What is 4K TV and is it Worth Investing in Right Now?
According to the Consumer Technology Association the three most requested tech gifts of the holiday season in 2016 were the iPhone 7, the newest Mac Book Pro and a 4K TV. 4K TVs have been around for a while now, but this year they came into their own as they finally gained some usefulness beyond the brag value. That being said though are they really worth investing in right now. And if you do, what kind of upgrade will they truly provide for your current media system?
What is 4K TV Anyway?
The difference between your current HD TV and a 4K TV is primarily in the resolution. 4K, which is also known as Ultra HD, refers to a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That’s actually four times the 1,920 x 1,080 pixels found in the HD TV you have sitting in your home or office right now.
Is 4K TV Really That Different?
Given that it may not have been so long ago that you put a new HDTV at the center of your media system you will of course be keen to know whether of not investing in a 4K TV will really make a difference. This is where opinion divides.
In basic terms though we think the answer is yes. The higher resolution of 4K images offers improved definition and greater clarity to the picture, providing hugely life-like images that, at times, can look more like you are looking out of the window than at a TV screen.
And the effect will be noticeable if you compare it to that offered by your current set. You’ll see that it’s a denser picture and that the details are extremely fine.
What is a 4K TV Best Used for Right Now?
The reason 4K TV is becoming a better investment is that more providers are now catering to it. After a year of work Netflix now offers a streaming option especially designed for 4K. The new PlayStation and XBox Consoles – the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One S – have also been specifically designed for 4K. Amazon Prime are also streaming many of their original shows in 4K and a number of TV channels have plans to as well (Walking Dead in 4K, they’ll be something)
The Bandwidth Issue
4K and streaming – both for TV and movies and for online gaming – should go together perfectly. The problem for many however is one of bandwidth. To stream in 4K calls for around three times the bandwidth an HD stream needs to be stable. For, according to, cloud services provider Akamai, 69% of American homes and 64% of businesses that is currently out of reach with their present set up.
According to experts, Internet speeds of 15 Mbps or higher are a minimum requirement for 4K streaming and the latest cabling is also a must as the older stuff just won’t be up to the job. Is it worth investing in the required upgrades right now? Maybe not for a residential set up but for a business that offers TV as a perk – bars, restaurants etc – it may well be. At very least get in touch with network and cabling specialist – like Data Installers – to discuss your options.
For consultation on cabling services, GIVE US A CALL 1-800-730-3468. We ensure you that we give a good quality service.