What are the best TVs around $1000?

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Nov 27, 2019

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Vizio P-Series vs Samsung KU6300 vs Hisense H8

vs Sony X800D vs Vizio P502ui-B1 50"

Specs

HDR10

Yes

Power consumption

101 W

Refresh rate

120 Hz (except 50")

Ethernet

Contrast

5694 : 1

Viewing angle

17 °

Panel type

LED

ARC

Yes (HDMI 1)

Backlight

Full-array

Borders

0.63" (1.6 cm)

Low-end cutoff

127 Hz

Wall mount

Vesa 400x400

LCD type

VA (except 55" ISP)

HDCP 2.2

Yes

Tuner (Cable/Ant)

Available sizes

50",55",65",75"

USB 3

Yes (1)

Component in

Screen finish

Semi-gloss

Composite in

Dolby Vision

Yes

USB

HDMI

Local dimming

Yes

Max thickness

2.36" (6.6 cm)

Reflection

2 %

4K @ 60Hz

19.2 ms

1080p @ 60Hz

19.1 ms

5.1 Passthrough DTS

Yes

Apps

Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Vudu, Pluto TV

Max volume

89.2 dB SPL

5.1 Passthrough Dolby Digital

Yes

SmartOS

SmartCast

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

Yes

Digital optical audio out

Thickness

USB ports

HDMI ports

Digital Optical Audio Out

5.1 Dolby Digital

Local Dimming

Viewing Angle

4k @ 60 Hz

Screen Finish

1080p @ 60 Hz

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth

5.1 DTS

4k @ 60 Hz + HDR

Max. volume

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4

LCD type

Panel type

HDR10

Yes

Power consumption

48 W

Refresh rate

60 Hz

Ethernet

Contrast

5411 : 1

Viewing angle

Panel type

ARC

Yes (HDMI 3)

Backlight

Direct

Borders

0.63" (1.6 cm)

Low-end cutoff

89 Hz

Wall mount

Vesa 400 x 400

LCD type

HDCP 2.2

Yes

Tuner (Cable/Ant)

Available sizes

40”; 50”; 55”; 60”; 65”; 70”

USB 3

Component in

Screen finish

Composite in

Dolby Vision

USB

HDMI

Local dimming

Max thickness

Reflection

4K @ 60Hz

1080p @ 60Hz

5.1 Passthrough DTS

Apps

Max volume

5.1 Passthrough Dolby Digital

SmartOS

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

Digital optical audio out

Thickness

2.44" (6.2 cm)

USB ports

HDMI ports

Digital Optical Audio Out

5.1 Dolby Digital

Yes

Local Dimming

Viewing Angle

26°

4k @ 60 Hz

20.4 ms

Screen Finish

Semi-gloss

1080p @ 60 Hz

19.8 ms

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth

Yes (HDMI 1)

5.1 DTS

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz + HDR

20.4 ms

Max. volume

88.7 dB SPL

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4

36.7 ms

LCD type

Panel type

LCD

HDR10

Yes

Power consumption

63 W

Refresh rate

60 HZ

Ethernet

Contrast

4152 : 1

Viewing angle

10 °

Panel type

LED

ARC

Yes (HDMI 2)

Backlight

Full-array

Borders

0.51" (1.3 cm)

Low-end cutoff

107 Hz

Wall mount

Vesa 200x200

LCD type

HDCP 2.2

Yes

Tuner (Cable/Ant)

Available sizes

50", 55"

USB 3

Yes (1)

Component in

Screen finish

Semi-gloss

Composite in

Dolby Vision

USB

HDMI

Local dimming

Yes

Max thickness

3.00" (7.6 cm)

Reflection

2.0 %

4K @ 60Hz

51.0 ms

1080p @ 60Hz

32.1 ms

5.1 Passthrough DTS

Yes

Apps

Netflix. Amazon, Vudu, Youtube

Max volume

85.9 dB SPL

5.1 Passthrough Dolby Digital

Yes

SmartOS

Opera TV

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

Yes (HDMI 3, 4)

Digital optical audio out

Thickness

USB ports

HDMI ports

Digital Optical Audio Out

5.1 Dolby Digital

Local Dimming

Viewing Angle

4k @ 60 Hz

Screen Finish

1080p @ 60 Hz

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth

5.1 DTS

4k @ 60 Hz + HDR

Max. volume

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4

LCD type

Panel type

HDR10

Yes

Power consumption

45W

Refresh rate

60 Hz

Ethernet

Contrast

3877 : 1

Viewing angle

20° for 43”; 75º for 49”

Panel type

LCD

ARC

Backlight

Borders

Low-end cutoff

Wall mount

LCD type

VA (except 49" ISP)

HDCP 2.2

Tuner (Cable/Ant)

