Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

TV Resolution Explained - 8K UHD vs. 4K vs. QHD vs. FHD

Everything you need to know about TV resolutions.

TV Resolution Explained - 8K UHD vs. 4K vs. QHD vs. FHD TechReviewer

Last Updated: March 18, 2023

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is TV Resolution?

Section Link

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the screen on a TV. A single pixel is a tiny illuminated colored dot on the screen.

The first number in a resolution refers to the number of pixels horizontally, while the second number refers to the number of pixels vertically.

For example, a 4K TV consists of over 8.2 million pixels, a resolution of 3840 x 2160.

TV Resolutions

Section Link
TV Resolutions
Resolution
8K UHD (Ultra HD) 7680 x 4320
4K UHD (Ultra HD) 3840 x 2160
1440p / QHD (Quad HD) 2560 x 1440
1080p / FHD (Full HD) 1920 x 1080
720p / HD (High Definition) 1280 x 720

Is TV Resolution Important?

Section Link

TV resolution is important if you want to increase the clarity of the image. A higher-resolution display will appear more crisp and clear overall. However, the resolution isn't the most important feature of a TV.

The quality of the image is a combination of resolution, contrast, brightness, viewing angles, black levels, color accuracy, light bleed, refresh rate, and response time.

Featured 4K UHD TVs › Amazon Affiliate Links SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Crystal 4K UHD AU8000 Series HDR, 3 HDMI Ports, Motion Xcelerator, Tap View, PC on TV, Q Symphony, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In (UN65AU8000FXZA, 2021 Model) SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Crystal 4K UHD AU8000 Series HDR, 3 HDMI Ports, Motion Xcelerator, Tap View, PC on TV, Q Symphony, Smart TV with Alexa Built-In (UN65AU8000FXZA, 2021 Model) Check Price on Amazon

Which TV Resolution Is Better?

Section Link

If you want the best of the best, 8K is currently the highest available resolution.

Although 8K is the best, there's little need for an 8K screen since there's not much 8K content on the market currently, and it will probably be many years until that happens.

4K is a high enough resolution for a high-quality picture. The quality of the TV is more important than just the resolution.

Keep in mind that some streaming services such as Netflix require you to upgrade to a higher tier plan to play 4K content. Most streaming services don't support 8K content yet.

How Much Better Is 4K Than 1080p?

Section Link

A 4K TV has more than four times the amount of pixels in the display. It is capable is showing more details, making text and the overall image crisper.

If you're considering upgrading, keep in mind that the content will have to be 4K to make it worthwhile. For example, if you have a Basic Netflix subscription (non-4K version), it will upscale the 1080p content on your 4K TV, so it won't be as clear.

Some TVs have advanced upscaling features, which enhance the 1080p content to make it clearer, although content originally sourced in 4K will always be better.

Our 4K TV Recommendations

Section Link

LG C2 Evo OLED (Best)

  • The LG C2 evo OLED TV has self-lit OLED pixels with superior image quality, extreme contrast, perfect blacks, and over a billion colors.
  • This is an exceptional TV for any use, whether for movies, games, sports, or as a PC monitor.
  • This TV has Nvidia G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, and variable refresh rates which are great for games.
  • These new OLED models can now work well in brightly-lit rooms with their brightness booster and a9 processor.
  • Check the latest price of the LG C2 evo OLED TV on Amazon (affiliate link). LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo C2 Series LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo C2 Series Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

Sony Bravia XR A80K OLED TV

  • This TV has superb picture quality with an extreme contrast ratio, perfect for your home theater room.
  • The Sony A80K OLED has excellent color out of the box, so there's no need for color calibration.
  • A negative to this TV is that it might not be bright enough for very bright/sunny rooms. This is common among most OLED TVs.
  • This TV has Google TV built-in, allowing you to watch from most of your streaming services quickly and smoothly.
  • The Sony A80K OLED has very low input lag and quick response time, both of which are excellent for sports and gaming.
  • Check the latest price of the Sony Bravia XR A80K OLED TV on Amazon (affiliate link). Sony Bravia XR A80K OLED TV Sony Bravia XR A80K OLED TV Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

Samsung QN90B Neo QLED

  • This is an exceptional TV for any use, whether for movies, games, sports or as a PC monitor.
  • It's the "Neo" QLED variant, which has an excellent contrast ratio and deep blacks.
  • This will also work great in a bright room.
  • The Samsung QN90B Neo QLED also supports low input lag, variable refresh rate, and fast response time, all of which are needed for gaming.
  • Check the latest price of the Samsung QN90B Neo QLED on Amazon (affiliate link). SAMSUNG QN90B 50-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K SAMSUNG QN90B 50-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

Samsung QN85B QLED

  • This is an excellent Neo QLED TV variant for use in bright rooms while having fantastic response time, low input lag, and vivid natural colors.
  • The Samsung QN85B QLED has wide viewing angles and high brightness to overcome screen glare.
  • It's superb for HDR content due to its high brightness and wide color gamut.
  • A negative to this TV is that it has lower contrast compared to the QN90B.
  • Check the latest price of the Samsung QN85B QLED on Amazon (affiliate link). SAMSUNG QN85B 55-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K SAMSUNG QN85B 55-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

A Note From the Authors

As technology experts, we are dedicated to providing accurate and helpful information on various technology products and services. Our goal is to provide valuable insights and recommendations that help our readers make informed decisions.

We understand that the technology industry is constantly evolving, and we strive to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments. However, we recognize that there may be occasions when errors or inaccuracies slip through, despite our best efforts.

That's why we welcome feedback from our readers and encourage them to reach out to us with any corrections or suggestions they may have. By working together, we can ensure that our content remains accurate, helpful, and up-to-date.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for us, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you.