Will a 4K, 8K, Full HD or HD TV be best for your home?

You need a new TV, but with so many acronyms and buzzwords relating to TV technology inclusions, it can be confusing knowing which is the best buy for you. When it comes to TVs, the main thing you’re looking for is great picture quality. One of the main determinants of image quality is the number of pixels the TV has. In TV terminology, we’re talking High Definition screen resolution.

In this article we look at the differences between the various types of HD TV, to help you choose the right telly for your home.

Pros of 4K

• High clarity: 4K resolution provides incredibly sharp and detailed images.

• Larger screen compatibility: Particularly beneficial for larger TVs, where the higher pixel density ensures a smoother and more immersive picture quality. On large screens with a lower resolution, images may appear pixelated because the screen has fewer pixels to represent the image, so finer details can get lost.

• Choice: 4K TVs tend to be more expensive than lower-resolution options, but if you want a larger screen, as more people do now, you’ll be unlikely to find a TV over 40 inches that isn’t 4K. The good news is that, as the main type of HD, there’s a huge range of models available, so you can usually find a 4K TV to suit your home and budget.

Cons of 4K

• Content availability: While the availability of 4K content is increasing, it’s not as widespread as Full HD content. The definition level of content varies by broadcaster and streaming service.

Netflix, for example, now films all of its original movies and TV shows using 4K UHD cameras. To enjoy watching all the content at 4K clarity, though, you need to subscribe to the ‘Premium’ Netflix package, and have enough internet bandwidth to support this high level of streaming.

To stream Stan content at 4K you also need a Premium subscription. Apple TV+. Disney+ and Amazon Prime meanwhile, allow you to stream content at 4K resolutions regardless of your plan level.

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Pros of 8K

• Unprecedented detail: With the highest number of pixels, 8K resolution offers an unparalleled level of detail, making it the ultimate choice for those who crave the most realistic images, especially on large screens.

• Future-proofing: Positioned as the future standard, 8K TVs ensure your home entertainment system remains cutting-edge for years to come.

Cons of 8K

• High cost: 8K TVs are usually the most expensive options on the market, so you may need to weigh up the value considering the lack of 8K content available.

• Limited content: The availability of native 8K content is very limited, so the value you gain from 8K is most likely to be in the form of upscaled lower-resolution content. As with its 4K UHD TV counterpart, the resolution of the content you watch will vary by broadcaster or streaming service.

However, as of 2024, very little content is produced in 8K, and no Australian platforms stream content of this resolution. Movies and TV shows are certainly not filmed in 8K, but there are a few YouTube and Vimeo channels that have a limited amount of scenic and natural world 8K videos. Japan, meanwhile, has a dedicated 8K channel that shows sports and other limited 8K content.

In addition to viewers frustrated by the lack of 8K content, gamers who have long anticipated hooking their laptops up to their 8K TV with an HDMI cable to enjoy super high definition gaming remain disappointed.

Both gaming PCs and gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X face similar challenges when it comes to achieving 8K gaming. While the hardware theoretically supports 8K resolution, the huge processing load results in compromised frame rates, making widespread 8K gaming somewhat of a futuristic prospect.

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Pros of Full HD

• Affordability: As an older technology, Full HD TVs are more budget-friendly than their higher-resolution 4K and 8K counterparts.

• Widespread content: Full HD content is widely available, meaning you are not paying for a resolution that you can’t enjoy.

Cons of Full HD

• Lower pixel density: Full HD won’t provide the same level of detail as 4K or 8K on larger screens, but the lack of Full HD screens over 40 inches means that this wouldn’t even be an issue.

• Not future-proof: With 4K becoming the standard, Full HD may become less relevant in the long term.

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Pros of original HD

• Budget-friendly: Because of their smaller size and older technology, HD TVs are usually the cheapest choice. They will usually still be smart TVs though, with app compatibility and content streaming capabilities.

• Suitable for smaller screens: In smaller TVs, the difference in resolution can be less noticeable.

Cons of original HD

• Lower resolution: HD TVs lack the clarity and detail of higher-resolution options, especially on larger screens, but the lack of HD screens over 32 inches makes this issue redundant.

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In addition to high resolution, there are a few other factors that also affect vision quality, such as colour accuracy, contrast ratio, brightness and refresh rate. All 4K and 8K TVs will have these features, but they will vary by brand, model and price.

When you see the names QLED and OLED TV, for example, it’s referring to the type of display technology used in the TV. Developed by Samsung, QLED stands for ‘Quantum Dot LED’ and involves a layer of quantum dots that enhances the TV's colour and brightness. OLED, on the other hand, stands for ‘Organic LED’ and uses organic compounds to emit light, providing exceptional contrast ratios and deeper blacks compared to traditional LED TVs. There are various other terms used to refer to different iterations of these display technologies.

In terms of other considerations, you’ll want to choose a screen size that suits the size and orientation of the space it’s in. You should also expect smart TV features, app compatibility and compatibility for external devices like blu-ray players, as well as good sound quality (though these days most people enhance TV audio with connected soundbars, subwoofers and surround sound speakers.

For most people, a new TV will mean a 4K Ultra HD TV, though a few will join the very small ranks of 8K telly owners (less than 0.5% globally by many estimates). Full HD and HD, on the other hand, can still be good options if you have a limited budget and small space in which to put your TV.

Appliances Online stocks a huge range of TVs, most of them 4K, from brands including Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense, JVC and Chiq.

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You can view a huge range of TVs here, or if you want to find out more about LCD, HDR and LED TV, or any other details to help you choose the best TV for your home, check out our TV Buying Guide or call us any time - 24/7 - on 1300 004 500.