Unfortunately, for a long time the ideas of directors and game designers remained far from the actual embodiment of the products they create. This was not due to laziness or low budget, but to the banal lack of necessary technologies. Even a maximum effort could not guarantee that the user will see exactly the picture that was in the creator's head. But today, the best HDR TVs give you a glimpse of a product through the eyes of its creator. Excellent reproduction of dark parts of the scene without an overabundance of light in the bright areas, more realistic and vivid shades, higher brightness - all this contributes to greater immersion. And it is precisely the High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology that provides this.
What is HDR on TV
Before proceeding directly to the rating participants, let's talk in more detail about high or extended dynamic range. Immediately, we note that this is not the same HDR that photographers are talking about. It's like the HDMI connector on video cards and monitors. In the first case, it serves to transmit the processed digital signal. In the second, it is provided for receiving and displaying it on the screen. So in the case of HDR on TVs, we mean the display of reality, when it comes to capturing it in the photo.
Now we will try to explain all this in simple words. So, dynamic range assumes a certain range of colors (from lightest to darkest) that can be displayed on the screen. And the wider it is, the more details and more accurately the picture will be shown to the viewer. That is, in the dark areas you will see enough detail.
In the absence of technology, details in dark zones cannot be seen, they will merge. And if you increase the brightness, which is possible, then the details will appear, but still the blackness will disappear where it should be, and the bright areas will become "one big flashlight". That is, there will also be nothing distinguishable SDR could turn them into "black porridge". In the highlights, the desired balance will also be maintained, when increasing the brightness on the SDR would again cause a "mess", but already white.
The best budget TVs with HDR
Immediately, let us tell you about a not very pleasant reality: the available models cannot cope with content that meets the top standards. The maximum is HDR10, but in some cases these are the manufacturer's proprietary tricks. However, at least some HDR is better than without it. The picture on such screens is richer, more accurate and generally better. True, usually displays of inexpensive TVs are noticeably inferior to analogues from higher segments in maximum brightness. But it is one of the main criteria required to display true HDR content. Therefore, we advise you to evaluate the display of the TV you are interested in immediately before purchasing.
1. BBK 55LEX-6042 / UTS2C
The current economic situation does not allow consumers to spend huge amounts of money on the purchase of expensive home appliances. But I don't want to give up some of the useful features available mainly in premium devices either. Fortunately, companies like BBK are willing to offer functional TVs to users at a reasonable cost. Among them, an inexpensive but good TV 55LEX-6042 / UTS2C can be noted, the average cost of which is .
The TV screen from BBK has excellent contrast, so it is able to show deep blacks.But the maximum brightness here is not high enough, as for such a large matrix - 250 candela per square meter. However, better performance can only be found in models with a noticeably higher price tag.
What do you get for this amount? First, a huge 55-inch screen with a 50 Hz refresh rate. Secondly, the Ultra HD resolution, which is quite impressive at such an affordable price tag (about ). Thirdly, a huge set of ports, which has a place not only HDMI and USB (three each), but even VGA. There is also the possibility of connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It is needed in order to go online or install software from the app store. The TV works, by the way, under the Android operating system.
Advantages:
- great price for its capabilities;
- the manufacturer gave preference to the Android OS;
- impressive display contrast;
- screen resolution and diagonal;
- a huge set of interfaces.
Disadvantages:
- only two speakers of 8 W each;
- weak Wi-Fi module;
- the brightness of the screen is too low.
2. Samsung UE43N5500AU
The next budget TV on the list will cost you even less. You can purchase the UE43N5500AU from , which is an extremely affordable cost. But the capabilities of this device are much more modest. So, the diagonal of its screen is only 43 inches, and the matrix here is not 4K, but Full HD. But its color rendition is very good! And the sound of this model matches the picture. It is presented, by the way, by a pair of speakers of 10 W each (there is automatic volume leveling.
One of the highest quality TVs in the rating has many additional options. Among them, the Ultra Clean View technology can be noted, which uses a special algorithm to analyze digital content and reduce noise in the picture. As a result, the image is sharper, cleaner and more pleasing to the eye. Also, the videos played on TV are pleasing with natural colors, for which the PurColour system should be thanked. Film buffs will also appreciate Micro Dimming Pro technology. It was created by Koreans specifically to adjust the color rendition in the dark corners of the image, thereby improving it.
Advantages:
- proprietary image enhancement technologies;
- attractive price / quality ratio;
- flexible settings and convenient control panel;
- beautiful and quite stable stand;
- quite good sound for its value;
- decent quality materials and workmanship.
Disadvantages:
- low resolution;
- the cost is slightly overpriced.
