The rapid adoption of ultra-high definition technologies raises some important questions. 4K vs 1080p What's the difference? Is one resolution better than the other? Are Ultra HD resolutions really superior to the current Full HD standard? All these questions are answered in this article.
Key differences between 1080p and 4K resolution
To understand the differences between 1080p and 4K, you must first understand the concept of resolution itself. In a nutshell, Resolution is nothing more than the number of pixels a screen can display. which make up a video and an image. With this concept in mind, it is easier to understand the differences between 1080p and 4K resolutions, which are two:
1. Number of pixels
The most significant difference between 4K vs 1080p is that 4K is a higher resolution. That is, a 4K display or video is made up of a higher number of pixels.
To be more specific, 1080p has around 2 million pixels, with a width-height distribution of 1920 x 1080 (from this last value comes its name). On the other hand, A 4K monitor has more than 8 million pixels, 3840 x 2160, and its name is due to the fact that it is almost 4 thousand lines wide; although today, some monitors already reach and exceed 4K resolution.
2. Pixel density
Most 4K monitors or displays are almost the same size as 1080p displays. However, since the 4K resolution is higher, in order for the display to be a standard size, the pixels must be “compressed,” meaning they are smaller and closer together.
This grouping of more pixels in the same space is usually defined as higher density or number of pixels per inch (PPI) and greatly improves image quality.
Why are 4K videos better than 1080p?
The invention of ultra-high resolution technology has not been in vain, as it brings several improvements over FullHD and lower resolutions. Below, we analyze some of the Reasons why 4K video is better than 1080p:
1. You will enjoy a great luxury of details
Cameras that support this resolution They capture any scene with a wealth of detail which is beyond the reach of any 1080p lens. In this way, a video correctly recorded in this resolution never presents blurred parts or the well-known “saw teeth" that bother gamers, photographers and experts on the subject so much.
On the part of high-resolution monitors, by having up to 8 million pixels each representing a different color, they can create Perfect contours, shadows and contrasts. This provides a video quality much higher than 1080p, allowing hyperrealism and immersion in video games to be taken to the next level.
2. You can scale them without losing almost any quality
If you've tried to watch a video in 1080p or lower resolution on a large screen, You may have noticed that this one is starting to get pixelated.UltraHD content is less prone to this problem, as it is created by recording even the smallest details of the scene, which is undoubtedly another of the great advantages of a 4K video over a 1080p one.
When you play a 4K video on a screen you get new details, up to a certain limit of course, although in the same way, these are imperceptible on standard-sized screens, but they are there, waiting to be scaled to be revealed.
3. You can lower the resolution
Any 4K video can be upscaled to a lower resolution, such as 2K or Full HD, when necessary. What's new here is that a 4K video converted to, say, 1080p can have better visual quality than the same video recorded directly with a 1080p camera.
Comparisons between 4k and 1080p videos
In the video above you will find a comparison between 1080p vs 4K. You can see that the second video format presents the scene in a more detailed and realistic way; while In the 1080p video area, the smallest details are often lost. and become blurry.
Also, in this comparison it is quite noticeable that the 4K resolution achieves a better representation of colors. This, as we pointed out above, is thanks to the fact that the image is divided into more than 8 million pixels each and with a tone independent of the others.
To be able to notice the difference we recommend Upload video quality to 2160p, otherwise YouTube will render it in a lower resolution. However, even doing this, if your current display is not 4K it will be difficult to see an obvious difference between the two resolutions.