Terri Ramsey Beavers Buying a modern TV is like purchasing a car in Mumbai. If you don’t know the language, you’re going to get fleeced.
To ensure you don’t get hustled, you must determine how much you’re paying and what’s included in that price. That means you need to recognize what makes one TV different from another. You also need to know which features are worth the extra cost.
When you’re ready to learn how to track down your very own affordable 4k television, read on.
The Affordable 4K Television
What is a 4K TV, anyway? 4K TVs have 4 pixels for each pixel on a standard high-definition television. In other words, they have clarity about 4x as sharp as a traditional 1080p high-definition TV.
4K’s are the new standard. CBS, NBC, and other cable networks now offer a variety of shows build for the 4K experience. They’re less grainy than traditional high-def shows.
These TVs are available at the following price points:
- 4K TV under $2000
- 4K TV under $1000
- 4K TV under $500
The question now is which features are worth the extra expense?
HD vs UHD
HD stands for high-definition, whereas UHD stands for ultra-high-definition. HD is the, now standard, 1080p version flat screen. UHD is the new 4K flat screen.
They’re just different ways of talking about how many pixels each type of screen supports.
HDR Support
HDR stands for high dynamic range. It doesn’t refer to the pixel count, but rather the shades of each pixel. These televisions offer a greater variety of lights and darks for each color.
You’ll often hear salespeople refer to “darker darks” or “brighter whites.” When they say that, they’re talking about the effects of HDR on the picture quality.
HDR10 is the standard nowadays, and it’s well worth the extra cost. Electronics manufacturers are moving toward making HDR the standard on new televisions, but they aren’t quite there yet. If you’re buying a 4K television, make sure it comes with this option.
LED vs LCD
Today, these two acronyms mean essentially the same thing. The first stands for light-emitting diode. The second stands for liquid crystal display.
In the past, these technologies were vastly different. As such, the produced a visible difference in picture quality. Now, both are based on LCD technology and are indistinguishable.
What About QLED?
Quantum dot LEDs (or QLEDs) are a proprietary light-emitting diode display made by Samsung. They say it’s a better version of an LED screen, and most consumers agree.
Is it worth the extra money? This is one you’ll have to decide for yourself. It’ll definitely increase the price of your discount 4K TV.
And OLED Advantage?
Unlike the other screen types listed above, OLEDs aren’t backlit. This creates a much better picture quality in a slimmer package. These televisions also tend to run about $1000 more than their counterparts.
What About Refresh Rates?
This is one of those discount TV options that probably won’t matter unless you own a game console.
Most televisions run at a native 60Hz. That leads to stuttering and ghosting if you play games with a high refresh rate, like first-person shooters. If you’re not a gamer, it’s not worth worrying about.
Speakers
Believe it or not, a variety of modern TVs don’t even include speakers. When they do, they may be low powered or poor quality. If you have the money, it’s worth forgoing the speakers and purchasing a soundbar instead.
What’s Next?
Well, now it’s time to hunt down your affordable 4K television. Determine which of the above options you must have. Then jump online to get a better feel for prices.
If you want to learn more, browse our library full of information about the newest technology. So long and good luck!