To know if your TV is 4K:
- Check the TV’s user manual.
- Find your TV manual online and see whether if it’s UHD (Ultra High Definition) or HD smart TV.
- Check if your TV has a resolution size of 3840 x 2160p.
- Go to device information on your TV.
Getting a new TV set is certainly exciting! And with all the top-trending technology, having a smart TV that supports 4K is all the hype nowadays.
You can’t go into any store without seeing the huge lineup of high-tech 4K TVs. That’s why manufacturers are working hard to make sure their smart TV sets dominating the market are of the Ultra HD variety.
Still, as a buyer, you may be curious to know the answer to the question, “How do you know if your TV is 4K?” Luckily, there are a handful of ways you can determine the display resolution on your TV.
So, if you’re interested in having the best viewing experience on your new TV set, this post is for you. Let’s jump in.
Did You Purchase Your TV in the Last Few Years?
If your answer is – yes, there’s a strong probability that your TV is 4K.
According to Statista, most of the TVs sold in the past few years are 4K. The report also says that around half of the TVs sold worldwide (100 million) in 2019 were 4K televisions.
How To Check If Your TV is 4K UHD? 5 Ways To Confirm This!
Any of these five tips should help you confirm once and for all what the specifications of your TV make and model are.
Check the User Manual or the Manufacturer’s Website
Find the user manual and look for the specifications of the TV. If the specifications are 3840×2160 pixels, that means your TV is four times the resolution of a standard 1080p high-definition TV.
If you can’t find the manual for one reason or another, why not look for the specifications of your TV on the manufacturer’s website? Just make sure you have the name and model number of your TV. you can usually find it in the user manual or on a label stuck on the back, front, or bottom of the device.
The manufacturer is sure to have all the necessary information about the TV’s model number listed on their website.
Most 4K TVs will have ‘UHD’ or ‘4K’ in their model number or name.
Here are the user manuals for the most popular TV brands:
Check the Display Settings
Another way to determine the resolution is to check the display settings on your TV.
First, open up the Tv’s Settings menu. Next, look for the Display or Picture settings option. You should find all the information you’re looking for about the TV’s resolution.
If it is 4K, it should show a resolution of 3840x2160p.
You can find the device information under any of the below sections.
- Device Information
- Specs
- About
- General
Try Playing 4K Media on Streaming Services
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the user manual or website, it’s time to play some video content.
To do this,
Open up any built-in video streaming apps on your 4K TV, such as YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Netflix.
Then, choose a video, play it in 2160p resolution, and check to see if the video plays or not. If the video displays clear, detailed images, this means your TV is 4K-supported.
Compare UHD and HD Images
An alternative method to confirming your TV resolution via video is to check the difference between full HD and UHD images through images.
First, you’ll need to download images, some 4K and some full HD at 3840x1920p and 1920z1080p respectively. Next, using an HDMI cable or USB drive, transfer the images to the TV and compare the color effect, clarity, and quality of each image.
4K UHD TVs should deliver more enhanced images with more precision and better quality.
Here’s a video that shows a difference between 4K UHD and HD.
Get in Touch with Customer Support
Have you tried all the tips mentioned above and still haven’t had any luck finding out if you own a 4K TV or not? Then, your last resort is to contact customer support and ask about your TV’s specifications.
What Is Meant by ‘4K Resolution’?
The term ‘4K’ refers to the TV screen resolution, which is four times higher than a normal high-definition (HD) TV set. In other words, you’ll enjoy images and videos that are more detailed, have better clarity, and enhanced contrast.
On the other hand, ‘resolution’ indicates the number of pixels, or dots of color, used to create the images you see on the tv screen. These dots are so tiny that you can’t see them individually with your naked eye.
However, when you put a bunch of pixels together, they form an image. Thus, the more pixels used, the higher the resolution, and, therefore, the clearer the image.
The resolution on 4K TVs is often referred to as 3840x2160p. It’s also known to be compatible with Dolby Vision, which is an innovative HDR imaging technology that boosts brightness, adds depth, and adds more colors to images.
