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2018 Gift Guide: The 4K TVs You Really Want

Joe Warner — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 17:30:53 +0000

The TV market is all about 4K now, as 1080p quietly fades into the past. The fast adoption of 4K has been spurred on by how quickly prices have fallen. Expect to see a lot of 55-inch 4K TVs from top brand names in the $400 range this Black Friday and as low as $200 for house / generic brands.

As prices continue to fall, the big brands are battling it out over high end (and higher margin) picture technologies like OLED (the best, championed by LG) and QLED (the silver medalist, championed by Samsung).

OLED still remains in a class of its own, and QLED is more or less a variation of regular LED LCD panels albeit with “quantum dots.” We might see improved variations of QLED in the years to come, but if you still want the very best picture quality on the market with the best black levels, then choose OLED, hands-down. You will still need to pay more for OLED, although sale prices for lower end OLED models are inching closer to the magical $1000 threshold.

Here are this year’s top TVs, once again featuring familiar names like LG, Sony, Samsung, Vizio and TCL, which has seen a surge of popularity in the last couple of years. Keep visiting Ben’s Bargains for the best deals this holiday season (set up deal alerts)!

LG E8 Series 4K HDR Smart OLED TVs (2018)

Display sizes: 55” (OLED55E8PUA) | 65” (OLED65E8PUA)

Street price: From $1800 to $2500 for 55”

Pros: Awesome picture, Dolby Vision HDR, ThinQ AI voice commands

Cons: Price, of course

Buy on Amazon LG E8 Deals on Ben’s

LG’s 4K OLED TVs top our list for the third straight year, and still there’s no real competition for picture quality as long as you’re willing to dish out the big bucks to own them.

The E8 Series TVs might be their best yet, and the lowest price we’ve seen on Ben’s Bargains is in the $1500 to $1650 range, and that was an amazing deal. The E8 Series’ claim to fame is its elegant “picture on glass” design which means the OLED panel is mounted on a sheet of glass, plus it has the best sound of LG’s OLED TVs.

The E8 Series TVs employ LG’s fast α9 processor for its “ThinQ” artificial intelligence system (read: voice commands a la Alexa), which works very well and is best on the market for built-in AI TV commands.

Alternatively… If you’re not as concerned with fancy glass and sound, then the step-down C8 Series models can be had for close to $1200 from a major retailer, especially around Black Friday. Also available in a giant 77-inch size.

Samsung Q9FN Series 4K UHD HDR Smart QLED TVs (2018)

Samsung is back on our list this year, but it’s not like they had fallen off the map. They are the top-selling TV brand in the U.S. and make a slew of excellent TVs, but this year they really made a big mark with the Q9FN Series and their burgeoning QLED technology (aka Quantum LED).

The Q9FN TVs have a fast smart TV platform so you won’t miss Roku or Fire TV, but voice assistant Bixby isn’t as refined as Alexa or Google Home. They also have other fancy gimmickry like Ambient Mode, which will allow the TV picture to blend into its surroundings.

The panel now uses Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) backlight, which enhances the contrast on the TV, and there’s a new anti-reflective coating that’s very useful in rooms where there are several light sources. It also has best-in-class black level reproduction, though not at the same level as OLED.

Alternatively… Check out the step-down Q8 Series models, which yield a great picture quality but at a significantly lower price. Plus, 55-inch and 82-inch sizes are available.

Display sizes: 65” (QN65Q9FNAFXZA) | 75” (QN75Q9FNAFXZA)

Street price: From $2400 to $3000 for 65”

Pros: Fantastic PQ (just a notch below OLED), fast Smart TV platform, automatic game mode, 120Hz native refresh

Cons:Price, no Dolby Vision (wut), no 55-inch

Buy on Amazon Samsung Q9FN Deals on Ben’s

TCL 6-Series 4K HDR Roku Smart LED TVs (2018)

Display sizes: 55” (55R617) | 65” (65R617)

Street price: From $550 to $650 for 55”

Pros: Great price, Roku Smart TV platform, HDR10 and Dolby vision, FALD

Cons: 60Hz native refresh, not top of the line PQ (but still great)

Buy on Amazon TCL 6-Series Deals on Ben’s

We’ve been watching Chinese TV maker TCL really gain traction in the US market the last couple of years. Some of that has been their association with the beloved Roku streaming platform, but also their fantastic price-performance ratio that rivals fellow budget brand Vizio.

The 55-inch 6 Series model lists for $650, but you should see it dip below $500 during the holidays, which is fantastic for a full-featured 4K HDR TV. We’ve already seen the 65-inch under $900. Expect it to drop down to $800 during BF.

Don’t be duped by the pricing: TCL’s 6-Series is a high-end TV at a budget price. It has a metallic finish instead of a plastic look, plus narrow bezels, full array local dimming (96 zones for 55-inch and 120 zones for 65-inch) and supports Dolby Vision, which is missing on some high-end TVs (ahem, Samsung).

