Review of the best TVs with Ultra HD (4K) resolution. Selecting ZOOM

18.10.2023

Office

Times change and technology improves. While Full HD TVs were once a luxury item, 4K resolution is now all the rage. It involves the use of 8.3 million pixels - 3840x2160. This matrix design provides excellent image detail, allowing you to see its smallest details.

Matrix type

When choosing a TV, you need to pay attention not only to the size and resolution of the panel used, but also to its design. The most widespread are liquid crystal UHD matrices. They are cheap to produce, durable and very easy to maintain. Their only drawback is the limited color range. To solve this problem, Samsung has developed QLED technology, and LG has developed Nano Cell technology. Quantum dot-based backlighting and a nanoparticle filter ensure the correct reproduction of each shade and significantly increase the level of contrast.
OLED TVs are worth mentioning separately. They are not built on liquid crystals, but on many microscopic LEDs that can turn on independently of each other. This solution makes the picture truly realistic due to high static contrast and infinite depth of black.

Other technologies

Modern TVs can use the following image quality enhancement tools:

intelligently controlled backlight that brightens or darkens certain areas of the screen;
HDR system, expanding the dynamic range of the picture;
artificially increasing the frame rate for smooth reproduction of fast movements;
scaling and smoothing low-resolution video.

High-end multimedia electronics in Eldorado

Our online store offers affordable prices for 4K TVs from well-known manufacturers - including Samsung, Sony, LG and Panasonic. We provide customers with detailed advice on the characteristics of each model, which greatly facilitates the selection of a suitable device. You can buy a TV with delivery in Moscow, Vladivostok, Noyabrsk, Petrozavodsk and other cities of Russia.

I think there are now a lot of people who want to enjoy something more than Full HD, which has already become the standard. I'm talking about the UHD format (Ultra High Definition, 3840x2160 pixels). Unfortunately, your wish will not come true soon - the reason for this is the high prices for UltraHD playback devices, and the format itself is very rarely used. As for television in , future plans include only select sports broadcasts in 4K resolution. Well, about the main thing: broadcasting in UHD format is not planned in Russia, and accordingly, it is impossible for technical reasons. Based on the above, the demand for models with 4K support is dismal.

Development of UHD

From nearby sources of high-definition UHD video, you can count on video-on-demand services and the new generation of Blu-ray media. You should also count on adding support for the 4K format in the next firmware for . Apart from PS4, Xbox One is also capable of playing 4K content. Hence, the increase in demand for 4K TVs is just around the corner

Players supporting 4K (Ultra HD)

Set-top boxes from Sony and Microsoft are still only making promises. Currently, only a few media players can play 4K content. Such as FMP-X1 from Sony or Nuvola from NanoTech.

The reasons lie in the old HDMI 1.4a standard, which can barely reproduce UHD. A version of HDMI 2.0 has already appeared, which should solve this problem. But the most important thing is the lack of high-resolution content and its first appearance will be on services that are not supported in Russia.

The entry of UHD TVs from popular manufacturers into the market will affect the prices of regular Full HD TVs: such a big picture for such little money has never been seen before. The only frustrating thing is that you can’t expect 4K gameplay from new generation consoles (and), especially from Xbox One, which has problems even with Full HD resolution in some games: Assassin's Creed 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 So gamers will have to wait quite a long time for games in 4K resolution, the only exception being PC.

4K TVs

The display resolution of UHD TVs (Ultra High Definition) is four times higher than that of the usual Full HD standard. Of course, this was also reflected in the price of new products, which starts at 300 thousand rubles. Does 4K technology really break all records? Which UHD TV is the best? Let's look at their advantages and disadvantages compared to models that support FullHD resolution.

Advantages of UHD TVs

If a Full HD frame consists of 2 million pixels, then Ultra HD has more than 8 million. By comparison, previous non-HD TVs offer less than half a million pixels even with standard SD resolution. This means that the new TVs can clearly reproduce even the smallest details without any distortion. In addition, on a huge screen, the UHD image does not lose clarity. The screen diagonal of a regular Ultra HD TV is 127 cm (50 inches), and the largest is 214 cm (85 inches). Moreover, for a 1.5-meter Full HD TV, the optimal viewing distance is 4 meters. At the same time, a UHD TV of a similar diagonal can be watched from 2 meters away. If you sit further away from the TV, you can see that even on the widest models, clarity is not lost. UHD TVs with a diagonal of two meters are good to watch from a distance of 3 to 4 meters. The price of such TVs exceeds 650 thousand rubles.

Sony KDL-55X9005 (amazing picture quality and decent sound)
Samsung UE55F9090 (excellent equipment and image quality)
Panasonic TX-L65WT600 (best equipped)

4K TVs from Hisense and Samsung

In 2015, the Chinese manufacturer Hisense enters the market, which will present inexpensive 50-inch TVs with Full HD resolution, costing 380 euros, as well as a new 65-inch Hisense model LED65XT910X2DU supporting UHD resolution. The models will be available on Amazon soon.

