4K VS 8K: Which Video Resolution Best Suits Your Needs?

With the rise of modern tech, videos have come a long way from having to produce 8K or 4K video resolution to playing on devices that support playing the mentioned video resolution. Truly, there is more to it than just a mere video resolution for us to use for watching our favourite videos. And within this article, we will guide you towards a full understanding of what 4K and 8K video quality is, have a side-by-side comparison, and eventually know what video resolution is best to use in your end.
Furthermore, this guide will also feature their differences in various aspects. It may not be much, but continue reading this article we’ll let you have the knowledge to identify the visual difference between the two high-quality video resolutions.
Contents:
Part 1. What is 4K Resolution?
4K video resolution is a display resolution that has 4000 pixels across the horizontal axis. 4K is associated and most commonly known as 4K Ultra HD. It has an aspect ratio of 16:9, and it gives a sharper and detailed visual display.
Pros
- It provides very crisper and rich-looking images.
- Perfect for devices that have a larger screen.
- It appears to have a richer colour with deeper contrast.
- Appears and is supported on most devices today.
Cons
- Devices that support streaming of 4K resolution are pricier.
- Using 4K resolution for streaming or watching videos requires a faster internet.
- It is heavy on storage and would require a powerful computer when editing with it.
Part 2. What is 8K Resolution?
8K video quality is also a display resolution that is a mainstream video resolution, having 8000 pixels across a device's horizontal screen. Known as 8K Ultra HD TV resolution, it has an aspect ratio of 16:9, similar to what 4K has. It has an unmatched resolution capable of zooming in without a speck of pixels being seen, thanks to its 33.2 million pixels.
Pros
- Superb detail quality.
- Crop, reframing, and zooming are friendly without having the video reduce in quality.
- Perfect for CGI effects and demanding projects.
Cons
- Heavy on the computer and will consume storage fast.
- Can only appear and be supported by devices deemed to be flagships.
- Requires a powerful processor, SSDs, and GPUs to be able to play smoothly.
Part 3. The Difference Between 4K and 8K
Is a 8K better than 4K? The straight answer is yes, from number ranking and overall quality, 8K is far superior to 4K. The debate on which is better between the two depends on the user's needs and a lot of factors. To be able to tell the difference and know what is better for you, simply refer to their differences below.
4K | 8K |
---|---|
8.3 Million Pixels | 33.2 Million Pixels |
Widely, and has become more possible across various platforms and devices. | Limited to high-end platforms and devices. |
Ideal for home used, entertainment, projects, and more. | Best for large-scale projects, professional settings, and more. |
Part 4. 4K vs 8K: Which is Right For You?
Suppose you are still not sure which video resolution to pursue, despite having to learn their respective differences in the section above. Within this part, you will find a comparison chart which contains information on which video resolution to use, 8K vs 4K.

4K | 8K | |
---|---|---|
Best For | Big screen TVs, watching movies and series, sports and nature series, gaming, content creator and editor, graphic designing and medical imaging. | Live event and broadcasting, film and TV production, medical imaging field, billboard and large public displays, virtual reality gaming, and professional and corporate use. |
Status | Still growing in popularity and is in demand. | Long-term, and will soon be in demand. |
Ideal Screen Size | 55 inches screen ratio or larger. | 75 inches screen ratio or larger. |
Internet Speed Requirement | At least 25 Mbps. | At least 50 Mbps and above. |
Part 5. Bonus: Best Video Upscaler Up To 4K
Despite having two video resolutions compared to one another, they are still both video qualities that can experience errors in playbacks and suffer a loss in quality. When that happens to both video file resolutions, one thing you can do is to use a third-party tool to help you upscale it and revert to its original quality without overprocessing it. These third-party tools are commonly known as the video upscaler, and what they do is that they use AI technology to restore a video's quality, making it eliminating noisy and grainy videos without disturbing or altering the video’s original elements. They come in software or mobile applications throughout our experience, software-based ones are morelikey to guarantee that to work in enhancing video quality, it even can help you upscale videos to 60fps.
Just like what we will be using on this section as a sample on how to use one VidHex Video Upscaler, proven to be an outstanding video enhancer tool as it can instantly upscale video, restore video elements, process video in a lot faster manner and more.

Key Features
• AI-powered video upscaler tool.
• Software-based tool is lightweight on the device.
• It can simultaneously export and upscale multiple videos in one go.
• Guaranteed to recover and upscale video quality in their original resolution or higher.
• It houses various AI models that fully support and address specific video enhancement needs.
• The user interface appears to have a very simplistic approach to it, while managing to organize all of its features in a user-friendly manner.
• Enhances video quality via sharpening, brightening, contrasting, removal of blurriness, and colour correction.
• Does not overprocess the video and most likely maintains the video elements.
• Safe to use and fast to process videos.
• No watermark is seen on the result.
Steps in Using VidHex
Step 1. Using your Windows desktop device, download and install the VidHex Video Upscaler.
Step 2. Once you manage to install the program on your Windows device, open the VidHex Video Upscaler program and from its main interface, use the provided field for uploading your video file through the Click or Drag & Drop section located on the upper part of the tool.

Step 3. Once you manage to load your video into the program, choose your AI model situated on the right side of the software’s interface. The most common choice is the General Enhancement Model, and you can also adjust the clarity and magnification effect in the Output Resolution.

Step 4. Finally, you will then be redirected to the software’s export page. Just wait for it to finish processing your video, and once done, you may preview it on your desktop.

It is very easy to use, but don’t worry, you can see the results is very good, and you can also use it as an anime upscaler.
Part 6. FAQs about 4K and 8K Video Resolution
Is there a noticeable difference between 4K and 8K?
Yes, there is an obvious difference between 4K and 8K, just from the pixels themselves, you will have seen a smoother screen resolution with 8K as it has over 33 million pixels in it, whereas 4K only has 8 million. Both possess an overwhelming video resolution quality, yet it's just a matter of preferences and purpose on the use end, which are ideal and best to use for them.
Do I need a special TV for 4K or 8K content?
Yes, to ensure the truest form of quality of both 4K and 8K video resolution, you must invest in high-end devices like TVs. In doing this, not only will you have the best viewing experience, but you can also fully maximise the video quality that is not commonly present on low-end devices. However, keep in mind that a higher-end device will cost you a lot of money, so be sure to be practical with your purchase decision.
Is an 8K video available on streaming platforms?
Yes, 8K video quality has become available to some streaming platforms and devices for quite some time now. Popular streaming platforms like YouTube support of playing of such video quality. However, content that is in 8K is still somehow limited.
Conclusion
Ultimately, what's better than 4K is 8K, and it is better by a wider gap. And through this guide, we have managed to have a 4K TV vs 8K TV video resolution face-off by going through their description, basic characteristics, and side-by-side comparison of their differences for you to decide on your own which best suits your needs.