Television technology continues to improve. With that, the number of available options on the market continues to expand more and more over the years. However, with this wider range of options also comes a much wider array of highly specific terms and jargon.

Ever found yourself daunted by the number of specialised terms and phrases thrown at you while looking around at TVs? Perhaps you’ve found yourself confused whenever people mention the terms UHD and 4K. What do the two terms refer to? And why are they so often used interchangeably?

Here at Reliant, we’ve built up a sizable dictionary of technical terms thanks to our decades of experience. Prepare to speak the lingo of your fellow tech-loving friends as we explain the unique difference between UHD and 4K!

Is There A Difference Between UHD And 4K?

In most cases, UHD and 4K actually refer to the same thing. When it comes to home display technology UHD and 4K both refer to screens that have a total screen size of around 3840 x 2160 pixels. If someone describes a screen as UHD, you can guarantee they’re talking about a 4K display!

However, there are some cases in which 4K and UHD do not align. UHD is a term that is used exclusively within the context of home electronics and TV displays. 4K, on the other hand, is a term used within the home electronics market, and the world of cinemas! Most films presented in modern cinemas are presented at 4K resolutions. However, 4K within the context of the cinema actually refers to dimensions around 4096 x 2160. This is why someone who says “4K” may not be specifically referring to UHD!

UHD is a term very often used to refer to TVs with 4K resolutions. However, UHD and 4K are not strictly the same thing. 4K, within the context of cinema projection, actually refers to very different pixel dimensions!

What Is The Difference Between UHD And 8K?

UHD, short for “Ultra high definition” can often be used to refer to 4K TVs. But where does this leave 8K TVs? 8K TVs have 4 times the resolution, so surely they must also qualify for the “UHD” descriptor?

While UHD is a term that was originally used to refer to 4K TV screens, it is also widely accepted as a term to describe 8K screens. However, you are more likely to see 8K TVs being referred to as “8K UHD”, to avoid confusion.

8K TVs technically count under the umbrella term of UHD TVs. However, they are more often referred to with “8K UHD”, so as to prevent potential confusion with 4K TVs.

Why Is Cinema 4K Different From Home 4K?

As we explored just above, 4K can either refer to a home TV with 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, or cinema pixel counts of around 4,096 x 2,160. It’s not immediately clear why the two are so very different. However, their differences can tell us a lot about why 4K screens are so often referred to as UHD. Marketers will generally refer to 4K TVs as UHD TVs in order to avoid confusion with the cinematic dimensions of 4K.

Why Are 4K TVs Not Referred To As “2160p”?

Seeing as 1080p TVs use the vertical height of the screen to describe the resolution, you might wonder why 4K TVs don’t use 2160p as a descriptor! When you think about it, 2160p implies that 4K TVs are only 2 times the size of a standard 1080p TV. However, 4K TVs actually have 4 times the number of pixels as 1080p TVs.

4K makes a lot of sense from a marketing standpoint. It truly highlights the immense jump from standard 1080p to 4K resolutions. This helps to make 4K TVs appear all the more attractive in a highly competitive TV market.

Though it was originally intended for UHD to be the defining term for 4K TVs, 4K is the term that stuck around and became widely recognized across the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between UHD and 4K?

UHD and 4K are very often used interchangeably, but it’s important to note that the two are not totally the same. UHD is a term that is used to refer to consumer-grade 4K TVs with resolutions of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. 4K, on the other hand, could very easily refer to a 4K TV, or to cinema 4K, which is a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160.

Do You Need A 4K TV For UHD Movies?

If you want to immerse yourself in true high-definition entertainment, with UHD movies, you will need to have a 4K TV. Though it is possible to stream 4K content on technically any display, it won’t actually show in 4K. If you want to make the most of the extra resolution, you should make sure you have a compatible 4K TV. If you are streaming 4K content, be sure you have a strong internet connection!

What Does UHD Mean On Amazon Prime?

When you see content on the Amazon Prime Video platform listed as “UHD”, it means that the content will play at 4K resolutions on a compatible display. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, and you want to make the most of your 4K TV, you should look out for content marked as “UHD”. You can find such content easily by searching “UHD” in the search bar.

Does Amazon Prime Automatically Play In 4K?

If you are streaming a 4K compatible title to a 4K TV, then you can rest assured that the title will always play in 4K. Amazon Prime does not charge extra for access to 4K resolutions. However, not all titles on the platform are available to stream in 4K. This is especially the case for older content that has not been remastered.