4K (also called Ultra HD or UHD) refers to a screen resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels — that’s 4 times the detail of Full HD (1080p). It means sharper images, more detail, and a better viewing experience — especially on larger TVs.

Why should you care?

• Sharper images — especially evident on TVs 50” or bigger
• More detail in textures, faces, and scenery
• Better colour and contrast when combined with HDR

What you'll need to enjoy 4K

1. A 4K TV or monitor with a native application or an external device that supports 4K. Though many computer monitors can now support 4K, it is rare for the computer applications on web-based versions of service to provide 4K support due to piracy concerns.
2. An internet connection that supports at least 25Mbps. If you expect to be streaming to more than one TV at once, you'll have to factor that in to your connectivity requirements. You will also want a stable wifi or ethernet connection to your TV or device.
3. A high speed HDMI cable (if using an external device rather than the TV's native app).

What to look out for when reviewing services

Content support

Whilst many service plans now support 4K, not all content is available in 4K. As a relatively recent format, not all content was filmed in or can be easily upscaled to 4K. Live events like sport has been especially slow to transition due to the cost in supporting the broadcast in 4k.
Likewise, due to licensing restrictions, services will sometimes not have the 4K version of content, despite it being available elsewhere.
Streaming Builder provides scores with justification on every feature provided by a service plan, including 4K, so that you can better understand the breadth of 4K content each service provides.

4K performance

The only requirement needed to fulfil the delivery of 4K is the resolution. Other qualitative aspects of the picture depends on how its delivered by the service.