4 Reasons You Should Buy a 4K TV - Tom's Guide

4 Reasons You lot Should Purchase a 4K TV

Applied science waits for no man or woman. Witness that not long ago, the idea of buying a 4K Ultra HD Goggle box was considered profligate: Who has that kind of coin to throw around? Today, it's nearly unavoidable.

"It's the but selection out at that place now," said Paul Gray, principal analyst at IHS Technology. Gray follows global Tv trends and points out that except for entry-level, deal sets, "There's precious few sets that aren't 4K."

In fact, 50-inch, 4K Ultra HD sets capable of 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution are bachelor for less than $350, with prices continuing to fall. In 2016, over 10 meg 4K Ultra HD TVs were sold in the U.Southward., according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). By the stop of 2017, the CTA expects over fifteen million 4K sets to exist sold in the U.Southward., accounting for over 40 per centum of all TVs sold in America.

More than: All-time Cheap 4K TVs (Under $500)

Unfortunately, 4K programming and movies have non proliferated to the same degree equally the TVs — there's a serious paucity of 4K movies and Telly shows available. Nevertheless, the trend is clear, and then don't try to fight information technology. It'south time to terminate worrying and embrace 4K and its latest picture-enhancing HDR (loftier dynamic range) features.

Reason No. one: All of the best sets are 4K

The dominion is, that you put the latest and greatest features into your top models, which is exactly what has been happening in TVs. And then in addition to the higher 4K resolution, these Ultra Hd sets also avowal smarter Telly interfaces and services, greater brightness, truer colors and even improved sound. For instance, two of the best-looking sets we've e'er tested, LG'south 65-inch E7 OLED and Sony's 65-inch A1E, are too two of the best-sounding models we've ever heard.

These days, all the best TVs are 4K, including the 65-inch Vizio M Series (above). — These days, all the best TVs are 4K, including the 65-inch Vizio M Series (to a higher place).

Moreover, standard HD sets are stagnating, since manufacturers are but not bothering to put the same improvements into those devices. And then if you want a improve overall TV amusement experience, you're looking at a 4K gear up.

More: Best 4K Ultra-Hd TVs 2017

Reason No. 2: Amend upscaling means a meliorate standard HD picture

Subsequently some initial glitches converting Hard disk programs to 4K resolution, Television receiver makers have mostly sorted it out at present, and in the procedure delivered a sharper picture, fifty-fifty for standard HD programs. Watching a Blu-ray disc, for example, on a 4K set up tin can be a big, big comeback over standard Hard disk TVs, thanks to crisper, more precise, upscaling. And then fifty-fifty though the majority of programs yous'll be watching volition still exist in Hard disk, information technology will look better on a 4K fix.

Reason No. three: There'due south more 4K content coming. No, actually.

While traditional broadcast networks are resisting the 4K wave, they are swimming against a riptide and are finding themselves increasingly irrelevant as people download and stream more video programming than ever. And streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon Video and Vudu are carrying more 4K content now.

Streaming companies such as Netflix, Amazon Video and Vudu are carrying more 4K content.

"Streamers are setting the agenda," Gray said, reminding united states that software sells hardware. Amazon, for example, has around 100 4K movies, and more 4K software is coming. Dish Network and DirecTV take already added 4K channels and support.

The company that brought cord-cutting to the masses, Roku, is as well getting viewers connected to more 4K fabric, starting with its $60 Roku Premiere set-top box. And Roku includes a 4K Spotlight channel, a curated list of what's currently available online. You'll find 4K movies here such as Border of Tomorrow and San Andreas, TV shows like House of Cards and 4K offerings from services such as YouTube and Netflix. Fifty-fifty Apple has finally joined the Ultra Hard disk drive trend with its $179 Apple TV 4K streamer.

MORE: Where to Get 4K Content

While streaming is disrupting the one-time models, new 4K discs are appearing with more frequency forth with the players, led by Samsung'due south $220 UBD-K8500 4K Blu-ray player, which is nigh half the price it was a twelvemonth ago. There are now models from multiple manufacturers, as well, including LG's $230 UP970 and Philips' $250 Philips BDP7501. The discs themselves outset at around $23, but most are $30, so information technology's still a premium purchase. Nevertheless, for serious movie fans, there is no improve way to watch a film.

Reason No. four: The HDR divergence

Merely when we thought consumer electronics companies had sorted out high-resolution video formats, along comes loftier dynamic range (HDR) to mess it all up. But HDR looks to exist drifting toward a de facto standard, besides as offering an even more than compelling reason to go with 4K.

HDR adds a wider color gamut, sharper color intensity and greater brightness to 4K pictures. It makes a clear visual difference, so it shouldn't be ignored. Unfortunately, the HDR format started out equally at least iii different formats: HDR10, Ultra Hard disk drive Premium and Dolby Vision.

Some models, such as Vizio'south latest top-of-the-line models, support Dolby Vision, sort of a souped-upwardly version of HDR. Others support the Ultra Hd Premium format (a more liberal version of HDR), and some, such as LG's 4K sets, support both -- as well as HDR10. Still other companies, such as Samsung, are sticking with their own peculiar HDR version; Samsung calls its format HDR10+.

Withal, the HDR worm looks to accept turned. Recently, Sony and TCL caved in and joined the Dolby Vision camp, tipping the scales in its favor. In that location are also more than than 100 studio titles, as well every bit more than 125 hours of original content, available in Dolby Vision across leading OTT providers and on Ultra Hd Blu-ray discs.

Since Dolby Vision more often than not demands more than out of TVs than the other HDR formats, if a set supports Dolby Vision it likewise should be able to handle the other versions of HDR (even if the manufacturer doesn't explicitly say so). That ways there's a clear strategy for whatsoever buyer looking at purchasing a TV: You can forgo HDR and go for an inexpensive 4K Ultra Hard disk drive model, such as the $450 55-inch 4K Insignia Roku TV. Or you tin splurge and buy a set that conforms to the Dolby Vision HDR format, which should future-proof your TV and make information technology uniform, come up what may.

Best 4K Television set Overall

Samsung 65-inch Q9FN QLED Tv set

Best Under $500

TCL 43S517 Roku Smart 4K Television

The TCL 43S517 Roku Smart 4K TV offers a 43-inch 4K Television that'southward packed with premium features, excellent performance and a sweet bargain cost.

All-time Picture Quality

Sony Master Series A9F OLED TV

The Sony Master Serial A9F OLED TV is 1 of the best OLED TVs on the market, and blows abroad the contest with its great picture quality, an innovative audio organisation and an improved version of Android TV. Information technology'due south the best Sony TV nosotros've seen and one of the best TVs on the market place period.

John R. Quain has been reviewing and testing video and audio equipment for more than xx years. For Tom'southward Guide, he has reviewed televisions, HDTV antennas, electrical bikes, electric cars, also as other outdoor equipment. He is currently a correspondent to The New York Times and the CBS News idiot box program.