Available sizes

USB 3

Yes (1)

Component in

Screen finish

Semi-gloss

Composite in

Dolby Vision

USB

HDMI

Local dimming

Max thickness

Reflection

4K @ 60Hz

1080p @ 60Hz

5.1 Passthrough DTS

Apps

Max volume

5.1 Passthrough Dolby Digital

SmartOS

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

Digital optical audio out

Thickness

1.73" (4.4 cm)

USB ports

HDMI ports

Digital Optical Audio Out

5.1 Dolby Digital

Yes

Local Dimming

Viewing Angle

4k @ 60 Hz

Screen Finish

1080p @ 60 Hz

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth

5.1 DTS

4k @ 60 Hz + HDR

Max. volume

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4

LCD type

Panel type

HDR10

Power consumption

Refresh rate

Ethernet

Contrast

Viewing angle

Panel type

ARC

Backlight

Borders

Low-end cutoff

Wall mount

LCD type

HDCP 2.2

Tuner (Cable/Ant)

Available sizes

USB 3

Component in

Screen finish

Composite in

Dolby Vision

USB

HDMI

Local dimming

Max thickness

Reflection

4K @ 60Hz

1080p @ 60Hz

5.1 Passthrough DTS

Apps

Max volume

5.1 Passthrough Dolby Digital

SmartOS

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwith

Digital optical audio out

Thickness

USB ports

HDMI ports

Digital Optical Audio Out

5.1 Dolby Digital

Local Dimming

Viewing Angle

4k @ 60 Hz

Screen Finish

1080p @ 60 Hz

HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth

5.1 DTS

4k @ 60 Hz + HDR

Max. volume

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4

LCD type

Panel type

Pros + Cons

Pro
Excellent black levels and contrast ratio for its price tag

It has a full-array local dimming backlight system, allowing it to produce excellent black levels and giving it a contrast ratio of 5,700:1. In comparison, other similarly-priced TV sets have an average contrast ratio of 4,000:1.

Comment

Pro
Superb picture quality

The Vizio P-series can display a wider color palette, deeper blacks and brighter whites compared to other TVs in its price range. The contrast and black levels are outstanding for an LCD TV. It uses a 10-bit panel so the color palette range is 64 times larger than a standard 8-bit panel.

Comment

Pro
Great for sports watching and video games

Great motion handling and low input lag make it a great choice for watching sports or playing video games, respectively.

Comment

Pro
Its viewable in bright conditions

The backlight is bright enough to make the screen viewable in bright conditions, like a sunny room.

Comment

Pro
Capable of displaying HDR and DolbyVision content

The Vizio can display HDR and DolbyVision content so you won’t have problems streaming content in these formats.

Comment

Pro
Equipped with HDMI 2.0 inputs and one 1.4a input

Since most new video players, receivers, and laptops come with HDMI 2.0, you shouldn't have any problems connecting them as the TV comes equipped with four HDMI 2.0 inputs and one 1.4a input.

Comment

Pro
Wide color spectrum with virtually no visible gradient

Color gamut is wide with almost no visible gradient banding, especially if the TV is calibrated correctly.

Comment

Pro
Handles fast moving scenes well

Fast moving scenes appear smooth since there is no judder, a visual artifact where dynamic scenes filmed in 24 fps (such as in movies) appear to stutter and shake.

Comment

Pro
Control through Chromecast via a pre-installed custom tablet or your personal smartphone

A custom tablet with Chromecast is included with the TV. You can then use it to control the TV or use any app or use Chromecast compatible apps like YouTube and Netflix to directly stream to your screen. Your own smartphone can be used as well, provided you install Chromecast. However, since there is no system in the TV itself, you will always need a tablet or phone to stream content. Having Chromecast support also minimizes the risk of compatibility issues in the future.

Comment

Pro
Good design

The design doesn’t appear cheap and has a nice textured metallic finish at the borders.

Comment

Pro
Great build quality

The build quality of this set is excellent, with a texturized metal frame that feels premium compared to plastic frames of similarly priced TVs.

Comment

Con
Low brightness

Brightness measures at only 500 nits, which is enough for viewing in bright conditions like sunlit rooms but isn’t comparable to the brightness of high-end sets.

Comment

Con
Using the basic remote is not really an option

Not all users are comfortable using a tablet for almost all TV functions, and the smaller, basic remote that also comes with the TV offers very limited control.

Comment

Con
Watching cable or broadcast TV requires an external decoder

If you want to watch cable or broadcast TV, then you will need to buy an external decoder. Vizio included one extra HDMI port to make up for that, so you can connect the decoder and still have four free HDMI slots like most TVs. For those who dislike using a tablet as a remote, you can choose to buy an external media box as well, though that also means adding another remote and another box.