Samsung will release the 82-inch UE82S9W TV, which sets new picture standards. The 21:9 aspect ratio display has a resolution of 5120×2160 pixels (SUHD – Super Ultra HD), which immediately distinguishes it from conventional 4K devices. Widescreen performance is especially beneficial when watching movies, and this is exactly what the new product from Samsung is aimed at. The cost of this model is not small - 22,000 euros.

Image quality

Modern Ultra HD TVs provide stunning picture quality. They are suitable for watching both TV broadcasts and films in Blu-ray format. Even when the photo is zoomed in a lot, the image remains clear and clean. In the comments to the article, I often recommended Sony TV models. TVs of this brand and with 4K resolution left me with a pleasant impression. Sony has amazing gamut and its own quantum dot technology (Triluminos), allowing you to watch 4K movies with richer colors. Colors on other screens look paler in comparison. Otherwise, it is difficult to identify leaders by any parameter. The main problem with UHD TVs still lies in the lack of Ultra HD movies. On such screens, you can currently only view full-resolution photos that you took on your digital cameras and short 4K videos.

What you need to know about 4K

A little about abbreviations. The minimum resolution of UHDTV is 3840*2160 pixels. Movie resolution with a frame width of 4000 pixels is called 4K.
HDMI 2.0. HDMI ports (up to version 1.4) can transmit up to 30 UHD frames per second (30 Hz). HDMI 2.0 frequency – up to 60 Hz.
Display Port - This miniature interface is used to connect a monitor to a PC. Similar in performance to HDMI 2.0, it is also quite suitable for transmitting UHD games from a computer to a TV screen.
HEVC and H265. The MPEG-4/H.264 standard is used to compress HDTV and Blu-ray data. The HEVC/H.265 codec for UHD is capable of compressing data almost twice as much as its predecessor.

ULTRA HD from satellite TV. Satellite television operator Tricolor TV announced its readiness to broadcast pictures in 4K format in the Russian Federation. For now, everything is limited only to tests. Full broadcasting in UHD is impossible without the corresponding video sequence.

Movies in 4K. So far, 4K content is provided only by Sony in the Video Unlimited online service, but, unfortunately, only in the USA, and even bundled with the FMP-X1 set-top box, which has a memory capacity of 2 TB and a price exceeding 30 thousand rubles. Watching a movie on this service will cost $8 (about 250 rubles), purchasing and downloading to your hard drive will cost $30 (about 1000 rubles). The launch date of this service in Russia is unknown.

Perfect detail. The richness of detail in UHD or 4K movies can only be appreciated from a short distance. For a 65-inch diagonal, the ideal distance is 3 meters, for a 55-inch diagonal - about two. Moreover, watching regular HD movies, scaled to the display resolution, will also bring incomparable pleasure.

Technological progress is proceeding by leaps and bounds and affects all spheres of human activity. You don't have to look far for examples. Just 15 years ago, few people could boast of having a computer. Today things are different. Literally every home has a full-fledged PC, or even two. Moreover, the functions of a computer are partly performed by a smartphone, which is probably in the pocket of every second inhabitant of the Earth.

Progress has not spared the entertainment sector either. New game consoles, high-quality players, etc. began to appear. However, one of the main technical achievements in the entertainment sector is the emergence of new widescreen 4K TVs. Want to know more about them? You are welcome to this article.

4K TVs

4K TVs are relatively new. Nevertheless, they are rapidly gaining popularity. Initially, Ultra HD 4K TVs did not sell very well. Many simply did not understand all the advantages of this device. And the obviously inflated price scared off potential buyers. However, things are much better now. Manufacturers have fully mastered the production process, making the production of televisions much easier, and, accordingly, the final cost of the product has decreased significantly. For example, compared to 2014, in 2015 the price of 4K models fell by as much as 35 percent, which is simply good news. In addition, many people have become more aware of 4K TVs, thanks in large part to advertisements. This, in turn, led to unprecedented excitement. Even with the dollar soaring, more and more people are purchasing 4K TVs. What's special about them?

What is 4K?

4K, or Ultra HD, is a new technology that is the next step in image transmission. Generally speaking, 4K TVs are devices that can display at least 8 million pixels on the screen. This is four times more than 1080 TVs. 4K TVs allow you to view content in wide format (from 3840 x 2160 to 4096 x 3112). In theory this all sounds pretty good. However, how do things work in practice? What's so special about Ultra HD TVs? You can find the answers to these questions below.

What is the advantage of Ultra HD format?

Perhaps the first advantage is the high level of detail. While watching a movie, you can see the smallest details that simply won’t be noticeable when watching in regular HD format. This only contributes to immersion in the world of the film and gives realism to everything that happens on the screen. All pixels clearly form a complete picture, which makes the image very rich and bright. However, the pixels are so tiny that the human eye simply cannot notice them. This, in turn, provides a better picture.

