55" 4K TVs < $1000 - recommendations?

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jonathan18

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#249153 28-Apr-2019 09:26

I'd appreciate some advice on 55" 4K TVs below $1,000. (Note: I'm not looking at a Veon, Konka etc.) I've read lots of TV-related threads on GZ, and haven't come across anything terribly recent on recommended 55" sets.

Primary use is with a PS4 Pro for gaming, and also general content watched by or with the kids.

Here's what PriceSpy shows at this price point, which includes 2 x TCL models, 2 x Panasonics, an LG and a Samsung: https://classic.pricespy.co.nz/category.php?l=s328896976&o=produkt_pris_inkmoms#prodlista

Are there any particular models on this list anyone would recommend (or to stay away from)?

I've read generally positive things about TCL sets on here, and see they have a three-year warranty - has anyone experience with either of their models on this list? I'm particularly interested in whether it's worth the additional $200 to get the Android TV-equipped P6 over the P4, or whether the P4 would do the job just fine and save us $160.

Thanks for any advice.

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#2226614 28-Apr-2019 09:31

My partner games PS4 on a 55E17NUS (which is an old model now) and it does the job really well.

I would recommend paying the extra bit for Android TV features, unless you honestly see no reason or will buy a third party device later like a Roku ect.

Here are the software updates for the TV's so you can see when last TCL released an update for the model you choose: https://support.tclelectronics.com.au/software-updates/

jonathan18

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#2226615 28-Apr-2019 09:40

Thanks for the reply; good to know the TCLs work well with a PS4.

We do have an Amazon Fire TV, which is used primarily for Kodi and BBC (for Netflix we tend to use the built-in TV app), but I guess there's the potential for these to be accessed via Android TV? I'm not too worried if I need to continue to use an external box, however perhaps Android TV also offers other benefits as well?

chevrolux

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#2226689 28-Apr-2019 10:57

LTT did a positive review of TCL a while back...
https://youtu.be/7P56QEcFUuE

I think for $1000 you could even go 65"!

sqishy

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#2226697 28-Apr-2019 11:47

Hi, I've always been a Samsung fan, bought their 55" Smart LED, 48" UHD Curved and now have the 65" QLED Q9, the last one is the best TV I have ever bought, highest price but picture is unreal. I also suggest you go into a store and really look at the screens and do a comparison some will look more brighter and give a vivid picture. Most 55" Smart UHD Samsung are now under $1K so you should be fine.

jonathan18

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#2226701 28-Apr-2019 11:58

How much should I worry about 50 vs 100Hz screens?

JB HiFi recommended going with a 100 Hz screen, given its main use will be gaming on a PS4 Pro. They recommend either the Panasonic or LG, both at $1k. (Don't seem to sell Samsung at this price point.)

And how is Web OS regarded now? I think I recall many users complaining about it in earlier versions.

sqishy

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#2226708 28-Apr-2019 12:17

Go 100Hz, the UA55NU7100SXNZ at NL ar just under $1200.

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chevrolux

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#2226790 28-Apr-2019 14:01

And how is Web OS regarded now? I think I recall many users complaining about it in earlier versions.

webOS rocks. Fast, nice UI, app store is chocker full, etc. We've just gone to a LG OLED and it has made things waaaay tidier for me.

Went away from Raspberry Pi + Kodi (with separate MySQL database on server) and a Chromecast, to just Plex, and the LG TV. Bloody awesome.

Not sure how far $1000 would go though with LG!!

jonathan18

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#2226811 28-Apr-2019 14:09

That's good to know re Web OS.

Yep, as per the link in the original post, there is indeed an LG LCD 55" 4k TV at $1k - not all LG TVs are OLED!
https://classic.pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=4771589

Comes with that pointer remote which seems to work pretty well. Certainly a nicer interface than on the $1k Samsung. Budget definitely tops out at $1k, so the better quality Samsung and Panasonic models a couple of hundred higher aren't an option.

Any advice re whether 100Hz is better for a PS4 pro?

I've read such mixed things on the web, given the Pro makes out at 60Hz, and I think 4k is displayed at 30Hz.

allio

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#2227437 29-Apr-2019 15:15

jonathan18: How much should I worry about 50 vs 100Hz screens?

JB HiFi recommended going with a 100 Hz screen, given its main use will be gaming on a PS4 Pro. They recommend either the Panasonic or LG, both at $1k. (Don't seem to sell Samsung at this price point.)

And how is Web OS regarded now? I think I recall many users complaining about it in earlier versions.

Unless something has changed in the last couple of years, "100Hz" TVs are just 50Hz TVs with the ability to flicker their backlight faster and do motion interpolation (i.e. soap opera effect). They can't actually accept or display a true 100Hz signal, in the way that a 100Hz computer monitor can.

Unless you like motion interpolation, the main advantage of 100/120Hz is better motion performance with certain source material (particularly with 24 fps content - 24 divides neatly into 120Hz, so you can just repeat every frame five times to avoid judder, while 24 doesn't divide evenly into 50/60Hz so needs pulldown and other gnarly juddery options) but I can't think of any way it would help with gaming. You always want to turn off motion interpolation for gaming because it introduces delay, and PS4 games are always going to be running at somewhere between 30 and 60 FPS (which look exactly the same no matter how many times the TV repeats the frames).

jonathan18

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#2227468 29-Apr-2019 16:01

Thanks, that's a really useful reply - and confirms my suspicions that it was misleading to suggest 100Hz as beneficial for gaming.

