4K vs HDR vs Dolby Vision
Ingredients of good picture quality
In terms of TV hardware, ‘Resolution’ refers to the number of pixels which composes the picture on the TV. A single pixel, or discrete picture element, contains tiny dots on the screen. Today, there are abundant resolutions found on flat-panel TVs. Older televisions and many 32-inch models sold today have a million or so pixels (720p). More recent and slightly bigger TVs (typically 49 inches and smaller) have a little more than 2 million pixels (1080p). Even the latest bigger TVs (typically 50 inches and above) have 8 million (for 4K Ultra HD). You might have to look for a magnifying glass to distinguish between them. Resolution is the most common specification used to sell TVs, but it isn’t the single ingredient for great picture quality. High dynamic range (HDR) performance, overall contrast ratio, and colors all play a big role in picture quality.
What is 4K resolution
The clarity of the image you are viewing on your TV screen, irrespective of its size, depends largely on its resolution. The resolution numbers indicate how many pixels or tiny ‘colored dots’ make up your TV screen. The higher the number, the more vivid the display will be. Our case in point is ‘4K’, while the full HD TVs offer 1,920 X 1080 pixels, 4Ks offers a resolution that is four times better than the conventional HD TVs. A 4K TV displays 3,840 (which is around 4K) horizontal and 2,160 vertical pixels in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio (more normally referred to as 16×9). The total number of pixels is 8,294,400 (around 8 megapixels). It’s quite clear, that between HD and 4K, the latter is expected to deliver a more defined and detailed display.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) vs. 4K
4K and HDR both improve video quality, but not in the same way. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, which is different than resolution. It is an enhanced picture quality technology that can display more life-like colors as well as higher brightness and contrast levels while playing HDR-compatible content. Watching HDR-encoded video sources on an HDR-capable TV can provide a much wider range of picture contrast — the difference between the deepest blacks and the brightest whites is clearly visible. HDR also ensures your TV colors appear more vivid and accurate. When compared to 4K, HDR’s picture enhancements can be dramatic, and much more perceptible. But again, although all 4K televisions can recognize the distinct HDR picture data, many can’t deliver the full impact.
Not all TVs with HDR are created equal
Good HDR performance demands two things from a TV screen: This is referred to as ‘Peak Brightness’ and is measured in ‘Nits’. Today, even when HDR technology is found on virtually all modern 4K televisions, the inexpensive ones lack local dimming in both the areas mentioned above. However, mid-to upper-range LED-LCD TVs and OLED models excel in demonstrating the HDR advantages.
What is Dolby Vision
When 4K TVs are compared, it is common to come across four different HDR formats, including HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), Advanced HDR by Technicolor and Dolby Vision™. Out of these, HDR10 and Dolby Vision are the most important formats. In simple words, Dolby Vision is the jet-engine fuel which powers the best-looking content in the world. It is the format that more and more studios are turning to and connecting its potential to deliver colorful, dynamic, and calculated images on a scene-by-scene basis.
Dolby Vision vs. HDR vs. 4K – The bottom line
Dolby Vision is one of the most game-changing advancements to the television. Unquestionably, 4K gives us those additional pixels, but it is HDR that made those pixels shine out like they never did before. Ultimately, all of this shows up on your TV. Read next: How to configure best HDR settings for gaming on Xbox on TV.