In addition to increasing the number of pixels, the refresh rate also increases. Thanks to this, the viewer's eyes get much less tired during long film sessions. For example, the progressive scan rate is about 120 frames per second. This significantly improves the final image quality. at the same time it remains at a quite decent level of 10-12 bits. In addition, the 4K LED TV is capable of displaying an incredible number of color shades.

Another advantage of modern TV monitors is the expansion of the color range. Even in the darkest and lightest areas of the image, every detail can be seen. Ultra HD TVs are much brighter and richer. It is also worth noting that new generation TVs have amazing sound. All 4K TVs support multi-channel playback, which includes as many as 24 audio channels.

Well, one cannot fail to note one of the main features - the ability to create full-fledged three-dimensional images without any 3D glasses. Do you think this is only possible in science fiction and Robert Zemeckis films? No matter how it is. Large companies are already presenting 3D videos on Ultra HD TVs, which can be enjoyed without the use of any additional devices. What is noteworthy is that the 3D image will be visible to the viewer even when changing its position.

Do you need a 4K TV?

Of course, 4K TVs have a lot of advantages. But is it worth throwing away your Full HD and running to the store for a new product? Unlikely. If you are an ordinary viewer and you are quite satisfied with the 1080 format image, you should not chase pixels. However, if you are a sophisticated esthete and a film gourmet who wants to savor every frame of your favorite movie, then purchasing a modern 4K TV makes sense.

Ultra HD TV monitors also open up great prospects for video game lovers. Such TVs reproduce images very realistically, thanks to which the gamer can be completely immersed in the game. At the moment, a couple of major titles have already been released that support the new Ultra HD format. Not only that, games with 4K support continue to be released. Surely, in the next few years, all major gaming companies will introduce support for the newfangled format into their projects.

Best Ultra HD 4K TVs

The modern market is full of various widescreen TVs. Where should you fix your gaze? Which company's products should you prefer? You can find answers to these and many other questions in this article.

Perhaps the most impressive line of modern TV monitors is from the well-known company LG. There is the top-end 70-inch 70UF771V, and the more budget 40UB800V. Everyone can find a 4K Ultra HD LED TV to suit their taste and budget.

I would especially like to focus my attention on the LG 84LA980V. This LG 4K TV is one of the best video monitors available today. The device boasts a lot of interesting and innovative technologies, which include voice control, support for Wi-Fi, MHL, Ethernet, RGB, Miracast, and more. Well, the diagonal of this “monster” is as much as 84 inches.

Conclusion

As a result, we can say that 4K is a fairly promising technology that is enjoying great success. It is still difficult to say about its further development and fate (there are already active rumors about the release of 8K TVs), but it is possible to predict with a high probability that the future of the television industry lies behind the new Ultra HD format.

A little less than a year ago, we paid attention to the TV market, where at that moment the trend of new models with an unprecedented screen resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels was clearly emerging. We published a small study on these models in the form of an article.

Review of the best TVs with Ultra HD (4K) resolution. Selecting ZOOM

Since then, TVs with the Ultra HD (4K) quality standard have become a much more common participant in the market. The number of manufacturers of such devices has exceeded a dozen, and even little-known Chinese companies and their Russian partners have appeared among them.

At the same time, there have also been advances in those factors that we wrote about in our 2013 material as limiting: the price of Ultra HD TVs, the actual need to replace Full HD with Ultra HD in a home theater environment, and the availability of 4K content: movies, streaming videos, television...

The price is no longer scary

Speaking about the price factor, we can safely say that using a matrix with Ultra HD resolution instead of Full HD on a TV is an expensive option, but not excessively. The high price of 4K TVs is due to the fact that almost all of them have a screen diagonal of at least 55 inches, and also have full 3D support and Smart TV functions in one form or another.

In comparison, the cost of Ultra HD TVs has fallen by about 35 percent. The drop ranges from 20% for flagship models with huge screens to 50% for TVs with a diagonal of 55-65 inches.

Yes, now even DNS is present on the Ultra HD TV market

Finally, it should be noted that budget models from inexpensive brands are exerting active pressure on the market from below. Considering that the technology for producing Ultra HD screens has been developed quite well over the past three years, original companies from China have joined in the creation of 4K TVs. It is their activity that can explain the presence on the market of devices with a price of less than 40 thousand. For example - DNS H50DXT880.

Inches - unnecessary and necessary

Talking about the need to replace Full HD TVs with Ultra HD for home use, one significant change has occurred over the past year: customer requests and manufacturers’ proposals have found some point of compromise. It lies in the fact that the market has, in fact, established the opinion that the Ultra HD format becomes useful with a screen diagonal of at least 55 inches.

