4K resolution generally refers to a display resolution with approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels. There are two main standards for 4K:
- 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition): 3840 × 2160 pixels, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, totaling about 8.3 million pixels. This is the dominant 4K resolution used in consumer TVs, monitors, and media, exactly double the horizontal and vertical resolution of 1080p Full HD
- DCI 4K (Digital Cinema Initiatives): 4096 × 2160 pixels, used mainly in digital cinema projection, with a slightly wider aspect ratio than UHD. This is the true "cinema" 4K standard and has about 256 more horizontal pixels than UHD 4K
In everyday consumer contexts, "4K" usually means the UHD resolution of 3840 × 2160, while in professional cinema, 4K refers to 4096 × 2160. Both offer four times the pixel count of 1080p Full HD (1920 × 1080), resulting in much sharper and more detailed images
. Summary:
Type| Resolution| Aspect Ratio| Pixels (approx.)| Usage
---|---|---|---|---
4K UHD| 3840 × 2160| 16:9| 8.3 million| TVs, monitors, consumer media
DCI 4K| 4096 × 2160| ~1.9| 8.8 million| Digital cinema
Thus, 4K means about 4,000 horizontal pixels, with the most common consumer 4K resolution being 3840 × 2160 pixels
