4K TVs have become one of the newest inventions in the home electronics industry.
Due to the deep immersion effect, such devices provide high image clarity, color saturation and realism , which allows the owner to enjoy an excellent picture.
Every day, gadgets with 4K resolution are becoming more accessible, so you should think about purchasing multifunctional equipment for your home and choose a suitable model from a trusted brand.
Xiaomi Mi TV 4A 43 T2 43″
Price: from 26,900 rubles.
Pros:
- high image quality;
- relatively low cost;
- well-thought-out Android operating system;
- laconic design;
- fast working interface.
Cons: not very high quality build.
The top opens with a budget 43-inch 4K UHD TV with impressive functionality running the Android TV operating system. Viewing angles of 178 degrees guarantee comfortable viewing from anywhere in the room without distortion.
There is 2 GB of RAM and an 8 GB drive for data storage. The device can be installed on the stand included in the kit or hung on the wall using a standard 300x300 mm mount.
Movies are rarely shot in 4K
No, they are filmed a lot and often. The leaders in this direction were Sony, which was one of the first to launch mass 4K filming. And Amazon.
The first films were shot back in 2011. Initially, studios could afford to shoot a dozen films a year. By 2014, the total number of films shot in 4K reached 60.
Today, more than 300 4K films are made per year , and this number is growing rapidly. The current release schedule for new UHD products can be found here.
Among the (not) most recent releases in 4K are: “Bad Santa 2”, “Arrival”, “Trolls”, “Passengers”, “John Wick”.
Samsung UE50TU7090U 50″
Price: from 36,900 rubles.
Pros:
- good picture;
- good sound;
- easy to configure;
- reliable assembly.
Minuses:
- outdated remote control;
- Sometimes it slows down in the menu.
TV from a famous brand, available in gray and black colors. A VA matrix is installed inside, complemented by an Edge LED backlight system.
A distinctive feature of the model is the ability to operate at a frequency of 120 Hz for stable display of even the most dynamic scenes. The sound is provided by two built-in 10 W speakers with automatic volume leveling.
Which TV brand is better?
This point is often very subjective: many prefer Sony, some are confident in the superiority of Samsung, and some remain loyal to LG. Among the top brands, Panasonic and Philips TVs are also worthy of attention. The quality here is the same, plus or minus, when comparing models from the same segment. But brands differ in certain aspects. For example, Sony makes very cool design solutions, and LG has a very wide range of models. The mid-range and budget price segment now includes not only brands with a history (Sharp, Thomson, Toshiba), but also ambitious Chinese companies (Hisense, Xiaomi), as well as local brands like Kivi and Romsat. It is important that the brands producing OLED can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Panasonic, Philips, LG, Loewe and Sony are the list of available OLED brands. And the QLED segment is 90% represented by Samsung products, which are diluted with several Hisense and TCL models.
LG 50NANO796NF 50″
Price: from 42,900 rubles.
Pros:
- attractive design;
- build quality;
- excellent image;
- no glare around the edges;
- convenient control panel.
Minuses:
- small viewing angles;
- Sometimes Smart slows down.
LCD TV from 50 inches with full 4K UHD resolution. Has support for HDR10 and HDR 10 Pro. The built-in Smart operates under the webOS operating system, which allows you to install any applications to expand the capabilities of the device.
There is a sleep timer, a child lock system, and a voice control function.
4K or Full HD, HD Ready? Selecting screen resolution
The recommended resolution depends on the primary content source in your case. For example, only for watching cable TV the HD format is sufficient, but for satellite television, Blu-Ray discs or HD movies from the Internet, Full HD and 4K Ultra HD displays are optimal. Let us immediately note that budget HD Ready (1366×768 pixels) models are now produced only with an eye to use in the kitchen or for outdoor placement (summer version for the dacha). In addition, their functionality is usually limited to receiving TV channels and playing basic file formats from a flash drive. You still shouldn't write off Full HD TVs (1920x1080 pixels). In 2018, their share in the assortment of the top 5 brands fell to 40-45%, but in the middle and budget segment they still account for the bulk of sales and the situation will not change for another year and a half. A 4K TV will be a good long-term investment, but it won't reach its full potential right here and now. Don't consider 4K UHD purely a “marketing gimmick.” Indeed, there is not that much 4K content, a significant amount of it has not surpassed the 2K level in quality, and some representatives of UHD Blu-ray are even worse than their Blu-ray counterparts. But every day there is more and more UHD content, and the quality is improving.
Panasonic TX-55HXR700 55″
Price: from 34,900 rubles.
Pros:
- large amount of built-in memory;
- low price;
- spectacular design;
- fast Smart TV.
Minuses:
- there are highlights around the edges;
- Voice control freezes.