Do you see the difference? And you won’t see it until the screen diagonal exceeds 50 inches

In general, speaking about the sizes of Ultra HD TVs, we do not yet see a clear standardization of diagonal sizes. However, some norms are already emerging. Thus, flagship models have matrices with a diagonal of 84-85 inches. A diagonal of 65 inches can be considered the golden mean. Well, 4K standard models are called “small” if their diagonal screen is 55 inches. Non-standard, individual solutions include devices with diagonals of 39, 50, 58, 60, 70 inches. It is interesting that in the last six months, the niche of “almost flagship” television receivers, the diagonal of which is 78 inches, has begun to develop quite actively in the Ultra HD TV market.

The Internet comes to the aid of television

The factor of availability of content worthy of viewing on an Ultra HD TV screen has not become less relevant over the past year, but its form, so to speak, has softened.

Actually, content for 4K TVs can be of four types: television broadcasts, films on discs, video from digital media (from a flash card to a streaming signal from the Internet) and videos created independently.

On the one hand, the deployment of broadcasting capacity in Ultra HD format is proceeding slowly even in the most advanced countries: the USA and Japan. On the other hand, television has been actively working with the 4K standard for almost a year now, filming many programs on appropriate cameras. That is. TV companies already have a product in Ultra HD – and in sufficient quantities. For example, let's say that the media concern Comcast filmed the Olympic Games in Sochi in Ultra HD format. Sony and the BBC have agreed that from now on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships will be filmed only in 4K. Finally, the Japanese company NTT West is ready to film the World Cup in Brazil in Ultra HD - immediately broadcasting the material to the Internet.

The appearance of Netflix films in Ultra HD turned the US market upside down

The Internet is an excellent way to quickly resolve issues with Ultra HD content. While companies are sorting out the nuances with the capacity of Blu-ray discs, with the work of new codecs for 4K and with the bandwidth of the HDMI port, the owners of storage and streaming video distribution services are simply doing their job. At the end of last year, YouTube and Vimeo services allowed their users to download and view videos and video materials in Ultra HD. And this year, one of the leaders in the US streaming market, Netflix, created a subsection with Ultra HD films. Access to it is as automated as possible - fortunately, almost all modern TVs with Ultra HD matrices have the Smart TV function. The user, having launched the Netflix client in the TV shell, immediately gets into the cinema library with the corresponding films and TV series.

Finally, the area of independent 4K content production has developed most rapidly over the past year. To achieve this, several video cameras, several mirrorless cameras and a sufficient number of smartphones capable of recording videos in a resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels or slightly higher were released to the mass market.

TVs with a screen diagonal of 55 inches

Although a diagonal of 55 inches is considered the minimum for a TV with Ultra HD resolution, there are several reasons to buy such devices.

Firstly, their cost is not at all critically different from receivers with similar functionality with Full HD resolution.

Secondly, it is small diagonal TVs (4K format) that can have an attractive combination of unique features and reasonable prices. It was two similar models that ended up in our material thanks to the light hand of experts.

Samsung UE55HU9000T

The Samsung UE55HU9000T TV () appeared on the market in 2014. This is the youngest model from a new series of Samsung television receivers that combine Ultra HD resolution and a concave screen shape. This unusual nuance, according to the company’s engineers, allows the picture to be better adapted to peripheral vision and contributes to better immersion of the viewer in the events of the video sequence. It should be noted that even at a diagonal of 55 inches, the effect of concavity is quite noticeable and has a positive effect on the overall viewing experience.

Its position as a junior model, but within the flagship line, obliges the Samsung UE55HU9000T to have a lot of high-tech options and capabilities. Thus, the TV is equipped with four HDMI version 2.0 ports, which means that data transfer to its video path is possible at a sufficient speed to provide a 4K picture with a frame rate of 60 images per second. Let's remember that earlier HDMI specifications have a peak bandwidth that does not allow exceeding the 30 frames per second bar (for Ultra HD resolution).

The Samsung UE55HU9000T has a well-thought-out built-in audio system. It consists of six speakers with a total power of 60 watts. This allows the TV owner not to worry too much about purchasing separate speakers.

Finally, the Samsung UE55HU9000T fully fits into the manufacturer’s stated concept for developing SmartTV capabilities. To work with the intelligent platform, the TV is equipped with a special remote control that supports gestures and voice command recognition.

Toshiba 55ZL2

The Toshiba 55ZL2 () TV has already been noted by our experts in the material a year ago. This model is interesting due to its advanced approach to 3D formation, which, thanks to an additional layer of microlenses, can be seen on the screen without glasses. The area of reliable stereo image is small, however, the system can track the position of the viewer relative to the screen and tries to optimize the video sequence to the best of its ability.

In addition to the Smart functions of the Toshiba 55ZL2, there is access to a proprietary cloud service for storing a media library.

Over the past year, the device has become more than twice as affordable in price and is now one of the best models that combine UltraHD resolution with high-quality 3D display.


