Move over, HD: 4K is the new hotness in townWhen one says high-definition display, you probably still think 720p or 1080p. But there's another contender that delivers even crisper, clearer, and more life-like images: 4K displays, which have four times the resolution of 1080p screens. This fairly new technology hasn't yet caught on, and 4K hardware and content are only barely starting to pop up. Take for example Sony's first 4K home theater projector — announced last year and showcased at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), it's now available for purchase by anyone willing to plunk down $26,000 for it.
Tecca had some eyes-on time with the technology at CES, and in a side-by-side comparison with a 1080p display, we can say 4K comes out on top. On a small screen, however, 4K doesn't make a difference. The bigger the screen is, the more you'll appreciate this pixel-rich display technology, and the resolution shines even more when the images and videos are projected at large viewing size.
Sony's first 4k Home Movie Projector
Right now, though, high-definition content that can take advantage of 4K displays are quite rare. Peter Jackson made a splash by filming The Hobbit in 5K resolution — the film was criticized for being too life-like — but it will take a while before you can get a copy of it for a home screening with family and friends.
YouTube has 4K viewing enabled, but every clip will take a while for you to load because files are obviously huge, similar to the size of TimeScapes: the first 4K movie you can download. TimeScapes, a timelapse cinematography of the American South West, is available in 1080p format on iTunes and 1440p format on its website. But if you happen to have a 4K TV or if the $26,000 Sony projector is within your budget, you can also get it in 4K format for $299.95 sent to you as a 140GB file saved on a portable hard drive.
This article was written by Mariella Moon and originally appeared on Tecca.
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