The one nitpick would be the panels are native 60Hz, and if you’re a stickler for motion performance and refresh rates, then this TV may not be for you.

Keep in mind… Best Buy sells the this TV at a cheaper price because it comes with a standard remote that doesn’t have voice controls (aka models 55R615 and 65R615).

Sony X900F Series 4K HDR Android TV Smart LED TVs (2018)

Sony may be stretched thin in many product categories, but they still have a deep, loyal fan base for their TVs, and still command the Sony premium on price, much like Apple does with its products.

Sony has been using Android TV for its smart TV platform for about 3 years, and it’s far better than their old in-house platform, although Roku still has it beat for ease of use. Strangely, the YouTube app does not support HDR, even though it does on the Roku YouTube app (score another one for Roku). The addition of Google Assistant voice commands really sets the Sony apart, as it’s the same one you’ll find on official Google Home devices.

Of course, the X900F has excellent picture quality and 120Hz native refresh, but at this price point, it’s in OLED range, and it’s not as good as that. On the plus side, Sony added Dolby Vision via firmware update.

Display sizes: 49” (XBR49X900F) | 55” (XBR55X900F) | 65” (XBR65X900F) | 75” (XBR75X900F) | 85” (XBR85X900F)

Street price: From $1100 to $1300 for 55”

Pros: Great picture and style aesthetics, Google Assistant, 5 screen sizes (up to 85-inch)

Cons: Apple-style tax

Buy on Amazon Sony X900F Deals on Ben’s

Vizio P-Series 4K HDR Smart LED TVs (2018)

Display sizes: 55” (P55-F1) | 65” (P65-F1) | 75” (P75-F1)

Street price: From $700 to $800 for 55”

Pros: Full Array Local Dimming, Dolby Vision, 75-inch option

Cons: Smart TV platform not as good as other brands

Buy at Best Buy Vizio P-Series Deals on Ben’s

Vizio still makes fine TVs for the price, but competition in the budget space, particularly from TCL, has pushed it to expand into more expensive price points like the P Series and even higher end experiments (see the P Series Quantum below).

The P Series TVs give you a sleeker look than Vizio is usually known for, and they aesthetically compete with the Samsung and Sony sets.

The picture quality of these Vizio sets is great, with good black levels and full array local dimming. They also have native 120Hz refresh (compared to the 60Hz of the TCL 6 Series above or Vizio’s own M Series). If you can find deals at Costco (a major reseller), all the better, but keep in mind the PQ will not be in the same league as Sony or Samsung or of course LG.

Alternatively… If you want to stick with Vizio but want really high end, then you can spring for the new 65-inch P Series Quantum. It has a street price of around $1500, which sounds crazy for Vizio, but the Quantum really delivers the goods, rivaling OLED PQ and sporting micro bezels and glass like LG’s E8 Series.

Or you can punch down to the mainstream M Series, which is comparable to the P Series in picture quality—though not as stylish—and will save you a couple hundred bucks.

Check Ben’s for the latest 4K HDTV deals

2018 Gift Guide: The 4K TVs You Really Want

2017 Gift Guide: Your New Favorite HDTVs

Joe Warner — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 23:55:44 +0000

Joe Warner

In 2017, 4K rules (with HDR, please). In contrast to recent years, this year hasn’t seen a major feature introduction like HDR, 4K, OLED, curved panels, Smart TVs, and so on. Because current technologies have matured, this holiday season might be the best time in a long time to pick up a shiny new TV. Plus, 4K prices continue to drop, including OLED TVs—the best of the bunch.

As prices fall, consumers are starting to recognize just how much better OLED is compared to other panels. LG is really the only game in town when it comes to OLED, but that will change next year. This Black Friday, expect to pay over $1500 for OLED, but it’s worth the price if you love TVs.

This is the first year we’re not featuring a Samsung model, but not because they suddenly suck. At least one or more Samsung HDTVs could appear on this list every year, but Vizio and especially TCL (surprise) have really hit that great balance of excellent picture quality and good price that we love.

Lastly, why even bother buying a 1080p TV? Though you’ll see some random $100 1080p TV on Black Friday, it’s not worth throwing away the money. 4K prices are so low now that sub-$350 4K TVs are routine and high-quality 55” 4K TVs from the likes of LG or Samsung can be had for under $700. Besides, expect to see a 4K TV doorbuster around $200 on Black Friday.

Now let’s look at our favorite 2017 TVs and keep visiting Ben’s Bargains for the best deals this holiday season (set up deal alerts)!

LG C7P Series 4K HDR Smart OLED TVs (2017)

Display sizes: 55” (OLED55C7P) | 65” (OLED65C7P)

Pros: Stunning picture; Cons: Price, No more 3D

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for LG C7P Deals

The LG OLED TVs only continue to get better. If you’re willing to drop nearly two grand, then look no further because this is the TV to buy. As TV enthusiasts will tell you, OLEDs are awesome because they get black levels right vs. LED black, which you can still “see” when the TV is on. OLED pixels literally turn off to produce absolute black.

