4K UHD vs 4K HDR: Know the Difference from the Experts

Last Updated on 22 January, 2023 by Sourav Roy

Buying the best TV for your home is no more a duck-soup. With all the tech jargon popping out, the process can be intimidating to any commoner. In the vast world of TV acronyms, 4K has been pretty much established. When you go on a television spree, you are definitely going to find all 4k TVs in different sizes and attributes defining the screen resolution. If you are looking for the best, it’s about time you get well versed with these abbreviations. And that’s why I am here to talk about every little detail on – 4K UHD vs 4K HDR.

But before we get on to it, I would love you to know everything about 4k televisions. The tech world is progressing, so what’s holding you back? The concept of 4k has been introduced only to enhance your television experience. Let’s dive into it right away.

What is 4K television?

In layman’s language, 4K televisions have a high pixel density. Compared to a traditional Full HD TV, 4K TVs have four times more pixels. This clearly means the picture quality will be more authentic and explicit even if the screen size is similar. You will definitely not miss the minutest detail on the screen.

4k resolution represents a horizontal display resolution of roughly 4,000 pixels. The more the pixels, the more detailing of the picture you will have. The dominant 4k standard in television should be about 3840*2160. However, this can happen only if the content is delivered in 4k with minimum broadband of 15Mbps.

What are the advantages of a 4K TV?

4K Televisions generally come in large screen sizes.
The technology brings out more detail in the picture quality.
These televisions have a better image depth.
4K TVs also have a potential to handle colour better.
You can experience a mesmerizing TV experience at home.
4K TVs also have budgeted options.
These televisions let you recapture a cinema at a high resolution.

What is 4K UHD?

Let me begin by pointing out what UHD stands for – Ultra high definition. In a nutshell, these resolutions create a pixel count of 4k. This is 4 times of a full HD TV (1080p). This resolution converts to 8 million pixels being crowded in the space in which a full HD TV fits only 2 million. The more the pixel count, the better the resolution. So, the viewer can expect an absolutely clear image and precise colours.

Since every pixel is minute, it is assigned to a small slice of a larger picture. These extra pixels have a large impact on the large screen.

According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), 4K Ultra-High Definition TVs have 3840 pixels horizontally and 2160 pixels vertically.

The demand for large-sized televisions have escalated, and how! This is the prime reason for the incorporation of the UHD technology.

What are the advantages of 4K UHD televisions?

UHD TVs deliver a crisp and sharp image.
The transition between scenes is very smooth.
UHD technology ensures zero pixelation.
UHD TVs offer increased content extensibility from channels to Blu-ray.
UHD televisions are completely 4K.

What are the disadvantages of 4K UHD televisions?

While you can enjoy colourful images, sharp displays and advanced technologies, remember everything comes at a cost. The biggest disadvantage of a 4K UHD TV is the high price.
UHD televisions have a lack of content options.
UHD technology is not available in a compact size TV.

Recommended Reading: The Best LED TVs trending in 2023: Expert Analysis

What is 4K HDR?

HDR, also known as High Dynamic Range, has nothing to do with the pixel count like UHD. HDR technology is about the picture and colour luminosity. The smart technology modifies the colour, brightness and contrast to a level that is well suited for a supreme visual experience. It certainly makes the picture quality more rich and realistic. It brings images to life in the true sense by keeping away any bleeding of pictures.

However, for this accurate image result, you need content with the right HDR metadata. But this shouldn’t stop you from visually treating your eyes. Today, HDR content is available on everything – Blu-rays, streaming apps and more.

Not all 4K UHD TVs have HDR capabilities. But most of the 4K products have the HDR feature. That’s how you can derive the benefits of 4K HDR technology.

What are the advantages of 4K HDR televisions?

The prime advantage of HDR televisions is to provide better brightness and contrast.
You can experience more vivid images.
HDR technology will give a more realistic image. It is sure to be closer to how content creators wanted it to be.
HDR TVs provide a greater visual impact compared to TVs with SDR technology (standard dynamic range).
HDR technology has a wide colour gamut.
Most game consoles have the HDR feature.

What are the disadvantages of 4K HDR televisions?

You can derive benefits only on HDR-compatible TVs.
HDR on a budget HDR TV will look worse than a non-HDR TV.
Some HRD TVs have a default backlight and contrast level setting. You cannot adjust the HDR mode.

4K UHD vs 4K HDR: What’s the difference?

4K UHD	4K HDR
UHD technology is mostly 4K	HDR is available in various resolutions other than 4K
4K UHD is about the resolution pixel	4K HDR is about the quality and definition of the image
UHD does not require colour gamut	HDR has a wide colour gamut
UHD technology has 4K content readily available	HDR content is limited in contrast to 4K content
It is mostly defined with a screen 3840 horizontally and 2160 vertically in 4K resolutions	HDR TVs are defined as a screen with 3840 horizontal and 2160 vertical resolutions in the right colour contrast.
UHD technology requires a fully 4K compatible device for smooth functioning in case of display, and source	HDR is available in most formats, and it requires an end to end compatibility in the case of display and source

One Last Thought

4K UHD vs 4K HDR: In this debate, we have discovered that comparing both technologies is slightly tricky. UHD and HDR- both these smart revolutions are incorporated only to enhance the visual experience. Well, to tell you the truth, they both are not exactly competing with each other. UHD is all about quantity. HDR is all about quality. UHD is all about the pixel count. HDR is all about image quality.

So, how about going for the combination of the two? Well, that’s the key to bringing home the best TV and the best of both worlds. For some exciting options, hop on to my blog now!

Author
Recent Posts

Follow me

Abir B.

Product Analyst at Homeliness

Abir is an expert with electronics that more frequently used and interacted with. Computers and Smartphones, to be more specific. However, his expertise also extends to categories like Audio Equipment, which are some of the things he’s done jobs for over the years. In fact, at 34 years old now, he’s been working professionally for the earlier fields for plenty of years and has built up a large repertoire of knowledge.