Why is UHD Better?

Due to huge strides in technological advancements, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be a fan of audiovisual entertainment. Unfortunately, there are so many different products out there that it can be difficult for the average consumer to find the best selection for their home entertainment setup. In today’s market, it’s entirely too easy to spend a lot of money on audiovisual products that don’t deliver. That’s where the Ultra-High Definition Alliance (UHDA) comes in.

The UHD Alliance is made up of the world’s leading film and television studios, content distributors, technology companies and consumer electronics manufacturers, all working together to establish a set of performance standards for products in their space. Products that meet those standards are given a logo–either the Ultra HD Premium or Mobile HDR Premium. Those logos let consumers know that the products with the logo have been vetted by the UHDA and meets or exceeds the performance standards created by the group.

So, what exactly are those performance standards? Let’s take a closer look at the technology that UHDA represents, and why that technology is what will bring your home-media experience to the next level. There are two logos that you should be on the lookout for and they both represent two different sets of standards: The Ultra-HD Premium logo, and the Mobile HDR Premium logo.

The Ultra-HD Premium logo was created with the intention of making it an industry-wide consensus on the standards that constitute 4K Ultra HD – from the screen resolution, to content and HDR support. To earn the Ultra HD premium logo devices and content must meet or exceed 4K resolution, support at least 10-bit color depth, BT.2020 color space representation and have some form of HDR -the industry standard, HDR10, Many people aren’t aware that 4K resolution and HDR are different things. In fact, it’s both of them working together that makes an Ultra HD Premium device so impressive. Think of 4K as the total amount of pixels available on your screen – the pixel density if you will. HDR is the quality of those pixels. Both are great on their own, but together they create an extraordinary media experience.

By requiring at least 10-bit color depth and HDR, the UHDA is ensuring that the screens they endorse offer a seriously impressive color spectrum. An Ultra HD Premium certified screen means that that screen is capable of displaying over a billion different colors. Yes, billion with a “b”. Having that many colors available makes the images on an HDR screen appear as close to lifelike, or the director’s intended color palette, as possible.

The Mobile HDR Premium logo is very similar to the Ultra HD Premium logo, except it represents a set of standards that apply to mobile screens like cell phones and tablets, not televisions. Other than that, the standards set are fairly similar between the two logos.

In order for a product to be considered for a Mobile HDR Premium it has to meet, or exceed, a certain set of standards in four different categories: 10-bit color depth on displays, a minimum number of pixels per degree, color space and maximum bit depth. As the name suggests, any product with the Mobile HDR Premium logo is also an HDR capable screen.

We know that shopping for tech products in 2018 can be an overwhelming experience. Luckily, now that you know about the Ultra HD Premium and Mobile HDR logos, and what they mean, you’ll be able to find the best audiovisual products on the market with ease. Trust us, next movie night will be at your house.