Even though 4k display screens have become very common these days, the relevant content still has to catch up. You have to pay extra for most Netflix or other streaming services to get it in 4k. In other words, 4k content is expensive. Most of the videos still come in 1080p, so many people worry about the quality of graphics, especially if it isn’t played on native resolution. This is why many have reservations over playing 1080p video on a 4k screen. But really, what happens if you play a 1080p video on a 4k screen?
4k And 1080p: What Is The Difference?
Both are quality of definition of video or picture. People with even a little tech knowledge might be familiar with these terms. But for beginners, let’s keep it simple.
A picture that you see on any screen is made up of tiny boxes called pixels. Higher the number of pixels, the higher the resolution of picture and video, and vice versa. If anyone remembers the 90’s video games, they might be familiar with how fewer amounts of pixels made up some weird but memorable animations. Moving on, the number of pixels presented in, let’s say, a box of specific length and height (in simple words, in dimension) is called resolution. Higher resolution means you have a picture or video with high definition and quality. The colors are sharp, and the details are clear.
Now, 4k is known to be Ultra High Definition (UHD). It has a higher resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. On the other hand, 1080p has a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, labeling it as High Definition. By comparison, 4k has a higher resolution compared to 1080p videos and pics.
What Happens If You Play A 1080p Video On A 4k Screen?
So, exactly what happens if you play a 1080p video on a 4k screen? To simplify, 1080p resolution makes up one-fourth part of the 4k resolution. Following this logic, if you play a 1080 p video on a 4k screen/ display, the display will simply become one-fourth the native resolution. However, you can double the height and width to get a “sharper picture” if your graphics card drivers support the integer scaling.
But to summarize, the 4k screen shows a display four times of 1080p. So, any video of later resolution will only take one-fourth part of the 4k display.
You can also watch this video. Hopefully, it will help you out:
Do 1080p Videos On 4k Screen Look Bad?
To be honest, it depends on a number of factors. These factors include the quality of the video, upscaling quality, and most important of all, the perception of the viewer. To be honest, the video does look good enough. In short, it mostly depends upon the individual perception.
But, in the end, the 1080p video still ends up looking quite good on a 4k screen. That is, if you can do without upscaling or if the upscaling quality is good.
Here is another video clip for you:
Can 1080p Videos Look Bad On 4k TV Screen?
We already explained that it depends on a number of factors. However, in the case of TV, you might notice that 1080p content looks blurry. This is because, again, 1080p content is one-fourth part of the 4k. The TV will stretch that one part to three more parts. In technical terms, the TV is upscaling the image of 1080p resolution on a 2160p/4K resolution panel. Understandably, this makes the content blurred, so the video does not look quite good as it is stretched over in simple words.
However, if your 4k TV has good upscaling quality, the 1080p video might not look that bad.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To What Happens If You Play A 1080p Video On A 4k Screen:
Q: What Is Better, 4k Or 1080p?
Ans: We have already explained the difference above. But, to summarize, 4k is the Ultra High Definition (UHD) with 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution. On the other hand, 1080p is High Definition with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. By comparison, 4k is better than 1080p as it displays 4 times clearer display than 1080p.
Q: Can I Notice The Difference Between 1080p And 4K?
Ans: It depends. If you are viewing the displays from a distance, it is virtually impossible to pick any difference. But as 4k is displaying 4 times that of 1080p display, a closer look will help you pick out the sharp details of the high 4k resolution.
Q: Which Resolution Is Better For My Eyes? 4k Or 1080p?
Ans: Actually, the resolution does not matter when talking about eye health. Generally, the cause for eyestrain can be due to improper or close positioning, excessive brightness, etc., in addition to other factors. Resolution plays no role in it, so it doesn’t matter if you get a 4k or 1080p screen.
Q: Is High Resolution Always Better?
Ans: Again, the resolution is the number of pixels per area. Higher resolution means you have an image or video with clear details and a sharper definition. At the end of the day, clarity is always better than mediocre screen display, so yes, high resolution is always better. Plus, it’s much more satisfying to see content on high resolution than on lower one.