The optimal model in terms of price-quality ratio. It has a full-fledged Smart TV running the Android operating system. Operating at a frequency of 60 Hz, the device easily copes with even the most dynamic scenes.
And viewing angles of 178 degrees guarantee comfortable viewing from anywhere in the room. The model can be mounted on a wall using a standard VESA bracket.
Philips 43PUS7505 43″
Price: from 25,900 rubles.
Pros:
- availability;
- quick setup;
- connects easily to networks and maintains a stable connection;
- responsive controls.
Minuses:
- confusing menu;
- Poorly designed power saving mode.
An inexpensive TV with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for high-quality images with natural and rich colors. Smart runs on the SAPHI platform, which may seem very unusual compared to traditional OSs.
Two speakers with a total power of 20 W guarantee surround sound and can automatically equalize the volume.
Bottom line
So, let’s consolidate the material of today’s article. Ultra HD is just a 4K standard used in consumer technology. It falls a little short of full-frame 4K, the characteristics of which are described in the relevant standards, although it does not cease to be a qualitatively new resolution with high detail.
The only noticeable difference was the resolution. We hope that now, when approaching a counter with TVs or other equipment, you won’t have to rack your brains with prefixes in the name, understanding the differences between 4K and Ultra HD.
Samsung UE55TU7090U 55″
Price: from 40,000 rubles.
Pros:
- large diagonal;
- thin frames around the edges of the screen;
- impressive volume reserve;
- stable internet connection.
Minuses:
- old style remote control;
- uncomfortable to watch from close distance.
An excellent 4K UHD option for relatively little money. The user receives a full-fledged 55-inch TV with a VA matrix, high-quality LED backlighting and the ability to operate at a frequency of 120 Hz.
Smart TV on the Tizen platform allows you to download various applications and thereby significantly expand the capabilities of the TV.
Hisense 65A7300F
This panel in OZON costs 38 thousand rubles as a promotion, the regular price is 45 thousand. It is more expensive than the Novex above, but Hisense is the most reliable and trusted Chinese manufacturer. It makes sense to pay an additional 6 thousand rubles and take the Hisense 65A7300F, since its picture quality will be higher than that of Novex.
Characteristics:
- 65 inches
- 4K
- VA-matrix with Direct LED backlighting without overt glare
- Contrast ratio 4000:1 + brightness 300 cd/m2. As for contrast, everything is fine here. Brightness around 300 cd/m2 excludes the possibility of displaying full HDR, and even in a bright room it will be uncomfortable to watch dark films. Do not place the panel in front of a window where the sun sets
- There is a Smart TV without unnecessary functionality, and it works well. If in the case of Novex it is desirable to buy an external set-top box for Smart TV, then with Hisense you can get by with a standard Smart TV
- Wi-Fi ac, 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports
By paying an additional 6,000 rubles for the Hisense 65A7300F, you will benefit in image quality and reliability. But even with the increased price, this panel is still in the low segment.
Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 65 T2S 65″
Price: from 54,900 rubles.
Pros:
- high-quality sound;
- bright picture with rich colors;
- attractive appearance;
- reliable VA matrix;
- large diagonal.
Minuses:
- there are problems with connection speed;
- inconvenient control panel;
- stripped down version of the software.
TV 60 Hz on the Android TV operating system. The main functionality of the platform has been preserved, but the lack of a traditional store and Google service can cause a lot of trouble.
2 GB RAM is responsible for performance, and a 16 GB drive is provided for storing program data.
LG 55NANO796NF 55″
Price: from 49,800 rubles.
Pros:
- reliable assembly;
- very convenient control;
- air remote control included;
- good sound.
Minuses:
- thick body;
- Sometimes playback slows down.
Universal NanoCell device with a diagonal of 55 inches. Perfect for placement in the living room or bedroom. However, it is worth considering that when viewing from close distance, your eyes will quickly begin to tire.
The IPS matrix, coupled with LED backlighting, copes well with its tasks, displaying natural colors and neutralizing all possible distortions.
Screen size. Choosing the optimal TV diagonal
When choosing a 4K panel, you should most focus on its size and choose a diagonal of at least 55 inches, and if you have the funds, the optimal choice would be 65. Expensive devices with a diagonal of 75 or more are reasonable to buy only for organizing a full-fledged home theater in a room of 30 square meters or more. If the apartment is small, but you want to taste the delights of new technologies, then choose 49 inches. You will find dozens of 43-inch models on sale, but in this size it will be very difficult to make out the delights of ultra-high definition. With Full HD everything is simpler. New models are limited to a ceiling of 49-50, but 2016-2017 models with diagonals up to 60 inches will be on sale for another year or two. The best purchase would be 43-inch devices. Do you need a no-frills TV that just shows TV channels in good quality? These are HD Ready models and are limited to a diagonal of 32 inches, with the most common being 26 inches.
