If CES 2013 could be summed up with one term, that term would be "4K." Indeed, the next-generation high-definition standard was this year's big thing . It was introduced in a number of HDTVs and in the case of Panasonic, a 20-inch tablet. The device was on-display this week in its prototype form, though the company claims it plans to eventually bring it to market.

Boasting a 3840 x 2560 IPSa display, Panasonic's 4K tablet runs a full version of Windows 8 and is targeted toward photographers, video producers, and marketing professionals. It's powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with graphics provided by an unspecified Nvidia chip with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. It's all housed in a brushed metal and glass exterior that measures at just 0.4-inches thick — an impressive feat given its specs. Of course, this is not a device not intended for holding upright as you casually read an eBook, it's meant to be propped up on a surface. The company demonstrated it in a fixed position, showing off how it could be used to remotely control a DSLR and edit high-resolution photos using either touch controls or a specialized stylus.But really, the biggest allure is the display. It produces absolutely stunning visuals with incredible detail and vibrant color when viewing high-resolution content. But despite its excellent visual fidelity, 4K is more or less just a marketing term. At 20-inches, the display has a pixel density of 220ppi, which falls below the iPad (264ppi) and certain Android tablets, like Google's Nexus 10 (300ppi). So, while the Panasonic prototype looks great, it's not quite the innovative triumph it appears to be at first-glance.The big question, however, is if and when we'll see it come to market and for what price. Chances are that it won't come cheap, but that's to be expected.For more from CES, stay tuned to IGN.com/CES

Scott Lowe is IGN's guru of Tech. He enjoys coffee, burritos, and moonlit walks. You can follow him on MyIGN Scott-IGN and on Twitter @ScottLowe . For more of the latest and greatest in technology, follow @IGNTech