What is a 4K Resolution Monitor?

What is a 4K monitor?

A 4K monitor is a display with a horizontal resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels — the "K" stands for "kilo," meaning thousand. The most common form, known as 4K UHD, measures 3840 × 2160 pixels, which is exactly four times the total pixel count of a Full HD (1920 × 1080) display. In practical terms, that's roughly 8.3 million pixels on screen at once, producing sharper text, finer detail in photos and video, and more usable working space than a Full HD or QHD display of the same size.

Do you need 4K? It depends on screen size

The benefit you gain from 4K depends heavily on screen size and viewing distance. On a smaller display, the jump from QHD to 4K is difficult to notice because the pixels are already small. On a 27-inch or larger screen, 4K delivers a clear improvement in sharpness — text edges become cleaner and fine detail becomes visible at full zoom. As a general guide, 4K becomes genuinely worthwhile at 27 inches and above, while QHD often offers the better balance of sharpness, performance, and value below that size.

The number of 4K monitors for PCs is gradually increasing. It may seem a little like speculation, but they solve various problems with displays and are smart and progressive choices offering the best display environment. A high-quality 4K display is a smart, long-term choice for anyone who wants the best possible working environment.

Enter the EIZO 4K display, which meets the needs of high-definition and large screen size

Full HD liquid crystal displays were once considered high-end, but in recent years, the prices have come down considerably, and today 23" full HD models have penetrated the domestic market to the point of becoming main stream. Around the time of the transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting, the shift to full HD displays accelerated. Although there was a perception of stagnation following that, the next wave has finally rolled in. Of course, this was brought about by the rise of 4K displays.

"4K" refers to horizontal resolutions of around 4,000 pixels. The "K" stands for "kilo" (thousand). As things stand, the majority of 4K displays come with 3840 x 2160 pixel (4K UHDTV) resolution, which is exactly four times the pixel count of full HD displays (1920 x 1080 pixels). There are also 4096 x 2160 pixel (DCI 4K) displays for the film industry that are referred to as 4K displays.

Two types of 4K

• 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K UHD)

4K UHD is 4K as defined by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). It has twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of full HD and has been adopted by the television industry.

• 4096 x 2160 pixels (DCI 4K)

DCI 4K is 4K as defined by DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives). The horizontal resolution is higher than 4K UHD. This resolution is twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of projectors (2048 x 1080 pixels) and has been adopted by the film industry.

Against a backdrop of ever higher digital camera photograph resolutions, higher resolution content of home video cameras supporting 4K, increasingly high definition displays on smartphones and tablets, and other such developments, full HD displays on PCs are becoming less and less attractive. At the same time, interest is increasing in large screens and multi-screen environments that allow larger work spaces to increase the efficiency of multi-tasking, which is essential for PCs.

In the midst of these circumstances, EIZO introduced its much-awaited FlexScan EV3237 display. This flagship model with a large 31.5" wide screen (visible diagonal size: 79.9 cm) was the first of its universal displays to support 3840 x 2160 pixel 4K resolution. It's a high-end display that meets the two needs of high-definition and a large work space with top-level specs.

EIZO's 31.5" FlexScan 4K display

Many people wonder how a 4K monitor solves real, everyday display problems. In this article, we'll look at how a 4K display can solve problems and complaints frequently experienced in display environments, in Q&A format.

EIZO's 4K display intelligently solves common complaints about displays!

Q I've gotten used to the high-definition display on my smartphone, tablet or laptop, and now the screen on my external display looks rough and dull to me. Is this just how it is?

A The detail on displays is expressed in terms of pixel density or definition, and the numerical representation of that degree is expressed in ppi. Ppi stands for "pixels per inch." Reducing the distance between pixels (pixel pitch) without changing the screen size of the LCD panel increases the ppi, and the higher this number, the higher the definition of the display.

Pixel density on smartphones is increasing at a furious pace, and many smartphones today have pixel densities of 300 ppi or more. The display is so smooth that even if you look closely at the screen you cannot see pixel grains or jagged diagonal lines. There are also some high-end devices that are almost overkill and exceed 500 ppi.

When it comes to PC displays, most products have a pixel density of about 96 ppi to match the display density of 96 dpi (dots per inch) which has long been the standard for the desktop UI. So it's no surprise that a standard-density display looks rough in comparison to smartphones.

However, the display density (dpi) of modern operating systems is now variable, so smooth magnification is possible with scaling according to the pixel density of the display. Both Windows and macOS support high-definition displays through what is broadly known as HiDPI, and most applications now render cleanly at scaled sizes.

A 31.5" 4K external display has a high-definition pixel density of around 140 ppi. This is quite low in comparison to the pixel density of smartphones mentioned earlier, but note that the distance at which smartphones and PC displays are used is quite different.

In the case of a 31.5" 4K display, people use it from a distance of around 50-60 centimeters, so the display appears as smooth as that of smartphones. Moreover, the display size is dramatically larger than that of smartphones, so a lot more information can be seen at once. Photographs and movies are more impressive, too.

