All you need to know about the amazing 4K TV

The next big step in high definition is here, today’s 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD TV presents us with an image of around 2 megapixels but a new generation of screens are on their way with a huge 8 megapixel image from hi-res cameras.

The big TV brands like Sony and LG are planning to release new Ultra HD TV’s this year and it looks like they will become a format for both broadcast TV and Blu-ray very soon.   

What is 4K?

4K has a display resolution of 4096 x 2160, which is the resolution of all 4K recordings, though many people use 4K to refer to any display resolution that has roughly 4000 horizontal pixels.

Ultra HD TVs have a resolution just lower than 3840 x 2160 which is exactly four times higher than the full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080.

What size will they come in?

The only Ultra HD TVs that are available now are monsters with Sony’s 84 inch 84X9005 and LG’s 84 inch 84LM960V on the market.

The first television to boast Ultra HD resolution was the Panasonic TH-152UX1W, a 152 inch plasma screen TV (which has a £600,000 price tag).

Smaller, more affordable Ultra HD TV’s are starting to be released or announced such as the 58-inch Toshiba 58L9300 and 55-inch Sony KD-55X9000A.

Is 4K only for TV?

At the minute it may only be rumours but supposedly both 4K laptops and Smartphone’s could hit the stores by the end of 2013.

Innolux Corporation and Samsung Display are supposedly working on Ultra HD screens to be released later this year. Samsung Display are said to be mass-producing both 13.3 inch and 15.6 inch Ultra HD notebook panels.

Toshiba are also said to be working on a 4K laptop for release in 2013, making it look like these amazing screens could be arriving sooner rather than later which could leave Apple’s MacBook Pro with Retina Display looking pretty poor.

Whatever happens it looks like 4K will be the next big thing for TV so you may want to start saving up.