Screen	55’’ UltraHD 1200 Hz concave	55’’ UltraHD 800 Hz
3D	bolt technology, conversion from 2D	Glassless technology, conversion from 2D
Peculiarities		No
Communication	USB 3.0+2xUSB 2.0, AV, component, SCART, RGB, MHL, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11n	AV, 2xAudio component, SCART, RGB, VGA, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11n
Sound	6 channels: 6x10 watts	3 channels: 3x10 watts
Price	i 160 thousand	i 170 thousand

Source: ZOOM.CNews

TVs with a screen diagonal of 65 inches

Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A TV is another guest from our 2013 material. Over the past time, the device has dropped a third of its cost, making its advantages even more significant (note that last year Sony sold a similar TV receiver for the same amount - but with Full HD resolution).

Even when turned off, the Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A attracts attention - the company's designers put a lot of imagination and effort into turning the front surface of the device into a work of art. The result of their work was an engineering solution combining a single glass surface and speaker wells. The latter are also sealed in glass - which was made possible by using a ferromagnetic fluid instead of a diffuser vibration damper.

From the list of advanced technologies included in the TV's functions, we can mention the HDMI ports' support for version 2.0 specifications (this happened thanks to the new firmware) and the remote control's support for synchronization with various mobile devices via NFC.

Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A

The image quality, Full HD to Ultra HD interpolation, stereo image and sound of the Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A still remains, if not advanced, then extremely worthy. Even the best modern models from 2014 cannot compete with this TV. Especially when we are talking about a set of parameters, their overall balance and relationship with the cost of the device.

New to the market, the Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600 TV really deserves the attention given to it by our experts. The device was first demonstrated in the second half of 2013 at the IFA 2013 exhibition and was positioned there as a modern and universal solution for the home.

The technological advantages of the Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600 include, first of all, the screen on an IPS matrix, the color rendering of which is adjusted at Panasonic factories with special attention. This level of care is certified by the ISF (Imaging Science Foundation), which speaks volumes.

To give the TV versatility, the design of the Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600 includes a large number of ports and additional components. So HDMI ports natively support version 2.0 standard. Paired with HDMI, the TV has a DisplayPort version 1.2a port for seamless connection to Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600 computers.

Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600

SmartTV functions, which traditionally include the presence of a Skype video chat client on the Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600, have special support in the form of a built-in Web camera. Finally, the wide possibilities for playing media files involve connecting media not only to USB ports, but also installing flash cards in the built-in SD slot.

Finally, it is impossible not to notice that the Panasonic Viera TX-L(R)65WT600 has two digital tuners, which allow parallelizing the processes of viewing and recording broadcasts, and are also responsible for the full implementation of the “picture-in-picture” mode. It is worth saying that just a year ago, installing two tuners was considered almost the norm in the Ultra HD TV market. However, today such models already have to be sought purposefully.


Screen	65’’ UltraHD 800 Hz	IPS 65’’ UltraHD 2000 Hz
3D	Polarization technology, conversion from 2D	bolt technology, conversion from 2D
Peculiarities	Sound 8 speakers, speaker speaker with ferromagnetic fluid on glass	Web camera,
Communication	AV, 2xAudio, component, SCART, RGB, MHL, Ethernet Wi-Fi 802.11n,	AV, component, SCART, RGB, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11n,
Sound	4 channels: 2x20+2x12.5 W	3 channels: 2x4+1x10 W
Price	i 200 thousand	i 220 thousand

If you compare the image of already outdated LCD TVs with tube ones, the viewer will probably be shocked: everything is fuzzy, blurry, flickers, and it’s better to remain silent about color rendition. Approximately the same effect can be observed by offering a third model for comparison: a modern TV with Ultra HD resolution.

Ultra HD (UHD) is called ultra-high definition digital format. Often "UHD" and "4K" are used interchangeably, but this is not entirely true. The popular 4K and the newly emerging 8K are varieties of ultra-high definition.

The format comes from digital cinema, where the standard for widescreen film production is 4096x2160 pixels. In cinema, “4K” is not only the resolution, but also the corresponding encoding method, bitrate and color depth

In the TV market, the meaning has changed somewhat: when talking about a 4K TV, most often it simply means a model with a screen resolution of 3840x2160 pixels.

Why do you need 4K format?

The answer is simple: the higher the pixel density on the screen, the sharper and more realistic the image looks. 4K TVs have 8.3 million pixels on the screen - four times more than standard HD TVs. At the same time, detail increases significantly, and the comfortable viewing distance decreases: a 65-inch UHD TV can be viewed from as little as 2 meters.

Finally, a 4K TV is needed to watch movies and digital channels in ultra-high definition: Netflix already works in UHD, 4K videos regularly appear on YouTube, and new movies are released, including on UHD blu-ray. According to the forecasts of American television experts, by 2020 the majority of major television companies in the world will switch to UHD TV.

How to choose an Ultra HD (4K) TV

It’s a paradox, but two TV models with the coveted 4K can produce images of completely different quality, and sometimes the difference between FullHD and Ultra HD is not noticeable at all. The fact is that high static resolution in itself does not guarantee a mesmerizing picture: the result depends on a number of criteria.

