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What is 4K Video Resolution? Does Your 4K TV Really Come with 4K Resolution?

4K Video Resolution

Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:33 am

From the title, it’s clear that 4K is not a video format as many wrongfully think.

When we talk about 4K we often refer to our TV sets and Blu-ray players or TV boxes.

In truth, these devices aren’t really 4K. Here’s the explanation.

There are two types of 4K resolution.

DCI 4K

DCI stands for Digital Cinema Initiatives, established in 2002. It is is a joint venture initiative by cinema giants Disney, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios to set the standards for digital cinema.

DCI 4K has a resolution of 4096 x 2160.

This is the true 4K resolution which is used in the movie projection industry.

4K UHD

Your 4K TV is actually UHD or Ultra-High-Definition.

Whether you call it 4K or UHD, it means the same thing because the resolution is the same – 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Other consumer devices that attach the 4K label to themselves actually have the UHD resolution as mentioned above.

So, UHD can be called the consumer 4K standard.

Equipment manufacturers, however, attach the 4K label to their devices to give it a marketing edge and consumers unwittingly buy without realising that they aren’t getting the true 4K .

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