Your Internet Plan if Applicable
If you will stream 4K content, you need to ensure that your Internet connection is fast enough. Netflix recommends 25 Mbps download, and this is line with recommendations from other providers. But keep in mind that is for a single stream. If you have a household of four people, for instance, then you will likely want 100 Mbps to ensure that each can do what he or she wants online without affecting the other household members.
