UHD vs 4K: What’s the difference?
One of the main things to tackle and fully understand when buying a new monitor is resolution, which describes the visual dimensions of displays: every panel is in fact composed of a specific number of pixels, which are expressed in terms of width and height. Pixels are the smallest physical point of any image displayed: a higher resolution equals a higher number of pixels (or pixel density). This has a direct effect on the quality of the monitor and the displayed images: the higher the density, the clearer the visualization. This does not mean that the trick is just to choose the highest available resolution. There are several things to think about: the use, the size, the budget, and the energy efficiency. Professionals, engineers, architects, graphic designers, game animators, and content creators request high resolution to work on their projects. They need high density, clear details, and colour accuracy. Often, they also need large screen space, which means they are likely to buy monitors with a diagonal of at least 30”/32” (or multiple 27” monitors to daisy chain together). Large monitors call for higher pixel density to deliver stunning visualisation. Office workers and students might actually benefit from choosing a smaller setup with different features… always keep in mind that high resolution panels are far more expensive! One of the most sought-after resolutions is 4K with its stunning colours and great details. But there’s confusion around it and its definition: what is 4K resolution? And what is UHD? What does it mean? How good it really is? Let’s dive in.
1. Is UHD the highest quality?
UHD means Ultra HD or Ultra High-Definition, and it offers a resolution 4 times clearer (with 4 times more pixels) than Full HD panels. Demanding professional requiring extremely detailed images for CAD solutions, a user of 3D graphics applications or a financial expert working on huge spreadsheets will all appreciate how Philips UltraClear 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) displays will make images and graphics come alive. The higher resolution also allows for more content to be displayed on the same screen, while also to make it easier to see small details in footage. 4K UHD can be appreciated by anyone: games and multimedia (videos, film, pictures) are mostly in high resolution already, and using a monitor that can fully deliver their quality would definitely make the overall experience unforgettable.
1.1 Does UHD mean 2K or 4K?
UHD means 4K. Commonly, 2K is used for Quad HD (QHD) and it represent half the pixels of a 4K screen. To recap and keep it as simple as possible, High-Definition (HD) means a screen that is either 720p or 1080p, while Full HD (FHD) is 1920×1080. This means that a FHD display has 1920 pixels horizontally by 1080 vertically, thus more than 2 million pixels overall. This resolution provides a good level of detail and sharpness, but there are higher resolutions available that can offer even better visuals. QHD is next with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, counting almost 4 million pixels. 4K UHD usually means a pixel density of 3840 x 2160, so totaling over 8 million pixels. This means that images and videos on a 4K monitor are much sharper and have more detail than on a Full HD monitor.
2. What is better than 4K?
Technology is always changing, renovating, growing, and becoming better. That’s why we often hear talking about 8K resolution, which has four times the number of pixels (and details and clarity) of a 4k display. An 8K display offers a pixel density of 7680 x 4320 and more than 33 million pixels in the total. Although magnificent, 8K panels are extremely expensive and have not been fully introduced into the monitors’ world yet (they’re more common for large, cinema-style TVs). It is often unnecessary to upgrade to an 8K monitor and buying a 4K UHD monitor is still a future proof and clever solution.
3. Is 4K UHD good enough?
4K UHD monitors are one of the best resolutions available, it is truly a powerhouse delivering great details, amazing colour accuracy and astonishing precision. Buying a 4K UHD monitor guarantee the best available viewing experience, unmatched at the moment. A great solution for professionals that are looking for a large 4K monitor is the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900. This monitor offers true 10-bit display for smoother colour gradients and OLED display for stark contrast in a 4-sided thin bezel, a 42” screen. It also includes KVM for managing a two PC setup, a USB-C port, and a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS) for an all-around user experience. Lastly, to also enjoy your multimedia, it features DTS for enhanced sound. Please check out the product page here.
4. UHD vs 4K monitor
Since there is no difference between UHD and 4K, and thus they are the same, we can say 4K UHD resolution. Check here all Philips Monitors with 4K UHD resolution.