Diagonal size

Whatever one may say, even now UHD TVs are not very accessible. Flagship prices are frankly prohibitive, so second-tier brands offer a compromise: models with advertised 4K and a relatively small diagonal of 32-40 inches.

There is little point in such a purchase - you can see all the delights of 4K only on a TV whose diagonal exceeds 50 inches, and 65-inch models are considered optimal. On TVs with a smaller diagonal, the difference from Full HD will be much less noticeable, and the overpayment can be quite noticeable.

Screen type

There are two main classes of devices on the market: with LED and OLED screens. In the first case, the TV has a liquid crystal screen backlit by compact LEDs. When choosing an LED TV with UHD resolution, special attention should be paid to the type of matrix: IPS provides the best color reproduction, brightness and contrast. However, even a modern matrix does not solve the main problem of screens - mediocre black color reproduction.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 43″ (109 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD;
Inputs: AV, HDMI x3, USB x2, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11n.

Additionally: LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound; teletext; two speakers, formats: MP3, WMA, HEVC (H.265), MKV, JPEG; optical output; headphone jack; 2 TV tuners; sleep timer; wall mounting.

Advantages:

low price;
4K UHD;
color rendering;
brightness;
pleasant sound;
headphone jack;
Bluetooth v4.0;
light (7.4 kg);
the ability to manually adjust colors (engineering menu: SOURCE button on the remote control, then buttons 2,5,8,0. Picture Setting - Color Temp).

Flaws:

reduced functionality of Android 7.1 OS (relatively few applications);
backlighting is visible in dark scenes;
color distortion;
no channel sorting in DVB-C;
incorrect image scaling;
no microphone on the remote control.

Price: from 15 thousand rubles.

LG 43UK6200

The resolution of the LG 43UK6200 UHD TV is 4 times higher than Full HD. Image clarity, high-quality images from any angle and optimal cost make this model attractive. The device uses a TFT IPS screen matrix, which improves the richness of the picture.

The index of dynamic scenes is 100 fps thanks to proprietary True Motion technology.

The quad-core processor delivers the quality needed to produce 4K images. HDR10 Pro and HLG Pro formats are an important advantage of the LG 43UK6200. This new 2019 smart TV runs on webOS. The TV's built-in memory is 4 GB, which is not much on the one hand - but enough for everyday use.

A nice addition to the good functionality of the model is the ivi button: this is access to an application that contains hundreds of thousands of films and cartoons for home viewing. And the LG Plus Channels app — this is a complete set of your favorite channels.

Artificial intelligence, developed by the creators of the LG 43UK6200, selects video recommendations for users.

The universal Magic Remote recognizes voice, and the sound system reproduces Dolby Digital, DTS sound.

The device has tuners: T2 (terrestrial), C (cable), S (satellite), S2 (satellite).

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 42.5″ (108 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Inputs: AV, component, HDMI x3, USB x2, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Miracast.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound, Dolby Digital, DTS; DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; teletext; two speakers, automatic volume leveling (AVL); formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), DivX, MKV, JPEG; optical output; 2 TV tuners; sleep timer; Child lock, voice control, wall mount.

Advantages:

price-quality ratio;
screen matrix - TFT IPS;
color rendering;
viewing angles;
HDMI 2.0;
fast Wi-Fi;
unlimited built-in browser;
web OS 4.0;
good sound;
TV recording;
Bluetooth;
multimedia remote control;
quick pairing with a smartphone;
automatic subscription to megogo for 4 months;
lightweight (8.4 kg with stand).

Flaws:

in strong lighting the brightness is poor;
build quality;
inconvenient location of the necessary connectors;
design.

Price: from 19 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 43

The main advantages of this nice, modern smart TV model from Xiaomi are the TFT IPS screen matrix and Smart TV.

A decent diagonal, high-definition 4K UHD video with support for advanced HDR 10 technology, excellent brightness, Mali-450 GPU - the characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 43.

This beautiful TV with a thin frame has a built-in memory of 8 GB, “reads” popular audio and video formats, and is controlled by a remote control with voice recognition.

The Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 43 TV will fit into any interior and will give you pleasant hours watching high-quality videos in 24p True Cinema format.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 42.5″ (108 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD, HDR 10;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 12 W (2×6 W);
Inputs: AV, component, HDMI x2, USB x2, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11n;
Power consumption: 75 W.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound, two speakers Dolby Digital, DTS; formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), MKV, JPEG; coaxial output; TV tuner; wall mounting.

Advantages:

price;
TFT IPS screen matrix;
4K UHD, HDR-10;
HDMI 2.0;
Wi-Fi support;
Smart TV;
DLNA support;
large amount of built-in memory;
low energy costs;
design;
lightweight (7.6 kg with stand).

Price: 20 thousand rubles.