How To Measure TV Screen Quality?
The most common way to measure screen quality of a TV is by pixels. Pixels are tiny color dots that combine to form a full TV display.
The more pixels a TV has, the more detailed quality screen it has.
Let’s see the TV screen quality of each TV and their resolution in pixels.
Standard Definition
The Standard Definition TVs are no longer manufactured today. Most of us saw these TVs during our childhood that featured glass tube screens.
The resolution of a standard definition TV was used to be around 480 x 480 pixels.
HD TV With 720p and 1080p
These TVs became popular in mid 2000’s and most of us have this TV in our home today.
However, soon these TVs will be outdated as 4K TVs are replacing them with great screen quality.
HD televisions are of two types – 720p and 1080p.
The screen resolution of of a 720p TV is 1280 x 720 pixels.
The screen resolution of a 1080p TV is 1920 x 1080 pixels.
4K Resolution TVs
The 4K tvs are often refereed as UHD or Ultra-HD with almost double pixels than a 1080p TV.
These are the most sold TVs worldwide and becoming cheaper day by day.
The resolution of 4K TVs are 3840 x 2160 pixels.
6K And 8K Resolution TVs
If you want to have a world class sports and movie-watching experience, you should get a 6K or 8K TV. But remember that these are highly expensive ones.
The resolution of 6K TVs are 5538 x 3132, whereas 8K TVs have 7680 x 4320.
You should also read our guide on What is SAP on TV?
Why is My 4K TV Not Playing in 4K?
There are three main reasons why your 4K TV is not playing in 4K.
- Broadcast or Streaming Quality – If your broadcast or streaming services is not providing content in 4K resolution, then its impossible for you to watch a video in 4K, no matter how much you try.
- Cable Types Your Are Using – If the cable you are using to connect your cable box or gaming console doesn’t support 4K, you will never get a picture quality you want unless you replace the cable.
- TV Settings – Since many streaming services and satellite or cable providers are still delivering content in 1080p, the default settings of most TVs are 1080p. So, if you want to enjoy content in 4K and you have a 4K TV, check the default picture settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 4K TVs have HDR?
Nearly every one of the recent 4K TVs comes with a built-in open high-dynamic-range video (HDR) Media Profile feature. First, there was HDR10, which was quickly followed by a more updated version known as ‘HDR10+.’
It’s this feature that helps make your TV compatible with the commonly available streaming content, 4K players, and 4K Blu-ray discs.
Can a 4K UHD TV play HD content?
Yes, a 4K UHD TV can play HD content because most smart TVs automatically play content below their display ability, but not the other way around. Since 4K TVs display images at a 3840x2160p resolution, they can easily play high-definition (HD) content, which has a resolution of 1280x720p.
In the same way, 4K TVs can also play content at 1080p resolution, also known as full high definition (FHD). A 1080p resolution refers to images that have 1920 pixels horizontally by 1080 pixels vertically, which is sometimes referred to as 1920x1080p.
How do you know if the TV supports Dolby Vision?
Start by selecting Home then Settings. Next, head to Display and Sound and select Picture Mode. Here, you’ll find out whether or not your TV supports Dolby Vision or has it as a built-in feature.
What is the best resolution currently available?
As of writing this post, the highest resolution on the market is 8K where devices are designed to have a resolution of 7680×4320. That’s nearly 33 million pixels in every image!
However, 8K devices are pricey and not as practical as 4K TVs, which are more functional and far more common.
How can I test the quality of my 4K TV?
To test the quality of your 4K TV, set your video resolution to 2160 x 2160 pixels. If video plays without buffering on a high speed Internet connection, your TV has a 4K display.
Are all Smart TVs 4K?
Not all smart tvs are 4K but most of the TVs manufactured today are in 4K.
Conclusion
We hope our guide has helped shed some light on a few important questions like, “How do I know if my TV is 4K?” and “Does my TV support 4K content?”
Simply follow the suggestions in this post to learn more about the specifications of your TV and enjoy the ultimate viewing experience.