Skip to main content

Study projects 4K will expand like HD, only faster

lg 77 inch oled curved 4k tv
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Research released yesterday by Parks Associates projects that 4K televisions will trace a popularity/price trajectory similar to that of HDTVs over the last 15-year period. However, the data also points to a quicker rate of progression for 4K TVs: the new technology is predicted to reach the HDTV’s level of affordability and ubiquity — which took 15 years to fully blossom — in a leaner 10-12 years.

The study, “4K Today: Bringing Ultra HD to Market” delves into a handful of aspects of the current HD landscape. The research looks at 4K’s importance to consumer electronics manufacturers, analyzes over-the-top (OTT) and pay-TV content delivery issues, and gives a detailed comparison of 4K to previous rollouts of 3D and HD technologies. Perhaps most importantly, at the core of the research, is this prediction: 4K TVs will reach mass-market pricing in the next two to three years and surpass 80 percent of households in the aforementioned 10-12 years.

Analysts for Parks Associates say the research indicates an initial focus on OTT delivery of 4K content — companies such as Amazon, Netflix and Comcast are already developing 4K content, and working on improving streaming methods needed to handle the massive files. As the amount of said content increases over the next two years, broadband networks will naturally experience growing traffic demands, which will require looking into bandwidth conservation and cutting-edge compression tech.

The president for Parks Associates, Stuart Sikes, makes a valid point in regard to the unique historical position of 4K in today’s rapidly transforming, connected living room: “With the increasing convergence in the connected home, innovations such as 4K have implications for a variety of players throughout the home entertainment ecosystem,” Sikes says. Those players might include companies who produce 4K displays and monitors, 4K compatible streaming devices, upscaling components like Blu-ray players and A/V receivers, and more.

4K is set to make waves in the TV universe and — as a result — operators, manufacturers and consumers, alike, face technological leaps and bounds with each new day.

Editors' Recommendations

Alex Tretbar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex Tretbar, audio/video intern, is a writer, editor, musician, gamer and sci-fi nerd raised on EverQuest and Magic: The…
Hurry — this 65-inch TCL 4K TV is discounted to $400
TCL S Class S4 LED 4K TV.

TCL S4 4K HDR TV. TCL / TCL

Amazon has one of the better value TV deals around at the moment: $50 off the TCL 65-inch S4 4K TV, bringing it down to $400. A pretty sweet price for a large TV like this, it's sure to be worth your time and money. Let's take a quick look at what it offers before you hit the buy button. Don't count on it staying this price for long.

Read more
Don’t miss your chance to get this 55-inch 4K TV for $270
The Insignia F30 Series 4K TV mounted on a wall with the Fire TV interface on the screen.

Best Buy has one of the cheaper TV deals out there with $130 off the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV. Already priced at a very respectable $400, it's even cheaper now thanks to the $130 discount bringing it down to $270. If you've been waiting to buy a cheap 4K TV for your living room, bedroom or den, this is a good opportunity to do so. Here's everything else you might need to know about the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV before you commit to a purchase.

Why you should buy the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV
While Insignia doesn't feature in our look at the best TV brands, it's still a fairly well-regarded name in the budget TV world. Owned by Best Buy, it's ideal if you just need something inexpensive rather than a powerhouse for your home cinema. With the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K TV, you get a 55-inch 4K display with HDR10 support so that you gain a wide range of color details along with sharper contrast. While it might not rival the looks of the very best TVs, you've still got something that's likely to look better than your previous TV.

Read more
This Samsung 55-inch 4K TV just had its price slashed to $350
Samsung 55-inch class 4K Crystal UHD 2160p TV with HDR for Super Bowl 2022.

Best Buy is frequently the home of great TV deals and that's easily the case today with an awesome offer on the Samsung 55-inch TU690T 4K TV. Usually priced at $430, it's down to $350 so you save $80 off the regular price. This is a particularly good deal given it's a TV from a great company. If this sounds appealing to you already, keep reading while we tell you more about it.

Why you should buy the Samsung 55-inch TU690T 4K TV
With Samsung being one of the best TV brands out there, it's always a smart move to check out what it's offering. Of course, you get a great 55-inch 4K screen. It has HDR support so you can enjoy a wide spectrum of colors along with better visual details even in dark scenes. There's also PurColor support so that colors on screen are fine-tuned to how they are meant to look so you get a better image every time.

Read more