4K HDR TV (LG 43UH668V Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR 43″ LED TV)
$447 on Amazon
Consumer electronics seem to move at a warp speed. Only a couple of years ago 4K resolution was a luxury for a niche group of gadget kids, but now it seems destined to become the standard output for digital media moving forward. Who remembers thinking Blu-rays in 1080p seemed unnaturally sharp when watching for the first time? Well, now TVs have gone a step further. Actually, four steps further, with 4K pumping out a whopping 3840×2160 resolution.
That sure is a lot of pixels, but it isn’t the only TV feature that’s now being touted as the next big innovation in image quality. HDR – high dynamic range, introduces a more colorful and vivid spectrum of color to complement 4K, and the results are impressive.
There’s no denying that both 4K and HDR make a massive difference to clarity. The problem, however, with the technology is that while it might not far off from becoming a truly mainstream product, the price is still fairly expensive. That is until now, with reduced holiday prices on decent hardware such as the LG43 4K HDR capable TV, one of a few models available for around $450, moving their price point in the range of PS4 Pro or PlayStation VR.
Handily, the Xbox One S’s function as a viable 4K media playing device, as well as being HDR capable, means owners of the console can take advantage of that straight away. PS4 owner can do so, too, thanks to a free patch that allows HDR to be switched on, meaning there’s no need to upgrade to Pro to see what HDR is all about, though they likely won’t be able to watch applications in HDR (turns out one doesn’t usually come without the other).
A new TV’s value ultimately boils down to how much resolution and image quality mean to your entertainment experience and whether you’re sold on the importance of 4K. In regards to gaming, it’s certainly more appealing if you’ve already got an HDR capable console because HDR patched games are very pretty. But in the end, it is just a display that isn’t fundamentally changing your gaming experience, and probably isn’t worth the money if you’re interested purely in that function.
