One of the arguments for choosing a 4K camera is the ability to downscale to 1080p for sharper images or to 1440p for a performance boost. Conversely, 1440p content can be upscaled to 4K, but with mixed results:
Upscaling: Modern cameras and displays use sophisticated algorithms to upscale lower-resolution content to fit higher-resolution screens. While this can enhance the appearance of older or lower-resolution content, it’s not a substitute for native resolution.
Downscaling: The process of downscaling 4K to 1440p can result in a significant increase in perceived sharpness due to the increased pixel density. This can be particularly useful for platforms where bandwidth or display resolution is limited.