3. Sony KDL-40WE663
Model KDL-40WE663 from the Japanese company Sony left a mixed impression. Part of our editorial staff liked it madly when others criticized the TV for being too poor in appearance, mediocre, as for the price tag in , picture, as well as insufficiently good sound (two 5 W speakers are used). And if, in thinking about which TV to buy, you are interested in this model, we recommend that you personally evaluate it in the nearest hardware store.
Did you like this solution? Then you can safely take it, since the Japanese creation will definitely delight you with its capabilities. The TV is powered by the Opera TV OS, which may not be the most functional on the market, but one of the most convenient and fast. The screen here is 40-inch, so Full HD resolution is more than enough for it. Unfortunately, there is no satellite broadcast support here, so you should consider this before buying. But with DVB-T, T2 and C the device works without problems.
Advantages:
- design if you prefer that style;
- good transmission of dark areas of the picture;
- convenience of the operating system Opera TV;
- variety of interface connectors;
- a lot of auxiliary capabilities;
- reliability and practicality;
- economical in terms of energy consumption.
Disadvantages:
- when using Smart TV, it sometimes slows down a little;
- no support for DVB-S and S2.
The best HDR10 TVs
Moving on to models that definitely have support for the HDR10 standard, which is the most common today. This standard is used by modern consoles from Sony and Microsoft.Almost all currently released content, including projects from Netflix and Amazon, corresponds to it. Therefore, you can safely get by with the appropriate model, replacing it with something better in the future. Or immediately buy a solution that supports HDR10 + (a standard promoted by Samsung). True, there is much less such content on the network, and you will not get many benefits at once.
1. Sony KD-49XF7596
The TOP 9 TVs are continued by the model from the Japanese brand Sony. In terms of functionality, the KD-49XF7596 is an excellent example of an exemplary average. And the cost from puts TV in the same category. The TV is based on a good IPS-matrix (8 bit + FRC) with a refresh rate of 50 Hz and Edge LED backlighting. The latter does not allow you to feel content with a high dynamic range by 100%, but support for the HDR10 standard is still there, which is very pleasing.
The screen resolution of the KD-49XF7596 is 3840 × 2160 pixels and its diagonal is 49 inches. The TV uses a proprietary X1 processor, equipped with many algorithms aimed at improving picture quality. Among these are 4K X-Reality PRO, with which the clarity of the image on the screen becomes amazing. At the same time, on a screen with full HDR support, you can display content from any source, be it consoles, players or web content. The latter is especially convenient to consume, because the "green robot" familiar to everyone is installed on the Sony KD-49XF7596.
Advantages:
- works on the basis of Android TV;
- image processing algorithms;
- excellent recognizable Sony design;
- high quality assembly;
- many useful options and applications;
- gorgeous viewing angles;
- very thin, easily clings to the wall.
Disadvantages:
- there are overexposed areas around the edges.
2. Samsung UE49NU7100U
Typically, a TV set to play HDR content comes at a high price. This is especially true for the products of such well-known brands as Samsung. But in the case of the UE49NU7100U, the situation is completely different. In online stores it can be found from ... For this amount, the user will receive a conventional LCD matrix, but it is capable of boasting 4K resolution, 100 Hz frequency and a good margin of brightness. Moreover, the latter is regulated automatically, because there is an illumination sensor in the device case.
The Tizen brand is used as the operating system on the TV. In terms of convenience and functionality, it is about the same level as the competing "axis" from LG. At the same time, Koreans regularly try to add new features to the system, and they do it much faster than other brands.
Among the useful features of one of the most affordable TVs in the review, you can highlight the TimeShift option, which allows you to pause live broadcasting, DLNA support, and the function of recording TV programs to an external drive. As for such an affordable solution, there is a huge set of ports, including 3 HDMI ports, a pair of USB, RJ-45 and AV. But for the sound in the UE49NU7100U, only two 10W speakers are responsible. However, for its price, this can hardly be attributed to the disadvantages of the Samsung TV.
Advantages:
- pleasant cost;
- Ultra HD resolution;
- a wide range of interfaces;
- combination of cost and functionality;
- optimal screen diagonal;
- Steam Link support;
- smart work of Smart TV.
3. Samsung QE55Q6FNA
The next line is occupied by a real masterpiece - QE55Q6FNA. This model belongs to the QLED line from Samsung. It is based on a VA panel with HDR capabilities to ensure incredible depth of blacks and dark tones in scenes. Capable of displaying over a billion colors, the 55-inch TV screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and an honest 10-bit color depth.
As noted above, Koreans are promoting an advanced HDR standard called HDR10 +. However, in the QE55Q6FNA model, the manufacturer went even further, adding support for Q HDR Elite, a technology that is even more advanced.As a result, the viewer can see more details in the dark and light areas of the frame, which were not available on conventional matrices and displays of the previous generation. By the way, we noted earlier that the TV is based on a QLED screen, and, unlike OLED, it is not subject to fading.
