Best 4K TVs You Can Buy For Immersive Experience
by Luther B. Health Writer4K resolution used to be an expensive step-up feature that was only available with a high-end TV. But nowadays, just about every television set with a screen size that's 32 inches or bigger is available in 4K for prices that are basically equivalent to older, lower-resolution 1080p TVs. And if you're shopping for a 50-inch screen or bigger, it's hard to find any model that isn't 4K.
The best 4K TV screen could be cheaper than you'd think. The popular TCL 4-Series, which I like a lot as an entry-level option, starts at a budget TV price of $230 for the 43-inch model. The 65-inch version has dropped to under $500.
- I, of course, considered factors like picture quality, whether the device was a smart TV if the picture changed depending on the viewing angle and how the TV interacted with a streaming device. Here are my latest recommendations, with the following notes to keep in mind.
- Unless noted otherwise, all of the prices you'll see are for 65-inch models.
- 2020 has been a strange year and many new TVs are shipping late. A few of the TVs on this list are still 2019 models, but I expect to review more 2020 TVs soon.
TCL 6-Series
No TV I've ever tested offers this much picture quality for this little cash. The 2020 TCL 6-Series has even better image quality than its predecessor, thanks to mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It's also a solid choice for gamers with a new THX mode that combines low input lag and high contrast. As if that's not enough, the Roku TV operating system is our hands-down favorite.
What's that, you say? Do you just want the best TV, money no object? Here you go. In my side-by-side tests, the 2020 LG CX is the best TV I've ever reviewed, barely beating the 2019 B9 -- which like other 2019 OLED TVs is mostly sold out these days.
Sizes: 55-, 65-, 77-inch
TCL's 8-Series also features mini-LED and the result is superb contrast, brightness and high dynamic range that beats the less expensive 6-Series in my side-by-side comparison. The overall image quality doesn't quite hit OLED levels, but it comes pretty close and costs a lot less, especially in the 75-inch size.
Sizes: 65-, 75-inch.
Aside from the TCL 6-Series above, no TV offers this much picture for this little cash. In my comparisons, the TCL won slightly in a couple of important areas, in particular HDR brightness and contrast and black levels. I'd also recommend the TCL to streaming-centric viewers because of its superior Roku smart HDTV system. It's great for watching Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and more. And finally, this is a 2019 model, so you might want to wait a bit for my upcoming reviews of the 2020 version -- although this TV is often on clearance these days.
Sizes: 55-, 65-inch.
Roku is our favorite platform for viewing content with live TV streaming apps Netflix, and it's an even better experience when it is baked into the TV. This TCL 4-Series Ultra HD TV can't beat any of the models above on image quality -- its 4K resolution and HDR compatibility don't do anything to help the picture -- but it's perfectly fine for most people, especially at this price.
Sizes: 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, 75-inch.
Other stuff to know about buying a new 4K TV
I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with anyone of the TVs above, but a new set can be a big investment, so maybe you're looking for a bit more information. Here's a quick and dirty list.
New 2020 TV models have mostly arrived, but since TVs are generally a mature technology, the less-expensive 2019 versions are generally better values.
In my opinion, bigger is better. Big TVs are cheaper than ever, and your money is best spent on large screen sizes rather than a slight upgrade in image quality.
If you don't like the built-in smart TV system, you can always add a media streamer. They're cheap and easy to use, and receive updates more frequently than most smart TVs. See our picks of the best media streamers.
Most built-in speakers sound terrible, so it's worthwhile to pair your new set with a soundbar or other speaker system. Good ones start at around $100. See the best soundbars.
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Created on Oct 3rd 2020 06:50. Viewed 365 times.