Is 4K Ultra HD just another 3D TV fad?
I have worked in the consumer electronics retail industry for over 13 years, selling everything from VCRs, digital cameras, and DVD players to Blu-rays, A/V receivers, and big-screen TVs. So I’ve seen a lot of fads and gimmicks come and go. The hottest topic today is 4K Ultra HD TVs. Customers ask me all the time, “What’s the deal with 4K?” Many of these queries are sarcastic and biting in tone simply out of skepticism, but an equal number of people are genuinely curious and want to learn more about this exciting new visual technology. before making a purchase decision.
I think this is just another 3D fad? Absolutely not. 4K (also known as Ultra HD) TVs have four times the pixel density of Full HD (also known as 1080p) TVs, so your images simply look sharper. It’s simple math. If Full HD screens have 2 million pixels and their images already look great, imagine how amazing an image with 8 million pixels would look? A sharper image is a sharper image; there is no way to refute that. Home 3D, on the other hand, doesn’t make images look sharper or more realistic as it purports to. In fact, despite numerous attempts to embellish the technology over the last three years, the viewing experience is still awkward and misleading if you ask me. What creates the visual effect from 2D to 3D is not, in fact, the native clarity of the television; it’s simply a menu setup with 3D-enabled TVs coupled with the paper-thin colored glasses you’re meant to wear, together tricking your eyes and brain into thinking you’re seeing additional fields of depth that aren’t really there. For the most part, consumers have already realized that the 3D experience at home is not all that was expected.
From a popularity standpoint, you might think that 4K flat panel technology is just the tip of the iceberg.
– As we expect more native 4K content to be rolled out in the next 2-5 yearsthe promise of future 4k broadcasting is one of the main reasons why anyone in the market for a new TV today should choose a 4K set over a 1080p set.
– Another reason is that 4K Bluray is coming. At any moment, the Bluray Disc Association expects to release a 4K BD format that uses 100GB triple-layer discs. It is said that the new system will also support high frame rate processing, so all action movie fans should get ready for an epic move in the home theater.
– Also worth mentioning is the fact that 4K internet streaming is already here. Netflix, for example, offers a conservative selection of 4K movies and shows right now, but they add new titles almost every day. And guess what? Even if you already have a Wi-Fi enabled Smart TV and a Netflix account, none of this wonderful content is available to you unless your connected Smart TV is also a 4K display.
Lastly, for those of you who aren’t moved by any of this fancy new evolution of mombo jumbo, but are more concerned with the here and now, I’ve got news for you too.
– Top-tier brands of 4K Ultra HD TVs have the ability to upscale 1080p images from your current Blu-ray library, as well as from HD network broadcasts and satellite feeds. So if the other reasons I laid out weren’t compelling enough, the scaling power of today’s 4K TV processors makes choosing a 4K TV over a Full HD TV a no-brainer.
As for 4K prices, yes, they’re still pretty high for newer sets, but they’re falling fast. For example, the first generation Sony 65″ 4K cost nearly $6,000 about 2 years ago. Fast-forward to today, their new top-tier set is almost half what it used to be, and it’s better than the old ones. manufacturers increase their production to meet the growing demand for 4K displays, it is inevitable that prices will continue to fall.
So whether you buy a 4K TV now or later ultimately depends on your sense of urgency and your wallet. If you’re definitely in the market for a new flat screen TV, but still undecided about whether to make the big investment today or wait, here’s what I suggest you do: Unless you’re in dire need of a new TV big screen, just wait. Technology will only get better and prices will continue to fall. I think given enough time you’ll be able to spend on a new 60-inch 4K TV what you would have spent today on a 1080p TV of the same size. If you buy it today, you might feel like kicking yourself tomorrow… but maybe not. Follow your instinct, okay? LOL!