There are a lot of grey market sellers out there underselling authorized retailers on LG OLED TVs, but manufacturer warranties do not support those channels. The current best price we’ve seen from an authorized retailer on the 55” model is $1797. It’ll probably go down another $100 around Black Friday.

Street prices for the 55” and 65” model are $1800 and $2800, respectively.

Vizio SmartCast M-Series 4K HDR LED Displays (2017)

Display sizes: 50″ (M50-E1) | 55″ (M55-E0) | 65″ (M65-E0) | 70” (M70-E3) | 75″ (M75-E1)

Pros: Google Voice control (with Google Home), Low input lag; Cons: No tuner

Click Here to Buy at Best Buy Or Search Ben’s for Vizio M-Series Deals

The popular Vizio M-Series 4K displays also made our top TV list last year, and the 2017 line continues to balance a superb picture quality with a wallet-friendly price point. Keep in mind, they are called “SmartCast Displays,” which means they are sold without a built-in tuner, so you can’t get OTA TV out of the box. For some buyers, that’s still a deal-breaker. If you only watch TV via a streaming player or cable, however, then you’re good to go.

The M-Series displays have HDR support and feature the SmartCast streaming platform, which is basically like using a Chromecast but with apps like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Vudu (among others) already built in. If you own a Google Home, you can control TV operations with your voice.

Street prices for the Vizio M-Series start around $600 for the 50″ model and go up to $2000 for the 75” model, with a total of five display sizes for every room and taste. Dell, Costco and Best Buy will be your best bets for the lowest prices on Vizio.

TCL P-Series 55P607 4K Dolby Vision HDR Roku Smart LED TV (2017)

Display size: 55″ (55P607) | (55P605—Best Buy exclusive with basic remote)

Pros: Built-in Roku, Local dimming, Low input lag; Cons: Not exactly Sony XBR level

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for TCL 55P607 Deals

Chinese TV maker TCL continues to make inroads in the U.S. market and is a popular brand on Ben’s. The picture quality of the TCL 55P607 55″ 4K LED TV stacks up with—or even exceeds—more expensive models from well-established brands, plus it supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision. One of the best things TCL did for itself is partner with Roku because Roku is still the best streaming platform on the market.

The customer reviews on Amazon and Best Buy lavish praise on the 55P607. It’s well worth going to your local Best Buy to check it out, especially if you’re not as familiar with TCL as Samsung, LG, Sony or Vizio. Best Buy sells a cheaper 55P605 model which is the same TV but with a basic remote that doesn’t have the voice search, Wi-Fi and headphone jack found on the 55P607 remote.

The street price for the TCL 55P607 is around $650, but we’ve seen it $50 lower on Ben’s. It will probably hit $600 again around Black Friday and less for the Best Buy model.

TCL S405 Series 4K UHD HDR Smart LED TVs (2017)

Display sizes: 43″ (43S405) | 49″ (49S405) | 55″ (55S405) | 65″ (65S405)

Pros: Price, built-in Roku, 4K HDR; Cons: Poor viewing angles

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for TCL S405 Deals

What, two TCL sets on this year-end “Best of” list? It can’t be! Actually, the TCL S405 series TVs are popular on Ben’s because they offer appealing features like built-in Roku TV, 4K HDR and decent aesthetics while keeping the price low.

For OTA viewers, you can even pause live TV, but unlike the step-up 55P607 model (above), there is no voice control or local-dimming.

Street prices start around $350 for the 43″ model and go up to $800 for the 65″ model. We’ve already seen the 55” model drop to $400 (!) at Walmart and Best Buy, while Walmart has been selling the 65” model (65S401 variant) for just $698. Expect even better deals come Black Friday!

Sony BRAVIA XBR-X900E Series 4K HDR Smart LED HDTVs (2017)

Display sizes: 49″ ( XBR49X900E) | 55″ (XBR55X900E) | 65″ (XBR65X900E) | 75″ (XBR75X900E)

Pros: Picture quality, Aesthetics; Cons: No Dolby Vision

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Sony X900E Deals

Although eclipsed by Samsung in the TV market, Sony has been on a roll lately with their TVs. The 2017 Sony BRAVIA XBR-X900E series is another winner featuring fantastic picture quality with excellent brightness and black levels. While you do get HDR10 support (which is the most critical), Dolby Vision is not supported for some reason. (The step-up series X930E has it.)

With its ultra-thin (0.43”) bezels the Sony X900E is beautiful in an Apple-like way: understated and elegant. Sony uses the very capable Android TV (ironically) as its smart TV platform and has made improvements over last year’s iteration.

Also like Apple, you will pay a steep premium for the Sony name and aesthetics. Street prices start at $999 for the 49″ model and go all the way up to $2999 for the gigantic 75″ model. Best Buy and Dell are likely to have sale prices on this line around Black Friday, with Dell discounts coming from bundled gift cards.

2017 Gift Guide: Your New Favorite HDTVs