5 Surprising 4K TV Features and Benefits You Need to Know

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

Do you like to watch movies and live sporting events in 4K? If so, you’re not alone. Scores of millions of Americans now own 4K TVs. Despite its home penetration levels, however, much is not known about 4K TV’s features and benefits. With that in mind, we have compiled this list of ‘5 Surprising 4K TV Features and Benefits’ to help you get even more from your expensive TV.

1. Optimal 4K TV Viewing Distance – Why Sitting Closer Matters

To truly immerse yourself in the viewing experience, it is important to sit closer to the 4K TV than you normally would for a high-def set. Many people say they don’t see the difference between a 4K picture and a HD display and where they are sitting is one of the biggest reasons why. Here are the three reasons why sitting closer to a 4K TV is a good idea.

See the Greater Resolution – The 4K TV delivers four times the resolution as traditional 1080p HD TVs. This means that they can display more detailed images with greater clarity and sharpness. However, if you sit too far away from the TV, you may not be able to fully appreciate this increased resolution. In fact, if you sit too far away, the increased resolution may not even be noticeable.

The optimal viewing distance for a 4K TV depends on its screen size. As a general rule, you should sit between 1 and 1.5 times the diagonal screen size away from the TV. For example, if you have a 55-inch 4K TV, you should sit about 5 to 6.5 feet away from the screen. This will allow you to fully appreciate the increased resolution and see the smaller details that may be lost if you sit too far away.

A More Engaging Viewing Experience – Another reason to sit closer to a 4K TV is that it can improve your overall viewing experience. When you sit closer to the TV, you are more immersed in the content, which can make it feel more engaging and exciting. This is especially true for sports and action-packed movies and TV shows, where you want to feel like you are right in the middle of the action.

Reduced Eye Strain – Additionally, sitting closer to the TV can help reduce eye strain and fatigue. When you sit too far away from the TV, your eyes have to work harder to focus on the smaller details, which can cause eye strain and fatigue over time. By sitting closer to the TV, you can reduce the strain on your eyes and enjoy your favorite content for longer periods of time.

2. Calibrate Your 4K TV For Best Viewing

4K TV is not plug-and-play TV. After you bring the set home, you will likely have to adjust the TV’s picture settings to display the best image possible. If they are not, you are likely to be disappointed. After I first bought a 4K TV, I spent several hours researching online for the best settings for my particular set, and then experimenting with several ‘picture modes’ before deciding on one. And even after I chose one, I had to go into the manual settings area to adjust a feature to reduce the contrast that was giving my picture ‘the soap opera effect.’ It was not an easy process. And I have been in this business for 30 years.

3. Best 4K TV Size – Why Bigger Screens Are Better

The bigger the screen, the better the 4K picture will look. It’s not a myth. The added detail in the 4K picture can’t really be appreciated on a small screen. I would not recommend anyone buy a 4K TV under 55 inches. And if you have the cash for a bigger set than that, buy it. I still wish I had the bought the 65-inch LG OLED, although I like my 75-inch Sony.

4. 4K TV Quality Matters

Even more so than High-Definition, the quality of the 4K TV really, really matters. If your TV is from a low-cost, little-known brand, your 4K picture will suffer accordingly. I’m not saying you should run out and buy a new one. But….

Streaming 4K – In addition, the quality of the delivery method for the 4K show or sporting event also matters. If the 4K show is streamed, the Internet service has to be sufficiently fast to deliver the 4K picture. (Netflix, for instance, says the Internet speed must be a minimum of 25 Mbps to stream a 4K program.) So if your Internet service has issues, so will your 4K picture.

4K Blu-ray – The 4K Blu-ray discs also vary in quality, depending upon how they were produced and manufactured.

5. Native 4K vs. Upscaled 4K – Why NESN Stands Out

Native 4K, which means the event was produced with 4K cameras and equipment on site and transmitted to the home in 4K, provides more detail and clarity than upscaled 4K. This increased level of detail can be especially important for sports broadcasts, creating a more realistic effect, making the viewer feel like he or she is there.

But the only live sports in native 4K that we have been able to confirm is NESN’s 4K broadcasts of home Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins games. Since NESN charges $30 for its standalone streaming app, the RSN apparently has concluded that the extra expense required to use 4K cameras and 4K production facilities is worthwhile.

Fox’s 4K broadcasts of events such as college basketball and football are 1080p HD productions upscaled to 4K for the home transmission. ESPN used to do native 4K — 4K cameras and production facilities on site and 4K home transmission — but stopped more than a year or so ago, saying it was no longer feasible. Now ESPN does upscaled 4K similar to Fox. NBC’s 4K sportscasts are also upscaled as are most of the regional sports channels that provide 4K coverage.

It’s a shame that more networks haven’t followed NESN. There’s no doubt that the native 4K picture is better than the upscaled 4K picture, although upscaled 4K with HDR (High Dynamic Range) can be a significant upgrade over HD. But the networks have concluded that there’s little return on investing in native 4K via advertising or additional viewers.

While upscaled 4K may not offer the same level of detail and clarity as native 4K, it still provides a significant improvement over lower resolutions like 1080p. Upscaled 4K, particularly combined with HDR (High Dynamic Range), enhances the image quality, resulting in sharper edges and better color accuracy.

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Phillip Swann

Who Is The TV Answer Man?
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.