What is an 8K TV for? HD vs FullHD vs 4K vs 8K- all the differences! Today it is practically impossible to enter a store and buy a television that is not UHD, a resolution also known as 4K. The times of Full HD televisions have gone down in history. Inescapable proof that the battle for the conquest of the best image quality is an endless war, the main producers are finalizing the launch of the first 8K models.
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But what exactly does 8K mean? What are the benefits? And what is almost as important- are there contents with this resolution to take advantage of it?TechVaz will try to answer these and other questions.
HD vs FullHD vs 4K vs 8K- all the differences
The 8K resolution is a relatively new image standard and basically defined by its resolution. Its name refers to a slightly rounded number of horizontal pixels, which brings the total resolution to 7,680 x 4,320 points. To get an idea, we need to multiply the resolution of the standard 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) by four and that of Full HD TVs (1,920 x 1,080) for sixteen.
Given the higher resolution, 8K televisions allow you to view pixels that are literally invisible to the human eye from an optimal viewing distance. If a series or movie might look slightly faded or artificial on a UHD screen, an 8K TV will display them with impressive clarity. For this reason, 8K screens will be released first for large TVs, which require a large pixel density to preserve image quality.
Given its enormous definition, manufacturers like Samsung promote their future 8K TVs as the closest experience in enjoying our favorite movies with the quality of a 33 megapixel moving photo.
The first 8K TVs use different technologies (LCD, LCD QLED, and OLED), but all have something in common- the use of the new HDMI 2.1. This “new” HDMI standard is the only one capable of transmitting data with 8K resolution and 60 frames per second with support for effects such as dynamic HDR. And the transmission of all this visual information (in addition to multi-channel sound and other data) is not a trivial job to do.
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Benefits and benefits of 8K TVs
The first and most obvious advantage of 8K televisions lies in their very high resolution. The clarity of the image provided by its 7,680 x 4,320 pixels far surpasses any technology ever released, which implies an extraordinary definition and greater naturalness. Images are much sharper and more credible, with better-defined edges and without the slightest trace of pixels.
Now, although the 8K resolution is a (large) number of vertical and horizontal pixels, TVs designed to work with this format will incorporate a number of important advances that will not be available on other models. For example, and as already mentioned, it will make use of the new HDMI 2.1 connector, which provides advanced connectivity features for other devices and support for technologies such as adaptive updating, which will become a real revolution for owners of a modern video game console.
In addition to this, the 8K format will be tangentially linked to other advances such as dynamic HDR, which significantly improves other techniques allowing the adjustment of the brightness values of a film not scene by scene, but frame by frame. Sunsets and starry nights will be visible with cold clarity. It really gives the impression of seeing a real sky instead of a recording.
It is also noteworthy that at least the initially 8K TVs will be included in the higher range. This means that the first compatible models will benefit from functions such as the latest generation smart TV center, more advanced image processing systems than the rest and extremely refined designs, perfectly integrated into any type of environment. Because the televisions will also be surprisingly thin.
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8K content- the coming storm
Although the 8K format is new, its roots are old. Very old. And they take us to Japan, where the public company NHK began investigating its possibilities in 1995 under the name of Super Hi-Vision. The problem is that until now there was no effective way to distribute the recorded content with this resolution since an 8K movie can easily take up more than 200 GB.
Nor are there many cameras. Until 2015, there was no set of well-defined techniques and standards to work with this resolution, which until then was fairly experimental. In this way, one might think that we are faced with a situation not without irony, with televisions with the latest scream in image quality and no content to enjoy them.
Well, this is not really the case. The truth is that even though many of the films made at 4K today have original 8K masters, many of the modern content already available in UHD will also be available for the 8K format. The second part of Guardians of the Galaxy, for example, was produced directly in 8K with special cameras.
On the other hand, a not inconsiderable number of restored films also have a copy in 8K. In other words, many of the classic remastered to 4K from the original celluloid have an 8K digitization waiting to be launched when there are televisions able to take advantage of this resolution. In a sense, we might consider that 4K UHD is analogous to yesterday’s HD Ready and that 8K is the same as Full HD which ended up replacing it.
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The issue of television broadcasting is very complicated. There are still TV operators that do not broadcast in Full HD and do not think that in the rest of the world things will go much better. Japan is the exception again, and in fact, the Tokyo 2020 Games will be broadcast in 8K to the delight of an audience always eager to enjoy the high-quality image. But of course, to enjoy this program you will have to live in the land of the rising sun.
The rest of the world will enjoy 8K content thanks to other types of techniques. All TV manufacturers with this type of TV have invested in highly advanced processing systems to update 4K to 8K images as faithfully as possible, so UHD content will be perfect on a TV with native 8K support.
Furthermore, the 8K format will be a digital native. The current Blu-ray discs do not have enough space to store films that will be around 200 GB so the transmission of the content will be done mainly through the Internet. The platform streaming like Netflix and HBO, which already offer 4K series and movies, eventually to update their libraries into 8K progressively. Others like YouTube currently offer some content through specialized channels.
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The first 8K TVs are (almost) here
Samsung QE75Q7FN 75-inch 4K
The Samsung QE75Q7FN is one of the most advanced UHD TVs of the moment. With a size of 75 inches and a high brightness, it is a very attractive option for all users, perfect for sports enthusiasts or players.
LG OLED55B8PLA 55-inch 4K
For fans of the highest image quality. There is no purer black than an OLED TV, and LG controls this technology like no other. OLED55B8PLA is a 55-inch television with infinite contrast and an advanced Smart TV platform.
Philips 55PUS7303 / 12 4K 55 inches
Do you already know the advantages of ambient lighting? If so, you’ll surely fall in love with the immersion provided by Philips Ambilight technology, which projects the colors on the wall that mimic the scenes on the screen. Your 55PUS7303 / 12 is one of the best.
