4K VS 1080P: Is 4K Really Better Than 1080P?

4K is absolutely in trend now, yet 1080P is still enjoying large popularity. When we talk about 4K vs 1080P, more often than not, we are referring to the resolution. But there’s more to be concerned about if we are going to buy a TV. Follow this article to know more details about 4K and 1080P.

Also read: 1080i vs 1080p | 4K vs 8K

It is important to know what 4K is before we get down to more serious stuff of 4K vs 1080P.

4K usually refers to two kinds of resolutions: one is used in cinema and the other is used in televisions. The standard 4K resolution used in cinema is 4096*2160 pixels, and the horizontal display of 4096 pixels is where "4K" got its name. However, the 4K TV standard has a resolution of 3840*2160 pixels (3840 pixels on the horizontal display and 2160 pixels on the vertical display), and we often call this type of TV as UHD TV. Here we'll mainly focus on 4K in televisions.

The biggest difference between 4K and 1080P lies in the resolution. As it has been mentioned before, 4K has a resolution of 3840 * 2160, yet 1080P has only 1920*1080 pixels. So, compared to a 1080P TV, a 4K screen has four times the number of pixels than that of a 1080P screen and that’s why 4K looks much more sharp and delicate than 1080P.

If the resolution is the only factor that you care about, then 4K is totally worth it since it is more capable of resolving details. Yet that’s not the case in real life, there are more factors to consider such as their availability and your budget.

Considering the availability, 4K as new technology is expanding its influence on the market, yet 1080P is still the most-favored format among the mass. It’s not that 4K is not as good as 1080P, on the contrary, it is just because 4K is much better than 1080P so that 4K is restricted to more advanced requirements. For example, a way faster bandwidth is needed to promise a smooth 4K movie streaming. What’s more, the 4K content is still in limited number while the 1080P is anywhere to get, you are most probably to find your favorite movie in 1080P instead of 4K at current. On the other hand, the price of 4K TV is continuing dropping but still dearer than a 1080P TV, and whether the 4K is worth it or not depends on your budget.

On the bright side, the screen technology trend is moving fast toward 4K, 8K, or even 10K and 16K, and 4K is sure to claim its moment in the foreseeable future. So 1080P or 4K? You decide!

You can download 1080P/4K/8K videos from YouTube, Vimeo, and other sites that host these content with WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro to have an intuitive view. You can also use this software to compress the 4K video or downscale 4K to 1080P and see the difference it brings. Below is the tutorial of how to download 4K videos using this program:

Before start, please free downloadfree download the software.

Step 1. Launch this software, select Downloader > “+ New Download”.

Step 2. Copy and paste the 4K video URL in the analyzer and click on “Analyze”.

Step 3. Wait a few seconds till the Download Video section appears, find the 4K resolution results, and choose one of the formats and sizes. Then select “OK” > “Download All”.