One of the most frequently used marketing terms when discussing TVs, streaming hardware, or even streaming services is “4K.” This refers to Ultra-High-Definition 4K resolution, a video quality four times better than 1080p Full HD, and it can indeed improve viewing sessions.

But what exactly is 4K, and will your next stream be wasted without it? Or is it little more than a promotional buzzword used to jack up the price of TVs and streaming hardware? We’ll explain everything you need to know about 4K, including the basics on what it is, which streaming services offer it, and whether you really need it or not.

Everything you need to know about 4K streaming

What is 4K streaming?

The “4K” in 4K streaming refers to a video display resolution with roughly 4,000 horizontal pixels — four times the total pixels of a standard 1080p HD display. The 3,840 by 2,160 resolution of 4K pictures includes around 8.29 million pixels. It’s the best video resolution commercially available on a wide basis, and many streamers offer video in 4K resolution for customers with compatible equipment.

What makes 4K better than HD?

The increased pixel density of 4K resolution makes fine details much crisper, especially on bigger-screen TVs. Viewers will see text, distant textures, or close-up details like individual hairs much more clearly with a 4K display, ensuring they miss nothing.

A 4K display also works with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) technology to allow viewers to see over 1 billion colors while watching TV. Color gradients transition smoothly across shades with 4K resolution, and viewers will see extreme contrast between highlights and dark shadows when watching in 4K with HDR and WCG.

Watching content in HD may be able to tell your eyes what an object is, but watching in HD will show you its true essence — complete with texture, fine edges, and ideal lighting. The extra pixels help bring the view further from that on-video feel and closer to real life.

What equipment do you need to stream in 4K?

If you want to stream content presented in 4K, you’ll need to have a high-speed internet connection. Typically, speeds of 25 Mbps or higher will be required to watch video presented in 4K, and higher speeds are ideal, especially if you want to watch live content in 4K.

Viewers will also need a TV capable of displaying content in 4K — having a TV that tops out at 1080p HD means you won’t be able to watch in UHD 4K no matter what devices you attach to the set. And if you want to use a connected streaming player, such as an Amazon Fire TV or Roku device, it will also have to support 4K resolution.

Which streaming services offer 4K programming?

Which on-demand streamers have 4K content?

While most American on-demand streaming services have a selection of 4K content available, many reserve this feature for their highest-priced plans. It’s also important to note that, even for subscribers who have 4K included in their plan, not all content will be available in 4K resolution.

Which live TV streamers offer 4K programming?

Very few TV channels broadcast any live content in 4K, as production costs for doing so can quickly become prohibitive. However, channels like ESPN, Fox, and NBC have offered select 4K events in the past, mostly live sports.

Customers will be able to watch these 4K titles on select live TV streaming services, including DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Find out more about how much it costs to do so in the table below:

Hulu + Live TV and Philo do not offer live broadcasts in 4K.

Why isn’t all content available in 4K?

Simply put, 4K content costs more to produce and distribute from start to finish. Creating 4K visual effects is a much more time-consuming process than doing so in 1080p, and full 4K CGI rendering is quite expensive. File sizes for 4K videos are also massive, so storage needs for keeping 4K files safely can quickly make studio executives’ stomachs churn.

Once the content is finished and bundled off to the distributor, offering 4K content costs more than an HD stream. Higher required connection speeds and greater data costs are usually the reason that most streamers make their 4K content available only to their highest-paying subscribers.

It should also be noted that a title can only be shown in native 4K if the original camera used to film it supports that resolution. And most live TV networks don’t have the equipment needed to offer live 4K channels on a regular basis; it’s expensive, and trying to transmit multiple live 4K channels over an infrastructure designed for a lower picture quality is quite difficult.

See available 4K streaming devices

There are 4K-enabled streaming players available from most top brands on the American market, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. Browse some examples in the chart below:

Remember, although there are less expensive 4K-supporting streaming sticks available, they typically have less processing power than more costly players. Less processing power means a greater chance that high-bandwidth 4K streams will be less smooth while watching.

What to know about buying a 4K TV

It’s important to remember when purchasing a TV labeled as “4K” that not all UHD sets are made alike. TV manufacturers typically make multiple types of television tailored for different budgets, but all of them may technically be 4K compatible. Think of it this way: every 4K TV has the same canvas size of 8.3 million pixels, but paying more for your TV can improve the quality of the paint, the artist, and the speed of the brush.

Standard LED TVs are good for a smaller budget and can offer sharp 4K pictures. You may not get the clearest contrast between light and dark with these displays, however; the High Dynamic Range won’t look all that different from a regular TV.

QLED or mini-LED TVs are the next step up, with more colors and more local dimming zones for brighter contrasts and deeper blacks. Viewers will also find that bright sunlight or other illumination won’t wash out the picture on the screen.

OLED TVs offer the closest experience to a movie theater at home. These sets can turn pixels completely off for the deepest possible contrast, and frequently include motion-smoothing and upscaling features to make older titles look sharper.

Do you really need to stream in 4K?

That all depends on how highly you value having the highest possible picture quality, and what kind of programming you watch the most. Audiences who love blockbuster movies and modern prestige TV, live sports, and nature and wildlife documentaries will prize 4K resolution for clear views during fast-paced action and tense moments. Gamers who rely on their display to tell a bush from an enemy player will also want to be sure to have 4K resolution available.

Viewers whose taste hews more toward TV shows and movies from 30 to 40 years ago, on the other hand, won’t have as much use for 4K-enabled equipment. Unless you’ve got a very high-end smart TV with 4K upscaling, a 4K display won’t improve the picture quality of older content, standard-definition video, or low-bitrate cable TV.

The good news is that even if you don’t really feel the need to pay the extra costs most streamers charge to watch in 4K, buying smart TVs and streaming players that support 4K resolution isn’t terribly expensive anymore, meaning consumers who don’t use it frequently don’t have to worry that they’re being charged extra for a premium feature they don’t need.