4K UHD Tablets Projected To Hit The Market Later This Year

Microsoft may be going small with Windows 8.1 tablets, trying to bring more affordable Windows-based slates to the market, but other hardware vendors already have their eyes set on new frontiers.

The tablet industry did not take all too long to leap to full HD resolutions (1920 by 1080 and higher), but it seems that the jump to ultra HD is set to be even quicker.

DigiTimes seems confident that panel makers are ready to introduce mobile displays supporting 3840 by 2160 resolution before the end of 2013 — mobile panels in this case being for both tablets and notebooks.

Taiwan-based makes are apparently gearing up to provide tablet screens, while Sharp is said to be making ones for laptops and ultrabooks.

Panasonic is tapped to be one of the major clients for these panels.

A case can be made that small displays on mobile devices hardly need so many pixels (more so when you consider several tablets already include HDMI ports for streaming to HDTVs) but the improved hardware and visual prowess has paved the way for these extreme resolutions.

What this means for Microsoft is that the technology titan will have to adapt real quick for this new resolutions standard, not just for tablets, desktops and notebooks, but also apps. Fact is that when most app developers stick to a smaller default resolution, it usually takes a fair while for them to upgrade.

Here is hoping this is something Redmond is keeping in mind for the upcoming Windows 8.1 upgrade.

Intel has, on more than a few occasions, already publicized the need for an increased resolution on the PC. In fact, the chip maker has been making a case for ultra-high-definition for a couple of years now, but the industry as a whole (desktops and notebooks) has been stuck with HD and sub HD displays.

But from the way things are shaping up, chances are that displays on computers and mobile devices are all set for a much needed resolution overhaul. And it couldn’t arrive sooner.