Most modern televisions offer 4K UHD resolution for viewing content. This resolution offers a decidedly higher level of detail than Full HD televisions, particularly if reproduced on very high diagonals (from 45 inches up) and viewed from the right distance from the TV. If we decided to target a 4K UHD TV, we must not just watch standard TV channels in SD quality (which would all be "pixellated" and nuanced on a UHD screen), but we will have to make sure to watch Full HD content (where the shaded effect is decidedly less) or better still content transmitted in UHD 4K . In this guide we will show you how to use 4K on Smart TV using high quality transmission systems and showing you which streaming services transmit their content in 4K, so that we can really take advantage of the resolution of our new TV. READ ALSO: See Netflix in 4K: which TV Box to buy
How to use 4K on Smart TV
In the chapters of this guide we will show you all the methods that we can use on our Smart TV to view content in 4K UHD . To have a confirmation on the type of resolution active on the channel we are watching, it is usually sufficient to press the Info button on the remote control, so as to be able to obtain information on the transmitted channel; if instead the transmission comes from a decoder, we will have to access the channel information offered by the decoder itself. In the case of streaming services, the resolution is usually offered on the preview page of the content to be displayed, even if it is not always valid (since the streaming stream dynamically changes the resolution to maintain maximum fluidity and avoid buffering).Sky Q decoder
The most effective way to receive 4K content at the highest quality available at the moment is to use the Sky Q decoder with an active Sky subscription.
By choosing the Sky Q Black decoder we can view the channels in 4K HDR simply by opening the channel in HD and pressing the green button on the remote control. Using Sky Q Platinum we can also transmit the channel to other rooms via special satellite decoders.
Obviously not all HD channels also transmit in 4K HDR, but on many sporting events, on many films and on many TV series 4K is already reality, we will only have to connect the decoder to the TV, be sure to activate the HDMI profiles required (you may need to tweak in the settings of the TV to activate the right black profile and color range) then enjoy the content transmitted in ultra high definition.
If we have an old decoder or the Sky Q does not display channels in 4K UHD correctly, it may be necessary to update it to benefit from 4K, as described in our guide on How to update Sky decoders .
Tivùsat platform
Another method to benefit from 4K UHD resolution involves the use of the tivùsat satellite platform.
Using a satellite dish and the appropriate Smart Card we will be able to view the RAI 4K, 4K1, NASA UHD and other channels in the highest quality allowed by the TV.
In order to take advantage of tivùsat on our TV we have two ways (after having already placed the satellite dish ):
- we can connect the satellite cable directly to the back of the TV (if equipped with a satellite tuner) and use the CAM with Smart Card included, to be placed in the CI + slot of the TV; a CAM compatible with many televisions can be found here -> Digiquest Bundle Cam Tivusat gold (84 €).
- We can connect a satellite decoder compatible with tivùsat, so that we can use the integrated smart card and view 4K channels even on uncertified UHD televisions; a good decoder to use for the purpose we can find it here -> OPENTEL UHD 4000 Ultra HD TVSat Receiver (158 €).
In both cases we will be able to access, without additional costs, the channels that transmit in 4K and thus take advantage of the resolution of our TV (for information, the RAI 4K channel is broadcast on satellite channel 210).
YouTube app
If we want to view 4K for free without buying cards or activate subscriptions to satellite services, we can rely on the YouTube app, present on any modern Smart TV.
All we have to do is open the YouTube app from the Smart section of our TV, then select the Search button and type with the remote control "4K" or "UHD 4K". In this way we will have access to all the 4K test videos and we will also be able to view the videos uploaded in this format by some famous channels and by users equipped with professional cameras.
In order to benefit from 4K from YouTube, the TV must obviously be connected to the Internet (via cable or via Wi-Fi) and we will have to make sure that we have a line speed of at least 25 Mega per second in download, otherwise we will not be able to correctly display these contents. In this regard, we invite you to read our guide to check the internet connection speed .
If we don't find the YouTube app on our 4K TV, we can integrate it using an Android TV Box or a Chromecast Ultra .
Netflix app
The first legal streaming service that we recommend to be able to use 4K on Smart TV is definitely Netflix.
By activating an account and choosing the Premium subscription (currently available at € 15.99 per month) we will be able to view TV series and films in UHD 4K on our TV without pressing any button and without having to insert any card (if 4K is available and the TV in use is compatible, the content will be reproduced immediately at the highest quality). Also in this case we will have to have a very high connection speed to be able to support 4K transmissions on Netflix (25 Mega per second in downloads or higher), as described in the official Netflix guide.
If our Smart TV is not compatible with Netflix's UltraHD (even if we have a screen that supports 4K), we can still take advantage of it by connecting a Chromecast Ultra to one of the HDMI sockets on the back of the TV and starting to cast the content from the Netflix app for Android and iOS. If we intend to use the Chromecast we recommend that you also read our Chromecast Guide with 16 tricks and applications to make the best use of it .
Amazon Prime Video app
A good alternative to Netflix to use 4K on Smart TV involves the use of the Amazon Prime Video app, present on many televisions or installed separately from the integrated stores on the TVs.
Amazon Prime Video is included for all Amazon Prime subscribers, so in fact we can define it as a "semi-free" service (since we already pay Amazon Prime for discounts and free fast shipping). Once the app is open, we login with the Amazon credentials that we usually use on the e-commerce site, then choose the content labeled as 4K or start a search from the top bar, looking for "4K" or "UHD". The ultra high definition content is not as numerous as on Netflix, but since we use this service for free, we might as well take advantage of it!
As for YouTube and Netflix, we will only be able to benefit from 4K if we have a fast enough Internet line (at least 25 Mega per second in download).
If our Smart TV does not have the Amazon Prime Video app, we can integrate it using an Amazon Fire TV Stick, as described in our Amazon Fire TV Stick guide with hidden tricks, apps and features .
Infinity app
Another legal streaming service that we can use to view 4K UHD on Smart TV is Infinity, owned by Mediaset.
Again, simply sign up for a monthly subscription to the service (with a 30-day trial period), start the app from the TV, log in with the credentials of the account created and search for 4K UHD or 4K HDR content between those available (we can always get help from the search bar).
If our TV does not have the Infinity app (but has a 4K screen), we can take advantage of the maximum resolution by connecting a Sony PlayStation 4 Pro to the TV; the console we can view it from here -> PlayStation 4 Pro Gamma, 1TB (€ 362).
Conclusions
As we have seen, we can take advantage of the 4K of our new Smart TV using dedicated satellite services or one of the apps that we can find integrated in the Smart section of our device (if we do not find them we can always download them from the integrated store). In case we had a 4K compatible TV but without the apps with support for this resolution, we can take advantage of various external devices (TV Box, Chromecast Ultra and PS4 Pro) to be able to fill the gap.Remember that to enjoy 4K UHD it is necessary to position the TV at the right viewing distance, as described in our guide At what distance to see TV or monitor based on the screen size .