Advantages:
- great image;
- scan and color depth;
- the convenience of the Tizen system;
- delightful design;
- powerful graphics chip Q Engine;
- a combination of cost and opportunity;
- decent sound quality;
- long panel life in contrast to OLED;
- high contrast and unsurpassed color reproduction.
Disadvantages:
- does not read a number of popular formats.
Best TVs with Dolby Vision
The most advanced solution on the market. If HDR10 + is an add-on to HDR10, which allows you to enjoy backward compatibility, then you will not be able to run content sharpened for Dolby Vision on devices without its support. Again, its promotion is rather slow, and you will be asked a lot of money for the corresponding devices. However, it is enough to see at least once what kind of picture they can demonstrate in order to understand why manufacturers demand such immodest sums. The bottom line is that Dolby Vision content contains frame-by-frame instructions for the most accurate recreation of it. At the same time, unlike HDR10, it can be optimized for each specific TV.
1. LG OLED55C8
Let's start with one of the most popular TVs according to real customer reviews - LG OLED55C8. It incorporates the manufacturer's best practices, such as a multifunctional webOS system, great picture and luxurious surround sound, which is responsible for 4 speakers with a power of 10 W each.
Design is another trump card of this model, which it does not try and should not hide. A beautiful and stable stand, thin bezels, premium body materials - it all deserves to pay for a TV ... In terms of images, 4K paired with HDR 10 allows the TV to reproduce natural colors, ensuring all the details are clear. There's also Dolby Vision, so be sure to check out how cool this content looks on screen.
Advantages:
- elegant appearance;
- advanced intelligent platform;
- amazingly high quality image;
- great sound for its value;
- good nominal brightness of 500 candelas;
- high-performance Alpha9 processor;
- high level of contrast.
2. Sony KD-55XF9005
How to make the right choice of a TV if you do not want to go through the options for a long time, studying the many characteristics of such devices? Many consumers simply buy models from the Sony brand. The Japanese know very well how a luxurious picture should look like. This company occupies many areas that are in one way or another related to the image: cameras, mobile phones, game consoles and even cinema. It is not surprising that the KD-55XF9005 model outperforms most competitors, even despite the lower cost from .
This high-quality and reliable TV features a good 55-inch 4K display, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, and runs Android TV for access to all popular apps.
The nominal brightness and typical contrast in this model are equal to 600 cd / m2 and 6000: 1, respectively. The TV has all the necessary ports, a light sensor, 16 gigabytes of internal memory and voice control. The only disappointing thing about the KD-55XF9005 is the sound presented by just a pair of 10-watt speakers.
Advantages:
- the stand allows you to conveniently route wires;
- TV works under the control of the Android system;
- excellent image quality;
- support for current HDR standards;
- elegant design and slim body.
Disadvantages:
- the sound quality is very mediocre;
- the TV is not based on an OLED matrix.
3. LG OLED55B8P
Thanks to a smart approach, LG has managed to reduce the cost of its excellent OLED TVs, making them available to a wide range of buyers.No, the South Korean brand's device range also offers premium solutions with sky-high price tags. But if you want a cool device at a reasonable cost, then check out the B8 line. From it we chose the OLED55B8P model, which, in the opinion of our editors, is the best choice in terms of price and quality.
Do you need a bigger diagonal? The TV line in question also offers a TV with a 65-inch screen. In addition to size, it does not differ from the younger model in anything. Unless its cost is noticeably higher, so decide for yourself whether you are ready to give about one and a half times more money for an additional 10 inches.
As for accessibility, the manufacturer was able to achieve it by using a simpler Alpha 7 processor instead of the Alpha 9 installed in the flagship solutions. This did not significantly affect performance, but the price tag for TVs dropped significantly. But the rest of the good TV has not received any simplifications. So, the design here is simply gorgeous, and the metal back panel adds not only a few points to the look, but also the structural strength. The set of ports in the OLED55B8P is more than sufficient, and the perfect picture is complemented by the excellent sound of 4 10W speakers.
Advantages:
- advanced proprietary webOS system;
- affordable cost, as for an OLED matrix;
- great design and excellent build;
- decent sound quality;
- multifunctional remote control;
- excellent voice control;
- rich sound and support for Dolby Atmos.
Which HDR TV to Choose
Content quality, like user queries, is constantly growing. You always want to see a better picture, enjoying bright, juicy and realistic colors. If you want to enjoy such an image at no extra cost, then we recommend looking at the solution from BBK or the UE43N5500AU and UE49NU7100U models from Samsung. For those who are ready to give more money just to get a gorgeous picture, we have added cool models from LG and Sony to the rating of the best TVs that fully support HDR. However, in the case of the KD-55XF9005, the buyer did not receive an OLED matrix. However, it is not always needed, because with their QE55Q6FNA, the Koreans have proven that quantum dots can be much cooler in terms of color display and durability.