Sony KD-43XH8096 42.5″
Price: from 59,990 rubles.
Pros:
- good image quality;
- well-thought-out operating system;
- clear controls;
- ability to install applications.
Cons: There are some glares at the edges of the screen.
A relatively small model with a diagonal of 42.5 inches and full 4K resolution. Smart TV runs Android, so there should be no problems getting used to the interface.
There are two 10W speakers with surround sound and automatic volume leveling.
Old movies don't look good on 4K screens
Some old films were originally shot on a digital camera. Their resolution is increased only by software, and the picture quality suffers greatly from this.
Films shot on film are a completely different matter. They can be digitalized at any resolution. And the larger the matrix, the closer in quality it will be to the original.
Surely I would like to say that no one is doing this. Not at all. The Japanese even converted the iconic “7 Samurai”. And for them this is a common thing.
Don't forget about banal upscaling . Of course, this is not as cool as a picture shot on a 4K camera. But much better than 360 or 720 vertical lines.
Philips 58PUS8505 58″
Price: from 59,900 rubles.
Pros:
- rich colors;
- brightness reserve;
- durable stand;
- deep black without highlights.
Cons: not very convenient menu.
Full-fledged Android TV with 4K UHD resolution and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision technologies. Equipped with all the necessary interfaces for connecting additional devices and connecting to wireless networks.
Voice control is available. Supplied with a stand, but can be wall mounted using a VESA mount if desired.
OLED vs QLED
OLED technology (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a light-emitting diode (LED) made from organic compounds. Screens using OLED technology generate their own light, so they do not require a backlight. The result is an excellent contrast ratio (up to 1,000,000:1) and perfect blacks (black is actually “ black ”).
QLED technology was developed by Samsung - and, according to the Korean company, QLED represents the next stage in the development of quantum dot technology. The new models have improved the brightness and stability of the backlight, and expanded the color rendition range. QLED TVs are the best possible version of a 4K Ultra HD TV.
Important nuances when choosing a 4K TV in 2021
To ensure that the selected 4K TV meets all the requirements, it is recommended that you carefully consider the main characteristics of the models in question before purchasing:
- Diagonal. Larger TVs are traditionally considered more convenient, especially if you need to place the equipment in the living room. When considering 4K resolution, it is worth starting to study the market for TVs with a diagonal of at least 40 inches. However, for a small bedroom or kitchen you can choose a smaller device.
- Update frequency . It is better to choose models with a refresh rate of 60Hz or higher, as this indicator guarantees comfortable viewing of even dynamic scenes without blurring or distortion.
- Brightness. A bright screen has many advantages, one of which is the ability to watch TV normally on a sunny day.
- Viewing angle . This parameter affects how comfortable it is to watch TV from different points in the room. The optimal indicator is 178 degrees.
- Matrix type . On modern 4K TVs you can find different types of matrices, differing in their characteristics and image features. There are LED, TN, IPS, VA and OLED matrices. The latter type is characterized by deep black color and the almost complete absence of any distortion when displaying shades.
- Sound. Due to the small thickness of the body of modern TVs, one cannot expect really high-quality sound from them. There is simply not enough space inside for good sound equipment. However, you should still pay attention to the number of speakers and their power, so that there are enough possibilities for comfortable viewing of channels or video games.
Separately, it is worth considering the capabilities of Smart TV, which are directly related to the installed components, performance reserves and software used. Ultimately, the final choice is made only on the basis of personal requirements for the device.
Useful tips for choosing
Now we will tell you what you need to pay attention to when choosing a new TV: diagonal, brand, number of connectors, bells and whistles, technical specifications and, of course, price.
Which diagonal is better to choose?
The main question for many people is: which diagonal is better to choose for your room in an apartment or house? This question can be better answered by the table below and, of course, your budget.
In this table you can see approximate data on how far away viewers should sit from the screen. Just multiply these numbers by it, that is, square it as the size of your apartment or house is calculated (4*5=20 sq.m).
TV connectors
Here is a list of the most necessary connectors for a modern TV:
- USB 3.0
- HDMI
- Ethernet (LAN)
- Digital audio output
Without these little things, it’s hard to imagine comfortable watching your favorite films and TV series, as well as games.
Bells and whistles
If you want to save money and use only what you need, I’ll tell you what an Ultra HD TV should have in 2021:
- USB 3.0 support
- 2 HDMI connectors
- WiFi
- Smartphone control
- WEB camera for Skype
- Smart TV
If all this is present in your giant, then it’s not worth paying for the other bells and whistles!