With a diagonal of 46-50″

Polar PolarLine 50PU52TC-SM

An inexpensive but multifunctional model with a 50″ (127 cm) diagonal in 16:9 format with a pronounced (as far as possible) frameless design. It has high screen brightness and excellent image contrast. On this TV, watching movies and images in UHD quality at a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels will be, although not standard, of sufficient quality

The smart TV of this model is built on Android 7.0 OS, which allows you to use a large number of applications. The 4-core ARM Cortex-A53 is responsible for the performance, the video core is Mali450. Which are complemented by 1 gigabyte of RAM and 8 gigabytes of ROM, allowing you, if not “running,” but quite confidently “walking” through the functionality of a smart TV. The TV connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi and holds the connection well. The model is equipped with only two speakers, but the output sound can be called “sufficient”. The total power of the speakers is 16 W.

PolarLine 50PU52TC-SM has great wired connection capabilities using common connectors, including connecting headphones and a PC/laptop. The digital tuner receives analogue, cable and satellite channels.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 50″ (127 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 16 W (2×8 W);
Inputs: AV, component, VGA, HDMI x3, USB x2, Ethernet (RJ-45), Wi-Fi 802.11n.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound NICAM, DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; teletext; two speakers; formats: MP3, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), Xvid, MKV, JPEG; coaxial input; headphone jack; 2 TV tuners; recording video to a USB drive; 24p True Cinema support; TimeShift; sleep timer; child protection, wall mounting.

Advantages:

good size/price ratio;
diagonal;
Smart TV on the Android 7 platform;
premium looking metal frameless body;
Wi-Fi;
4K UHD;
good viewing angles;
wide functionality;
HDMI, AV, USB are located on the front panel.

Flaws:

HDR is listed as "supported";
in some places there is a lack of localization (crooked translation);
OS brakes;
Screen refresh rate is low for 4K UHD;
the sound is “normal”, without pronounced “lows”.

Price: from 18 thousand rubles.

Samsung UE49LS03NAU

Quite an expensive “smart” TV with a decent diagonal and amazing “Samsung” functionality. The TFT VA matrix provides excellent black depth, high contrast and reveals excellent image quality in a somewhat darkened room.

4K technology makes the picture clearer and more detailed. The model has an extended dynamic range and operates on a built-in UHD Mastering Engine video card. Smart TV is supported thanks to the Tizen OS, and the new version of the HDMI interface expands the device's connectivity options.

The manufacturer focuses on such characteristics of this TV as: Picture Quality Index 1800 Hz, Supreme UHD Dimming, One Invisible connection (one wire), IPv6 protocol support.

Customers will love the new Painting mode for transforming the TV into your favorite painting on the wall, while the TV runs in economy mode. With The Frame app, you can connect to the online galleries ALBERTINA and SAATCHI ART at the Art Store.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 48.5″ (123 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD, HDR 10;
Refresh rate index: 100 Hz;
Brightness: 200 cd/m2;
Dynamic contrast: 6000:1;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 20 W (2×5 + 2×5 W);
Inputs: HDMI x4, USB x3, RS-232, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, WiDi, Miracast;
Power consumption: 125 W.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound NICAM, DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; teletext; 4 speakers, Dolby Digital; formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), DivX, MKV, JPEG; optical output; 2 TV tuners; recording video to a USB drive; TimeShift; sleep timer; child protection, light sensor; Motion Sensor; wall mounting.

Advantages:

image;
diagonal;
viewing angles;
color rendering;
functional;
HDMI x4;
Wi-Fi;
built-in browser;
TV recording;
Miracast;
Bluetooth;
DLNA support;
"Picture" mode;
anti-glare coating;
style decision.

Flaws:

high price;
energy-consuming;
quite heavy (13.8 kg without stand).

Price: from 65 thousand rubles.

Sony KD-49XF7596

This “smart” new product from Sony may well compete with TVs from other well-known brands. Equipped with a high-quality TFT IPS matrix, supporting Local Dimming, this TV produces images that are worthy of admiration.

Sony KD-49XF7596 easily connects to other devices via a wireless connection. The model is equipped with Smart TV on Android. Sound is not this TV's strength, although it does support Dolby Digital, DTS and Automatic Volume Leveling (AVL) audio decoders. However, the advanced HDMI 2.0 interface provides more options for connecting to external audio systems and a computer with an equalizer. The built-in memory of 16 GB is enough to realize the capabilities of this nice model.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 48.5″ (123 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD, HDR 10;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 20 W (2×10 W);
Inputs: AV, HDMI x4, USB x3, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Miracast;
Power consumption: 120 W.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound NICAM, DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; teletext; two speakers, surround sound; formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), Xvid, DivX, MKV, JPEG; optical output; headphone jack; 2 TV tuners; recording video to a USB drive; TimeShift; sleep timer; child protection, voice control, light sensor; wall mounting.

Advantages:

the picture as a whole;
diagonal;
4K UHD, HDR 10;
TFT IPS screen;
Android;
HDMI 2.0;
16 GB of internal memory;
build quality;
design.

Flaws:

Expensive;
sound quality is not ideal;
"smart" works slowly;
external power supply;
inconvenient remote control.

