Top 4K TV Options For PlayStation 4 Pro And Xbox One S
You're going to, or have already got, a fancier PlayStation 4 Pro and/or Xbox One S? Well, the console is only half the battle for visual nirvana - you're going to need a good TV too to make use of all that 4K and HDR loveliness.
If you're not just after some extra framerate squeezings from the upgraded PlayStation 4 and Xbox One models then the seductive call of 4K visuals and high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging is yours to enjoy if you've got the right TV to plug the PS4 Pro or Xbox One S into.
It's an opportune time to jump into the 4K waters if you haven't already as the refreshed consoles from Sony and Microsoft take advantage of all those tech buzzwords you might have heard about. 1080p has been the gold standard for console gaming but now 4K is really making a push to steal the top spot. Until now not much could really take advantage of it - especially at the asking price closer to its launch.
Over time the big name manufacturers have refined their production lines and brought the prices down to a more palatable sting in the wallet. Much like how you can pick up a big flatscreen TV these days for peanuts by comparison to how much you'd need to remortage your house for in the beginning of the HD-Ready / Full HD revolution. Finally the 4K family is inching closer to 'not crazy' prices.
Both the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One S (and eventually the Xbox Scorpio) leverage both 4K resolutions as well as HDR, but you need to be careful as not every 4K TV actually supports HDR. To take full advantage of your new PlayStation or Xbox you'll want to get one that does, otherwise there's eye candy you're denying yourself.
What makes a great 4K TV?
There are some factors to consider when it comes to a 4K TV because it's sadly not quite straight forward.
• Resolutions
The name '4K' is something of a giveaway to the actual screen resolution size of a 4K TV but, again, it's not that simple. There are different types of 4K - or format - where the actual pixel resolution differs. 4K UHD or UHD-1 (also referred to as 2160p) is the dominant consumer standard for TV and monitors.
• 4K UHD is 3840 × 2160, with a 16:9 display aspect and 8,294,400 total pixels
• High-Dynamic-Range (HDR)
Just because you've got the pixels from a 4K or 2160p resolution doesn't mean you're getting the most vibrant expression of colour. That's where the new HDR10 Media Profile comes in, or just HDR10 as it's more commonly called. It uses a lot of the latest tech sorcery to make the picture quality much richer. It also uses a lot of big words like 'non-linear electro-optical transfer function' (EOTF) to do whatever it does.
Most importantly, HDR10 is supported by PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One S.
• Other Factors To Note
Latency - Now it just depends on how much into the finer details you want to go but there's also input latency to consider, which any major gamer will tell you can really make a difference in both enjoyment and performance. Keeping this response time as low as possible is best - as close to 1ms as you can get. If this gets to high (like over 40ms) then you'll definitely start noticing a lag between the time of your actions and what appears on screen.
TV Size - Having a 4K resolution is nice and all but you'll only really start to notice all that extra detail and vibrancy if it's on a decently sized TV. Too small a physical screen and much of the 4K visual rainbow is just going to waste because you can't take advantage of all those pixels because they're so condensed. To truly stare slack-jawed at 4K media you'll need to be pushing for around a 60-inch TV, which is recommended for PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One S. The ideal minimum would be a 45-inch 4K TV, otherwise you really aren't getting that much out of 4K.
Colour Space - What the heck is this thing? Let's throw the abbreviation Rec. 2020 at you. Does it all totally make sense now? No? Alright. Basically it defines the various aspects of UHDTV/UHD-1/UHD-2 regarding colour space, which includes display resolution, frame rate, chroma subsampling and bit depth. Put simply: Rec. 2020 is the new industry standard hotness for UHD 4K TVs. You want a 4K TV supporting Rec. 2020.
Trusted Brands - So you may have decided you've taken enough concussive blows to the head to buy a decent 4K TV to go with the likes of a PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One S. Now comes the inevitable war of the manufacturers all peddling their shiny products in front of you. In truth there is no 'correct answer' to which manufacturer you should choose because that always falls to a matter of personal preference - even loyalty. Sony, Samsung and LG are 4K big boys however.
Top 4K TV Picks For Your Consideration
We're finally at the meat of the sandwich. A list has been compiled of some rather tasty looking 4K TVs to choose between that might take your fancy or at least give you some idea of where to start looking, and what maybe to compare and contrast against in specifications and/or price.
• Entry Level
Sony Bravia KDXD8005
You won't be taking out a bank loan for this Sony Bravia range but you will be able to enjoy a nice entry into the 4K TV market. It fully supports HDR10 and has been impressive with both native and up-scaled 4K content. The slightly clunky Android TV smart engine is the only real rough patch but only a real factor to be mindful of if you actually use smart TV apps.
• 49-inch @ £700 Amazon UK
• 55-inch @ £800 Amazon UK
• Mid-Range
Samsung KS8000 Series
A nice array of features with a strong 4K and HDR performance with Samsung's KS8000 family. It uses a Quantum Dot Color Drive to really power-up those reds, greens and blues and uses HDR10, though no rival support for Dolby Vision. Placement of the TV is a concern as the viewing angle for optimum visual performance is a bit tight, so be careful if you are wall-mounting. This is also an OLED 4K screen and has a native 120 Hz refresh rate.
• 55-inch @ £1,400 Amazon UK / $1,200 Amazon US
• 60-inch @ $2,000 Amazon US
• High-End
LG OLEDB6 series
A very affordable option to buy into both the higher-end 4K and OLED TV scene with some serious visual firepower from LG. The design, quality, reduced audio performance and no 3D playback are the reason the B6 series is a lot more forgiving than the E6 (see below). It's no less stunning in delivering a gorgeous palette of deep blacks, rich colours and extreme contrast with individual pixel lighting.
• 55-inch @ £1,750 Amazon UK / $1,900 Amazon US
• 65-inch @ £2,740 Amazon UK / $3,300 Amazon US
• Top End
LG OLEDE6 series
It's another LG series, and just a letter in difference. If you're allergic to money and need to get rid of some fast then a higher end 4K TV with some eye-watering features and visuals from the OLEDE6 range from LG might be for you. It uses that OLED magic and these models also operate pixels independently for colour and brightness, which far outstrips even the more capable LED TVs. It of course supports HDR10 but also Dolby’s rival Dolby Vision format for that extra icing.
• 55-inch @ £2,300 Amazon UK / $2,700 Amazon US
• 65-inch @ £3,600 Amazon UK / $4,000 Amazon US