Best Black Friday TV deals:

58" Hisense R6 Series 4K Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $298.00 (List Price $338)
55" LG UQA Series NanoCell 4K HDR Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $496.99 (List Price $799.99)
55" LG B2 Series OLED 4K HDR Smart TV (Opens in a new window) — $996.99 (List Price $1,599.99)
75" Amazon Omni Series 4K HDR Smart Fire TV (Opens in a new window) — $859.99 (List Price $1,049.99)

4K TVs are more mainstay than luxury these days. In fact, they're now generally easier to find than non-4K TVs, which is all the more reason to make sure you're getting the best option for you.

What does 4K actually mean?

The term "4K" refers to the screen's resolution: Televisions that support 4K will have a horizontal resolution of 4,096 pixels. Most retailers use the terms "4K" and "UHD" (ultra high definition) interchangeably, but UHD TVs are technically a little different — they generally have a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160.

The difference comes down to the terms' separate origins. "4K" originated with the Digital Cinema Initiatives, which establishes content and spec requirements for major film studios, and was intended to describe films that would be screened in a theater. "UHD" originated as a term for consumer TVs. (If you'd like to learn more about the terms' history, ExtremeTech has a very detailed explainer on the subject.)

If you just want to buy a good TV, however, you'll be fine with anything labeled "4K," "UHD," or "4K UHD." Yes, "4K UHD" is technically an impossibility, but we imagine you'll be too busy watching movies to get caught up in semantics.

Wait, I thought 4K TVs were super expensive.

They used to be, but not anymore! In fact, most larger TVs are 4K these days — and since the category is much more saturated than it used to be, they're on sale pretty frequently.

There is some variation in price within the category, depending on whether you're outfitting a full-on home theater or just looking for a nice option for your living room. However, if you want a 4K TV under $1,000, you won't have any issues finding one.

What's the difference between QLED, OLED, and LED?

The jargon around 4K TVs can be confusing. Here's a super basic breakdown. (If you want more info, here's a good explainer from PCMag.)

An "LED TV" is an LCD TV with LED (light-emitting diode) backlights, which illuminate the screen and help you see the picture. These TVs are extremely commonplace.

OLED TVs, which are generally much more expensive, use organic light-emitting diodes (OLED!) to both create the picture and make it brighter and more visible. They're known for their excellent contrast and picture quality.

"QLED" is a term developed by Samsung to describe its own TVs. The "Q" stands for "quantum." These are basically LED TVs with a cool twist: They use Samsung's "quantum dots" technology to accommodate a wider range of colors and make each hue more precise.

I've heard of 8K, too. Is an 8K TV worth it?

Not yet. They're cool, but there's not enough 8K content out there to make them worth it at this time. That being said, they could be soon, so keep an eye out.

Here are our picks for the best 4K TVs.

LG C1 OLED

Best 4k Tv For Gaming

Credit: Lg

Specs

Screen size: 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83"
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Smart platform: LG ThinQ AI, webOS
HDR: Dolby Vision , HDR10, HLG
Ports: Four HDMI 2.1 (4k @120fps), three USB

Buying Options

$1,296.99 from Amazon

The C1 is the latest OLED TV in LG’s C series, replacing the CX, a gamer favorite. But the C1 comes with key upgrades, making it even better than its predecessor.

This TV tops our list because of amazing picture quality in combination with some of the most advanced gaming features. The C1 has G-sync and FreeSync compatibility and native VRR for smooth, tear-free motion. It is also equipped with ALLM and its HDMI 2.1 ports, which support 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. This means fast response time without compromising picture quality.

One of the new features that the C1 comes with is Game Optimizer mode, which consolidates all of the gamer settings in one place. It has also been updated with the new LG’s smart Magic Remote, and the latest version of webOS.

TCL 6-series QLED

Best Led 4k Tv

Credit: TCL

Specs

Screen sizes: 55”, 65”, 75”
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Smart platform: Google TV/Roku
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Ports: Four HDMI (2 HDMI 2.1) and one USB

Buying Options

$948 from Amazon

TCL is known for making affordable TVs that offer premium performance. And the 6-series 4K is no exception. For the customer who is looking to balance quality and cost, look no further.

The 6-Series 4K is less expensive than other TVs on this list because it doesn’t have an OLED display, which is the current gold standard for TV displays. But it compensates for that by using Mini-LED technology. Essentially, because the diodes are much smaller, the color and contrast is much richer and more precise than typical LED technology. The result is vibrant, nuanced picture quality that rivals OLED display.

In addition to picture quality, the 6-Series also offers good features for the average gamer. It supports VRR and comes with THX Certified Game Mode which automatically optimizes settings for gameplay.

Sony A90J

Best For Watching Movies

Credit: sony

Specs

Screen sizes: 55" / 65" / 83"
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Smart platform: Google TV
HDR: HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), Dolby Vision
Ports: Four HDMI (two HDMI 2.1), three USB

Buying Options

$2,798 from Amazon

From picture processing, to color spectrum, to contrast ratio, to motion smoothing, every aspect uses the latest cutting edge technology. The result is a TV with superior picture quality. Even for content that isn’t made in 4K, the A90J’s upscaling technology can create it in almost 4K resolution with sharpness and texture. For film buffs, this is the TV to splurge for.

For gamers, maybe not so much. Despite superlative reviews for its picture quality, optimized for gamers it is not. And that’s because it doesn’t come with VRR support. While it does have HDMI 2.1 ports which means it can operate 4K at 120 fps, and has a low input lag in its gaming mode, so it might not be a dealbreaker for some.

Other appealing features include hands-free Google Assistant, an advanced speaker system, and a sleek ultra slim design.

Vizio V-Series

Best Budget 4k Tv

Credit: vizio

Specs

Screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 58”, 65”, 70”, 75”
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Smart platform: SmartCast
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)
Ports: Three HDMI 2.1, one USB

Buying Options

$339.99 from Best Buy

For an affordable 4K TV, the V-Series tops the list. It doesn’t come with all the trimmings of the more high end TVs out there, but it also isn’t lacking in quality or fun features. In addition to its own operating system, the V-Series can also support Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast, has smart home integration, and comes with a voice operated remote.

In terms of picture quality, it doesn’t have localized dimming, but it does have full array backlighting and supports HDR. The V-Series also has a number of features for gamers on a budget including VRR, low input lag, and FreeSync compatibility. Unfortunately it only supports 4K at 60fps.

Hisense U8G Quantum

Best 4k Android Tv

Credit: Hisense

Specs

Screen sizes: 55”, 65”
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Smart platform: Android TV
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), HDR 10+
Ports: Four HDMI (two HDMI 2.1), two USB

Buying Options

$949.99 from Amazon

There are plenty of Android TVs on the market, but the Hisense H9G stands for its combination of features and affordability. While not an OLED TV, the H9G uses local dimming zones with its LED display to create sharp contrast ratios and can reach up to 1000 nits in brightness, which makes for excellent HDR performance. The H9G boasts a low input lag, fast response time, and has VRR support, making it a solid choice for gamers.

Typically Google and Android products are interchangeable if not compatible, so the one confusing factor with this TV is that it does have Google TV. That being said, it does use Google Assistant as its built-in voice recognition technology.