Price: 50-65 thousand rubles.

With a diagonal of 50-55″

Philips 50PUT6023

This model doesn't come with a Smart TV, but it does have a gorgeous 4K Ultra HD LED display and decent surround sound. Support for 24p True Cinema with a dynamic scene index of 800 fps/PPI/ - this really gives a vivid picture.

It’s convenient to connect the TV to your computer, play games and watch movies in high quality (60 Hz at 4k). Buyers note that the device does not have any special “filling”, but it does everything that is required of it, the main thing is that watching movies and TV shows on such a diagonal is very pleasant.

Among the additions, the model has: an electronic TV program guide for 8 days, a 1000-page hypertext, an automatic shutdown timer, and an ECO mode. With such functionality, many users do not need Smart TV.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 50″ (127 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 16 W (2×8 W);
Inputs: AV, VGA, HDMI x3, MHL, USB x2.

Additionally: Direct LED backlight; progressive scan; stereo sound; DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-T2; teletext; two speakers, formats: MP3, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), MKV, JPEG; coaxial output; headphone jack; 1 TV tuner; remote control; wall mounting.

In addition to the big screen on the TV you can find:

good sound (20 watts)
Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth v 5.0 (the latter is convenient for connecting wireless peripherals)
assortment of connection connectors, among which only HDMI is available in the amount of 4 pieces - and version 2.0.

However, everything good has its drawbacks - more about them below.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 54.6″ (139 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD, HDR 10;
Refresh rate index: 50 Hz;
Brightness: 500 cd/m2;
Viewing angle: 178°;
Sound power: 20 W (2×10 W);
Inputs: HDMI x4, USB x3, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Miracast.

Additionally: Edge lighting; progressive scan; stereo sound NICAM, DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; two speakers; formats: MP3, WMA, MPEG4, HEVC (H.265), MKV, JPEG; headphone jack; 2 TV tuners; sleep timer; child protection, wall mounting.

The TV is equipped with a VA-type Quantum Dots matrix with a color depth of 10 bits and Direct LED backlighting. Natural color rendition and deep black are among the advantages of the model. The screen is made using advanced QLED technology, which ensures long-lasting brightness of the pixels. The model supports “smart home” and is a Smart TV that works quite quickly with Internet applications.

Powerful 4-core SoC ensures dynamic performance. Smart TV is built on OS Tizen 5.0. Another advantage of the model is the sound with a total power of 40 W, including its own subwoofer.

The model scales HD and SD content well. Suitable for fast-paced games. Supports HbbTv (plus interactive games). Equipped with Auto Motion Plus smoothing mode for quick application switching.

Characteristics:

Diagonal: 55″ (140 cm);
Screen format: 16:9;
Resolution: 3840×2160;
HD Resolution: 4K UHD, HDR 10;
Refresh rate index: 120 Hz;
Brightness: 400 cd/m2;
Contrast: 7500:1;
Viewing angle: not specified by the manufacturer;
Sound power: 40 W (2×10 + 4×5 W);
Inputs: HDMI x4, MHL, USB x2, Ethernet (RJ-45), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Widi, Miracast;
Power consumption: 205 W.

Additionally:

Direct LED backlight; proprietary type of dimming Supreme UHD Dimming; Local Dimming standard; progressive scan; stereo sound, Dolby Digital; DVB-T MPEG4, DVB-C MPEG4, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2; teletext; 5 speakers; formats: MP3, MKV, JPEG; optical output; headphone jack; USB video recording; picture-in-picture, TimeShift; CI+ support; DLNA support; AirPlay 2 support; sleep timer; protection from children; light sensor; wall mounting; Ambient interior mode.

Advantages:

price-quality ratio;
brightness;
high screen refresh rate;
no glare;
pixel response time – 14 ms;
diagonal;
fast Smart TV;
voice control, multi-brand remote control;
HDMI 2.0;
high-quality sound;
presence of a subwoofer;
Bluetooth;
Wi-Fi 5 GHz;
functional;
low power consumption;
2019 model;
appearance;
the ability to place close to the wall;
anti-glare screen coating.

Flaws:

not all popular video formats are readable;
poor auto-brightness settings;
brightness is slightly lower than that of the brand's flagships;
no Dolby Vision and DTS;
no headphone output;
no metal frame;
standard legs;
inconvenient voice control;
Quite heavy weight (18.5 kg with stand).

Price: from 60 thousand rubles.

Let's sum it up

But even on a fairly limited budget you can find a large and bright 4K screen - and BBK 43LEX-8161/UTS2C and PolarLine 50PU52TC-SM can serve as proof of this

It is worth choosing a TV with the functions that you will use. The same can be said about the brightness and detail of the image: our rating includes both models with conventional LED screens and those that support advanced technologies with backlighting of each pixel. Regardless of all of the above, having a UHD TV already means high image clarity and brightness. Perhaps this will be quite enough for some.

Updated: February 2020