In the end, though, I decided to not go with the TCL as I'm not yet convinced by Android TV. Instead, after checking them all out, I purchased the LG; this was also on the basis of some research on the various OSs - generally, WebOS seems to be one of the most well-developed and stable, which I'll take over the bells and whistles of Android TV. I wanted to stick to the budget of <$1k, and believe this will be more than adequate for the purpose.

The LG does have 100Hz - but I will check out whether the effect of the processing and interpolation is actually beneficial to viewing before using! Totally now get the idea that all such controls should be switched off for gaming; unsure if there's a 'gaming mode' that disables them with a single press though.

Speaking of which - it's amazing how bad instruction manuals are now, in regards to their detail. It used to be that a manual would provide full information on the features and operations of a device, whereas now they're often not much more than a 'starter guide'. I looked at the manual for this TV and it was next to useless; it didn't even have full specifications. I get that the TVs tend to have instructions built in, but this certainly doesn't help purchase decisions!

Finally - I was interested to find out that JB Hifi has a policy of providing two years warranty on any item over $500; while I know I have the CGA as a back-up, such claims can be harder to argue.

Thanks again for all the advice.

allio

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#2227503 29-Apr-2019 16:46

It's not that 100Hz isn't a useful feature - it really is, and I wouldn't buy a TV without it - it's just that console gaming is literally the one area where it's no advantage at all. Makes the salesperson's advice quite funny really.

Salespeople in general also overhype the importance of 100Hz because it's the most obvious difference between the cheap and expensive TVs on the shop floors. With those 25 fps demo reels the difference motion interpolation makes is really striking - the 50Hz TVs look so chuggy and slow in comparison. People don't realise that a) broadcast TV doesn't need interpolation, because deinterlaced TV is 50 fps, and b) you don't actually want that silky smooth look for movies. It's really only good for demo reels, nature documentaries and sports.

I'd say you made a good call with the LG. They're very competitive in that particular part of the price range.

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Jaxson

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#2227512 29-Apr-2019 17:06

I'm looking at something similar for my parents, same sorta concept.

Looking for 42" area, Samsung smart TV preferably, must have dvb-s satellite tuner built in.

Assuming we're entering the new model, end of old line run out sales period soon?

jonathan18

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#2227548 29-Apr-2019 18:22

Jaxson:

Assuming we're entering the new model, end of old line run out sales period soon?

Yes, indeed, they've already started. For example, the LG I've bought is on run-out - JB in Palmy only had the shop floor model (not an option for me), but were able and willing to get one sent from Dunedin. They said new LG models are a few weeks away.

So probably a good time to be looking.

Ironically, at NL I saw the 1080 55" Panasonic TV we're replacing for $900, $100 more than we paid last July for it, and only $100 less than we paid for the new LG!

Edit: @Jaxson - as I noticed when doing the rounds of shops yesterday, and confirmed in a Price Spy search (noting that includes non-4K sets), it seems like the smaller screens (say 50" and below) are comparatively expensive compared to larger ones - I reckon 55" screens are the sweet spot at the moment. You'd probably not pay much more for a larger TV than what you'd pay for a decent 42"; there's certainly also a bigger choice with larger sets. That said, perhaps there's a limit of space or another reason why you're looking at a smaller size?

Jaxson

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#2227758 30-Apr-2019 09:40

jonathan18:

Edit: @Jaxson - as I noticed when doing the rounds of shops yesterday, and confirmed in a Price Spy search (noting that includes non-4K sets), it seems like the smaller screens (say 50" and below) are comparatively expensive compared to larger ones - I reckon 55" screens are the sweet spot at the moment. You'd probably not pay much more for a larger TV than what you'd pay for a decent 42"; there's certainly also a bigger choice with larger sets. That said, perhaps there's a limit of space or another reason why you're looking at a smaller size?

Good point mate. I'd (wrongly it appears) assumed a 42" would be small and the cheapest of the range now, but it does look like 45 - 50" is the starting size for a lot of them.

I have lots of space to play with in this particular instance, so that's not an issue luckily.

Wall mounted but with nothing around it for miles, so can go larger.

Parents currently have a dumb second TV in the kitchen dining area, fed from a satellite box and with a chromecast in the side.

They want netflix and I'd like to simplify the multiple boxes/devices/remotes down to just the one smart tv for them. Inbuilt Satellite tuner is a must in their case, (sadly no terrestrial coverage in parts of Whanganui - despite being in a city).

jonathan18

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#2227794 30-Apr-2019 10:04

If the budget extends to $1k I’d recommend checking out the LG I picked up yesterday - personally I thought the “smarts” interface on this were far superior to that on the equivalent Samsung. It also has both terrestrial and satellite tuners, so will work for your parents’ needs.

They have a floor shop model in JB, but it’s also at the same price at Leader and Watt - not sure what stock they have available or whether they have it on display.

https://leaderandwatt.co.nz/lg-55-4k-uhd-led-smart-tv-sku-55uk6700pvd.html

The Panasonic at a similar price also has a satellite tuner, but I thought it was behind the eight ball in terms of both aesthetics (looks cheap!) and use-ability.

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