What is 4K? The basics of Ultra HD explained

The TV tech term 4K describes an ultra-high-definition screen resolution. You might also see this labeled as UHD, 4K, or 4K UHD depending on which brand makes the TV. But they're all talking about the same thing.

Right now, 4K has overtaken both HD and full HD to become the most popular TV resolution of choice for all major TV brands. You'll find the 4K screen resolution in most of today's TVs – except some small TVs, which tend to cap out at Full HD resolution – as well as most PC monitors.

The important thing to know here is that just because you've got a 4K UHD TV doesn't mean you need to have lots of 4K TV shows and movies. That's because many of the best 4K TVs are able to display lower-resolution images. This means your favorite TV shows and movies that have been filmed in HD will play like they're meant to on a 4K display regardless – some might even be upscaled by your TV, which means they're improved to ensure they look normal on a 4K screen. ;

Full Screen TV refers to the TV with a 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio of early standard television screens. The 4:3 aspect ratio became the standard in film because it mirrored film stock and was the easiest to use. ;

Smart TV

A smart television, also known as a connected TV (CTV), is a traditional television set with integrated Internet and interactive Web 2.0 features, which allows users to stream music and videos, browse the internet, and view photos. Smart TVs are a technological convergence of computers, televisions, and digital media players. Besides the traditional functions of television sets provided through traditional broadcasting media, these devices can provide access to over-the-top media services such as streaming television and internet radio, along with home networking access.

Normal TV

In comparison, a normal TV does not have all of these features of smart TV. It is just basically a normal TV that most people are used to. ;