Can you really buy a 4K TV for less than $1000?
You’re looking to buy a new TV. You’ve heard about the crisper images and better detail that comes through on a 4K TV. But you’d really rather not spend $1,000 and up on a new one. With 4K TVs, however, is that even a possibility?
Can you buy a 4K TV for less than $1,000? According to TechRadar, it’s pretty hard these days to get a TV that isn’t 4k. With that in mind, there should be a range of options at a variety of price points to suit customers. Let’s look at what a 4k TV is and why there might be affordable options.
What is a 4K TV?
According to TechRadar, it wasn’t that long ago that Full HD (full high definition) was the sharpest TV you could buy. Full HD brought four times as many pixels as HD. But 4K resolutions brings a whole new level of visual detail and clarity into play. 4K TVs use more pixels (8,294,400) on the screen at once to bring you images that are clearer and show more details than standard HD. It sounds like a pretty good option.
What is the resolution of 4K?
4K TV resolution is 3840 x 2160 or 2160p. Meanwhile, a full HD 1080p image only has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. 4K screens display about 8 million pixels. Or about four times what your current 1080p set shows. This results in a much better definition and an overall better image.
Why is it called 4K?
4K TVs get their name from their images, which are 4,000 pixels wide. Do all those extra pixels matter? Here, TechRadar says there is a similar change in resolution as the one from SD (480 lines high) to HD (1080 lines high). Overall, 4K screens are noticeably clearer than 1080p screens. However, if you are buying about the same sized set and sit near it, you may not notice much of a difference. This could be especially true if mostly watch HD content rather than 4K video.
These days, the latest in TV viewing technology is 8K TVs. So by now, 4K seems to be the industry standard. That’s why you really can find a 4K TV under $1,000.
The Hisense 65H9F is a great overall 4K TV for under $1,000
RTINGS.COM says that the best 65-inch 4K TV under $1,000 is the Hisense 65H9F. The rating company says it’s an excellent TV for a variety of uses. It has full array local dimming and can produce deep blacks, perfect for watching TV in a dark room. It runs on Android TV and has access to the Google Play Store. The Hisense is Alexa and Google Assistant compatible. Finally, it has a low input lag that should keep most gamers happy. Unfortunately, the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, and it doesn’t support any variable refresh rate technology. Overall, it’s an all-around great TV that’s under $1,000.
The LG 55SM9000 is better at wider angles
Another great 4K TV under the $1,000 mark is the LG 55SM9000. It’s perfect if you watch TV while cooking or doing household chores and might find the Hisense H9F’s angles sub-par. While the 65-inch model is over $1,000 mark, the 55″ model is a fine alternative. This TV displays a good overall picture and has excellent brightness. RTINGS.com finds that its blacks are grayish in a dark room. When the room isn’t dark, however, this TV boasts excellent performance.
The TCL 4 Series 2019/75S425 offers great size for value
RTINGS.com says that the best value for size 4k TV is the TCL 4 Series 2019/75S425. While it’s performance isn’t as good as that of the Hisense H9F, but it’s a 75 inch 4k TV that’s usually priced at or below $1,000. Its picture quality is fine, and it offers a high contrast ratio that displays deep blacks in a dark room. Unfortunately, it lacks a local dimming feature. It has a low input lag and is responsive enough for use in gaming or as a computer monitor. It runs a Roku TV smart platform like higher-end models by the same company. However, like most VA panel TVs, the image is poor when you view it from the side. So it’s not so great if you’ve got a wide living room setup.
So, can you buy a 4K TV for under $1,000? The answer is yes. There seem to be many options for 4K TVs under $1,000 since 4K seems to be the new industry standard. So, you, too, can enjoy the clarity and high-contrast colors and host your own 4K TV viewing party. Now it’s 8K TVs that are just out of reach. And with that in mind, we have a great post on if you should buy an 8K TV in 2020.