Choose Between HD and Ultra HD

These terms refer to the TV’s native resolution. A regular high-definition (HD) set is also a called a 1080p model, as its screen resolution is 1920 x 1080. That means it has 1,920 pixels horizontally, and 1,080 pixels vertically, so it contains roughly 2 million pixels in all. Think of pixels, short for "picture elements," as the tiny individual dots that make up the TV's picture.

Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs, also called 4K TVs, have screen resolutions of 3840 x 2160, which contain 8 million pixels, or four times the number of individual pixels as an HD set. The more densely packed array of pixels in UHD sets make them capable of greater picture detail. The benefits of a UHD TV are more apparent in larger screen sizes, say 65 inches and above, or when you'd like to sit closer to the TV than you could with a 1080p set.

So why doesn't everyone just get a UHD TV? One reason is that you'll pay a premium of a few hundred dollars or more for a UHD TV, though the price gap is slowly narrowing. And there's still not a lot of native 4K content; what's available comes primarily from streaming services right now. We expect to see the first 4K UHD Blu-ray players, as well as more 4K streaming options, in 2016.

Another reason you may consider waiting: Standards for some UHD features, including high dynamic range (HDR) and a wider palette of colors, are still evolving. We expect most of these issues to be resolved by the end of 2015, when all of the standards—for TVs, streaming media, and Blu-ray discs—are nailed down to ensure that your UHD TV can take full advantage of them.

1080p TV

A high-definition TV, with 1920x1080 resolution, will be fine for most viewers, and you'll save a bit of money compared to a UHD set with a similarly sized screen. Almost every 1080p set available is an LCD TV with an LED backlight, but there are also a limited number of 1080p OLED TVs. And right now, it's unlikely you'll find a UHD TV smaller than 39 inches. We've found that many viewers aren't be able to see the extra detail in a UHD TV from normal viewing distances until they get to very large screen sizes, say 65 inches or above. Just remember that resolution is only one of a number of attributes a TV has to get right to produce excellent overall picture quality. Regular HD TVs remain an excellent choice for many consumers when you factor in price, especially in screen sizes smaller than 65 inches.

Ultra HD TV

Thanks to its higher-resolution 3840x2160 screen, a UHD TV (also known as a 4K TV) can display greater detail than a 1080p set when presented with high-quality UHD content. Images appear a bit sharper, with smoother lines on the edges of objects—depending on your viewing distance. The jump from regular HD to Ultra HD isn't as dramatic as the change from standard definition to HD, but many UHD sets attempt to enhance the image in other ways. For example, we're starting to see TVs with high dynamic range that provide a high level of contrast between the lightest and darkest images. Newer UHD TVs also widen the array of colors a TV can display, but exploiting these advantages requires specially produced content. Since standards for these features are still being finalized, it may pay to wait before making the jump to UHD.