What Is 4K Resolution-Knowledge Encyclopedia-Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD

What Is 4K Resolution

Source：Shenzhen Kai Mo Rui Electronic Technology Co. LTD2026-06-27

The term K-resolution refers to a display resolution with roughly 4,000 pixels along the horizontal axis. Different display devices and standards adopt variant 4K specifications, among which 3840×2160, also known as 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition), is the most prevalent one. It serves as the primary 4K standard for televisions and consumer media, and is the native resolution for most 4K monitors and laptops available on the market.

Another widely recognized 4K variant is 4096×2160, named DCI 4K (Digital Cinema Initiative 4K). This is the professional 4K standard deployed in movie theaters, and also adopted by some high-end professional monitors and cameras.

Whichever 4K specification you refer to, its pixel count far exceeds that of 1080p (1920×1080), delivering sharper, more intricate and lifelike visuals. 4K UHD features exactly four times the total pixels of 1080p, while DCI 4K has a slightly higher pixel volume than four times that of 1080p. On a screen of identical physical size, 4K resolution can render vastly more details and visual content, and allows viewing from a closer distance without visible pixelation.

Bitrate Estimation for 4K@60fps Video

The data throughput of 4K video running at 60 frames per second depends on video encoding format, bit depth, chroma subsampling and other parameters. Different encoders apply compression at varying ratios, which directly impacts video bitrate and image quality. Generally speaking, uncompressed or losslessly compressed video carries an extremely high data volume, while lossy compression reduces bandwidth consumption at the cost of minor detail and color information loss.

Bitrate Calculation for Uncompressed / Lossless 4K@60fps (3840×2160, 4:2:0 Chroma Subsampling)

8-bit Color Depth
Each pixel consists of three color channels (Red, Green, Blue), with 8 bits allocated per channel, totaling 24 bits per pixel. With 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, only luminance data for four pixels plus two sets of chrominance data are retained, resulting in an effective 12 bits per pixel.
Total bitrate formula:
3840×2160×12×60=5971968000 bits per second
Equivalent to approximately 5.98 Gbps (Gigabits per second) or 747 MBps (Megabytes per second).
10-bit Color Depth
10 bits per RGB channel totals 30 bits per pixel; with 4:2:0 subsampling, effective bit depth equals 15 bits per pixel.
3840×2160×15×
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