Q I'd like to increase my work efficiency, but I don't have enough space for a multi-display setup. I also don't like having a frame between the screens. Is there a way to increase work efficiency with a single screen?

A 31.5" 4K display gives you a large, single-screen work space with no bezels interrupting it. Many EIZO 4K models also offer Picture-by-Picture (PbyP) and Picture-in-Picture (PinP) functions, which can display signals from multiple computers side by side or as a sub-screen — effectively giving you a frameless multi-display setup on a single panel.

Q Full HD (1920 x 1080) and WUXGA (1920 x 1200) leave something to be desired when editing high pixel photographs and videos. Should I go with QHD, ultra-wide, or 4K?

QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) and ultra-wide displays are reasonable "in-between" options — they don't have the pixel density of 4K, so scaling isn't required and it's easy to secure a large work space. But if you want a high-definition display you'll use for many years, 4K is the more future-proof choice. As content, cameras, and software continue to move toward higher resolutions, a lower-resolution display may start to feel dated sooner, so for medium- to long-term use a 4K display can pay for itself over time.

Q I bought a laptop with a super high pixel density display, but it's not practical unless I use scaling to magnify the display 150-200%. Won't a 4K display ultimately be the same?

Laptops are viewed from a closer distance than external monitors, so their pixel density is much higher (around 220 ppi on a 13.3" 2560 x 1440 panel) and text is too small to read at 100% without scaling. A large 31.5" 4K display has a more moderate pixel density of around 140 ppi (pixel pitch of about 0.18 mm). It's usable at native resolution, but a scaling setting of around 125-150% gives you readable text while still preserving a large, high-definition working area — the best of both worlds.

At 150% scaling on a 31.5" 4K display, text and icons appear about the same size as on a standard-density 24" monitor — but you keep the large, high-definition workspace the 4K screen provides.

Q Aren't very large-screen, high-definition displays harder on the eyes and shoulders?

A It's necessary to be mindful of various things to mitigate the burden placed on the eyes, neck and shoulders by working on a PC. The minimum requirement of displays is that the LCD panel surface is non-glare to minimize reflection and that the brightness, height and angle can be adjusted.

Generally speaking, large-screen, high-definition display environments tend to place stress on the eyes and shoulders, but EIZO FlexScan monitors have many features to reduce that stress. The FlexStand features a large range of motion, allowing tilt, swivel, and up-and-down adjustments so the screen can be positioned for any working environment.

The same goes for brightness adjustment. The display can be set very dark to match a dim environment. The Auto EcoView feature uses a built-in illuminance sensor to detect ambient brightness and automatically adjust the display to the optimal level, so even in changing light the user doesn't have to think about it.

Other features such as Paper Mode, which substantially reduces blue light, and flicker-free dimming, which controls flickering from the LED backlight, mean stress on the eyes can be reduced without conscious effort on the part of the user.

Q I want a high-grade display that I will be able to use reliably for a long time. Which one should I choose?

Large-screen displays in this class are an investment, so it's natural to want one that's reliable and long-lasting. EIZO FlexScan monitors come with a five-year manufacturer's warranty, and a quality 4K display will remain capable and relevant for years to come.

What you need to connect a 4K monitor

Connecting a computer to a 4K display is straightforward, but the connection you use determines the maximum refresh rate — and that affects how smooth everyday use feels. The older HDMI 1.4 standard can only drive 4K at 30Hz, which makes cursor movement and scrolling feel laggy and is best avoided for desktop work.

For a smooth 60Hz or higher at 4K, use one of the following:

• DisplayPort 1.4 — supports 4K at high refresh rates and is standard on most professional monitors and graphics cards.
• HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1 — HDMI 2.0 handles 4K at 60Hz; HDMI 2.1 supports higher refresh rates for more demanding use.
• USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode — common on modern laptops and workstations, delivering 4K at 60Hz over a single cable that can also carry power and data.

Most computers manufactured in the last several years include at least one of these outputs. It's worth checking your computer's available ports before purchasing, so you can be sure it will drive a 4K display at full performance.

Balance between high definition and large screen creates heretofore unavailable comfort

A 31.5" 4K display has a pixel pitch that strikes a good balance between high-definition display and a large work space, so it meets both needs at once. It has the perfect screen size for enjoying high 4K resolution on a PC.

Some lower-cost 4K displays use TN panels with narrow viewing angles to provide a lower price, but EIZO FlexScan monitors use an IPS panel with a wide viewing angle to minimize contrast and color changes when viewed from an angle. They are also full of EIZO's proprietary technology for better picture quality and relief of eye fatigue, so the basic performance as an LCD is high even apart from the 4K resolution and large screen.

You'll enjoy a level of comfort that far surpasses Full HD class displays in many scenarios — from CAD and detailed creative work that leverages the high definition and large screen, to everyday business use and hobby use by intermediate to advanced PC users.

In addition to the large screen and high definition, EIZO 4K monitors feature an IPS panel with a wide viewing angle and offer smooth gradation with 10-bit gamma correction.

Explore EIZO ColorEdge monitors for color-critical 4K work →

Explore EIZO FlexScan monitors for everyday 4K productivity →