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1080p vs. 4k: Must Know Facts
- 1080p has fallen increasingly out of favor with game designers, camera operators, and more. This has occurred as 4K devices have become more commonplace.
- However, 4K is not the most advanced resolution that is commercially available. That belongs to 8K, which is rapidly being adopted in certain sectors and will likely overtake 4K, just like 4K eventually overtook 1080p.
- Both 4K and 1080p have a variety of off-sets and different uses that have been adopted for different devices and in different countries. As such, there are many “standard” versions of each resolution, depending on where you live and what device you are using.
1080p vs. 4k: The Key Differences Explained
1080p and 4k are both resolutions on a display, such as a computer monitor or TV. But when it comes to 1080p vs. 4k … which is better? 4k is Ultra High Definition, while 1080p is simply High Definition.
This means that 4k has sharper resolution, more diversity of colors, and more pixels (3840×2160 for 4k, 1920×1080 for 1080p). Indeed, these days, most televisions are 4k resolution, and 1080p resolution televisions are getting increasingly harder to find.
There are also differences in terms of cost. As you would expect, given their sharper resolution and overall nicer display, 4k televisions and monitors tend to cost more than 1080p versions, with similar-sized 4k monitors sometimes costing 2/3 as much as their 1080p counterparts. This cost is often worth it, as there is no question that 4k provides a superior TV and gaming experience.
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1080p vs. 4k: Side by Side Comparison
| 1080p | 4k | |
| What it is | Resolution on display devices | Resolution on display devices |
| Primary Use | Cameras, projectors, television monitors, and phones | Cameras, projectors, television monitors, and phones |
| Name | 1080P, Full HD, FHD | 4K Resolution |
| Conceived | ||
| Initial Release | 2012 | 2013 |
| Technical Committee | ||
| Influential Developers | ||
| Open format | No | No |
| Technologies influenced | 4K, 8K, Blu-Ray discs | 8K, 1080P |
1080p vs. 4k: Summary
1080p was once the most popular type of display resolution available on the commercial market and remains highly prevalent on a slew of devices. Many internet streaming services continue to use 1080p, albeit not nearly as widely as they used to, given the advent and popularity of 4K devices. 1080p is a form of high-definition resolution. It is most commonly found on former physical mediums, such as video games or Blu-ray discs.
4k, however, began to overtake 1080p in terms of popularity and use around 2014-2015, when a major price drop made 4k devices far more affordable. Advances in streaming technology have made 4k resolutions more prevalent and popular, and today, it is much more difficult to find a 1080p device.
1080p vs. 4k: Which is Better?
There is no question – 4K is better than 1080p. This is for many reasons. It has more pixels and a higher resolution. This enables it to provide a better, more comprehensive view, one that contains more colors and details than would be contained in a 1080p or lower resolution.
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Modern gaming and television cameras are also becoming more sensitive to certain details, like colors. As a result, it is becoming increasingly necessary that electronic devices be 4K or higher in order to provide a fully accurate and enjoyable experience for users.
However, there are some instances in which 1080p may be preferable to 4K, but this depends on a variety of outside factors. For example, because they contain more pixels and details, 4K can be more draining on a phone or television from a data usage perspective. If data usage is a concern, then individuals may want to consider 1080p or lower resolutions in order to compensate for limited data usage and electric resources.
