TV picture quality has come a long way in the last few years, so if you are still watching that set you bought shortly after Y2K, you’re in for a surprise. 4K picture technology is really stunning, and you won’t have to drain your bank account to get one. These are the top 4K TVs that CNET has reviewed over the last year or so.
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TCL 6 series (2018 Roku TV)
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tcl-65r617-2018-roku-tv-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The affordable TCL 6 series has excellent overall image quality, with deep black levels, very good brightness, rich contrast and accurate color. Its Roku smart TV platform is the best available, with a simple interface and extensive streaming app support. The TV handles both HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range sources.
The bad: Brightness and video processing fall short of some more expensive TVs.
The cost: $999.99 to $1,038.00
The bottom line: With superb picture quality that rivals TVs costing twice as much, TCL’s 6 series is the best TV value we’ve ever reviewed.
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LG OLEDC7P
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lg-oled65c7p-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG C7 is tied with several other OLEDs as the best performing TV we’ve tested to date. It delivers perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, accurate color and a great bright-room picture. It’s compatible with both major HDR formats, and HDR image quality is better than last year. Its striking design features a super-slim panel.
The bad: The less expensive LG OLEDB7A has the same image quality.
The cost: $2,149.00 to $2,494.49
The bottom line: The LG C7 is near the top of the best overall TV we’ve tested, but the nearly identical B7A is a superior value.
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LG OLEDC8P
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lg-oled65c8pua-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)
The good: The LG C8 is the best performing TV we’ve tested to date. It delivers perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, accurate color and a great bright-room picture. Uniformity and video-processing options are slightly better than last year. Its striking design features a super-slim panel.
The bad: The C8 is expensive, and a cheaper LG OLED is due later in 2018. It can’t get as bright as competing LCD TVs.
The cost: $2,196.00 to $2,999.99
The bottom line: LG’s C8 OLED TV sets the standard against which all high-end TVs will be judged.
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Vizio M-Series (2018)
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/vizio-m65-f0-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The affordable Vizio M-Series has excellent overall image quality, with deep black levels, plenty of brightness, rich contrast and accurate color. It handles both HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range sources. It plays well with phones, Alexa and Google Assistant devices. Unlike the TCL 6 series, it comes in a 70-inch size.
The bad: The TCL 6 series is a better TV overall for basically the same price.
The cost: $985.00
The bottom line: Although it’s no longer the top midrange TV value, Vizio’s M-Series still delivers an impressive level of image quality and features for a relative bargain.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor David Katzmaier and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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