We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.
If you’re currently shopping for a new TV, chances are you’re looking at a 4K TV. While 8K TVs have been announced, they are likely to remain extremely expensive for the foreseeable future and their benefits aren’t as obvious. At least for the next few years, 4K is likely to remain the most popular format. You don’t have to spend a small fortune either, as even budget 4K TVs available in 2018 offer a decent 4K experience.
We’ve tested 47 4K TVs in the past year, and here are our recommendations for the best ones to purchase in 2018.
LG B8: A versatile OLED TV with incredible picture quality
Type: OLED
Sizes: 55”, 65”
The LG B8 is the best 4K TV on the market. The self-emissive OLED technology delivers perfect dark room performance thanks to the infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. It also has outstanding wide viewing angles and excellent reflection handling, great for watching TV shows during the day in a wide, bright room.
Unfortunately, OLED TVs come with a risk of temporary image retention or even permanent burn-in. We don’t expect this to be an issue for most people with varied types of content, but if you watch a lot of content with static elements, this may be an issue for you.
Overall, the LG B8 is an extremely versatile TV with great picture quality, impressive smart features and excellent motion handling that should please most people. The LG C8 is an equally impressive OLED TV but is a little bit more expensive.
Vizio P Series Quantum: The best LED LCD 4K TV on the market
Type: LED
Sizes: 65”
If you are concerned about the possibility of burn-in on the LG B8, the Vizio P Series Quantum is the best LED LCD 4K TV we’ve tested so far. The P Series Quantum is an extremely versatile TV. It looks almost as good as the B8 in a dark room thanks to the excellent native contrast ratio and great local dimming feature.
It also performs extremely well in a bright room and it is one of the brightest TVs on the market. Unfortunately, the Quantum doesn’t have the same wide viewing angles as the OLED LG B8, so it isn’t as good if you like to move around while watching TV.
Unfortunately, like most Vizio TVs, the P Series Quantum has limited smart features. It has a limited selection of native apps, and although they work well and cover most needs, there is no app store and no possibility to add apps yourself. Overall, it is an outstanding 4K TV that should please most people.
Sony X900F: An impressive mid-range LED LCD 4K TV
Type: LED
Sizes: 49”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”
If you want a great TV without breaking the bank, check out the Sony X900F. It delivers great performance for almost any usage and is available in a wide variety of sizes ranging from 49” to a monster 85”. It delivers great picture quality, with a deep contrast ratio and decent local dimming feature. It also gets very bright and it has great reflection handling.
The X900F has an outstanding fast response time, so fast motion in action scenes or when gaming looks smooth, with very little blur trail. It also has great low input lag for a responsive gaming experience or for use as a PC monitor.
Unfortunately, the X900F doesn’t have the wide viewing angles found on OLED TVs like the LG B8, so it isn’t as well suited for a wide seating area or if you like to move around the house with the TV on. Overall it is a great TV that should please most people.
TCL R617: Powerful performance at a budget-friendly price
Type: LED
Sizes: 55”, 65”
If you want a powerful 4K TV on a budget, check out the TCL 6-Series (R613/R615/R617). The TCL 6 Series is a very good 4K TV with surprising performance for the price. The R617 delivers very good picture quality, with a great response time and excellent low input lag for gaming.
The TCL 6 Series is extremely bright, even brighter than the Sony X900F, and the wide color gamut ensures an impressive HDR experience that really stands out compared with similarly priced models. As far as smart features go, the TCL isn’t as well equipped as the more expensive models on this list. It runs the Roku smart platform, which has an excellent selection of channels (apps) but isn’t as fancy as LG’s WebOS or Android TV on Sony TVs.
Overall, the TCL 6 Series is a very good 4K TV with surprising performance for the price. It outperforms pretty much everything in its price range, and it should please most people.
TCL S405: A budget TV with great smart features
Type: LED
Sizes: 43”, 49”, 55”, 65”
If the TCL R617 is still too expensive for you, the TCL S405 is an even cheaper option with decent overall performance. You’re not going to get an outstanding HDR experience at this price point, but for SDR content or for a secondary viewing location, most people should be pleased with it.
It has the same smart interface as the R617, which isn’t the fanciest, but has a huge selection of apps (called Streaming Channels on TCL TVs) that rivals most of the competition. The remote app is excellent and can be used to stream files from your smart device to the TV.
While it lacks many of the more advanced features found on more expensive models, including local dimming and motion interpolation, it offers a decent overall experience if you don’t need the best picture quality. Overall, it is a decent 4K TV that works great for a secondary TV, like in a bedroom or sitting room.
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This guide may have been updated. To see all measurements and the current recommendations for 4k TVs, please go here.