Comment

Con
Issues with Chromecast

Chromecast streaming has issues with responsiveness and occasional bugs in the applications that result in the app freezing or crashing.

Comment

Con
To adjust settings, a smartphone or tablet needs to be used

The TV itself does not have smart features or even a traditional menu, meaning you have to use a smartphone or tablet to adjust settings.

Comment

Con
Sound volume not suitable for large rooms

The TV itself isn't very loud, so it's better to buy a separate audio system if you will use this TV in a large room.

Comment

Con
Color shifts are noticeable when viewed at angles beyond 20 degrees

The viewing angle is unimpressive with the P-series, as you can notice color shifts when viewed at angles beyond 20 degrees.

Comment

Con
It's a bulky TV

It's a bit bulkier than most of the TVs today, measuring 6.5 cm.

Comment

Con
It won't fit narrow TV stands

The stands are placed wide on each side of the TV, thus making it stable. However, it also means it won’t fit in narrow tables stands.

Comment

Con
Frequency response isn't very good

Frequency response is not that good as the highs dip down at around 10kHz and the lower end cuts off at 120Hz, meaning the lower bass is completely absent.

Comment

Con
Noticeable harmonic distortion

Harmonic distortion is noticeable in the mid range, especially in high volume.

Comment

Con
Some reflections are noticeable

Reflections are noticeable due to the semi-glossy screen used, but there are no major halos or rainbows noticeable from direct light exposure.

Comment

Pro
Picture specifications can live up to premium standards

Compared to other sets in this price range, this TV offers fantastic picture quality. Its high contrast ratio and black levels is comparable to TVs twice as expensive, making it great for movie watching. Color banding is not a problem as the panel offers great gradation. Brightness is even and enough for watching in bright conditions like sunlit rooms. Motion is handled well, thanks to the fast pixel response time and image processing.

Comment

Pro
Very dark blacks

A pure black screen measures just 0.024 cd/m², which means that when black colours or loading screens appear, they will truly look black (instead of the dark purplish glow which lower quality screens produce when displaying black colours). The deviation of black level across the TV is great as well - at half a percent the screen will appear extremely uniform with no bright spots. This helps it achieve a very good contrast ratio of 4500:1.

Comment

Pro
Good input access

Since the TV has all the inputs ordered neatly in one side, they can be reached easily even when the TV is mounted to a wall.

Comment

Pro
Multiple resolutions and input modes

The set supports all the popular resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz refresh rate. The input lag for FullHD and 4K resolution, is surprisingly low even when receiving HDR signals, making this a great gaming monitor. In addition, chroma 4:4:4 sub-sampling rate is supported as well, meaning that the monitor will not show any artifacts or blurred out details when editing documents, pictures or browsing the web.

Comment

Pro
Good viewing angles

With 20° of viewing with no colour distortion, this is a good TV to use as a computer monitor. Because you'll be sitting close to it, the angle when looking at the far edges of the display are much more angled than when looking dead-on at the middle of the display. This means you'll notice much less colour shifting than other TVs with poorer viewing angles.

Comment

Pro
Good for bright viewing conditions

The maximum brightness of the set is 420 nits, which is good for bright viewing conditions or for bright scenes on screen. Since the TV does not have proper HDR support, HDR content does not take advantage of this, however.

Comment

Con
Frame rates limited at 60Hz - poor for gaming

Gaming in 120Hz allows the TV to show more frames each second, delivering more up-to-date graphics than 60Hz TVs. 120Hz TVs will show refreshed screens twice as much, letting the gamer see their enemy up to a whole frame quicker. While not a con for the average gamer, high intensity FPS (first person shooter) gamers require extremely high refresh rates.

Comment

Con
Good sound for its price

Low end frequency response cutoff is at a decent 90Hz, but there is a drop between 10-15 kHz at low volumes. Overall the response is average, but better than almost any budget TV.

Comment

Con
High response time means longer delays

Gamers require the fastest response possible so they aren't even a frame behind their opponents. The response time on this TV is 18.7. For comparison, computer monitors geared towards gaming often offer 5ms or lower response time. 16ms is commonly thrown around as the total delay before it can become noticeable. This 18.7ms delay plus mouse delay will be considerably over the 16ms threshold.

Comment

Con
Thick design

The bezel of the TV is made out of glossy plastic and it's 1.6 cm thick. The thickness of the TV itself is 6.2 cm, so it will stick out from the wall a bit.

Comment

Pro
Multiple sizes versions exist

There are several sizes available to suit various needs and budgets.

Comment

Con
Noticeable distortion at high volumes

Harmonic distortion is minimal at low volumes, but the sound gets significant distortion at high volumes.

Comment

Pro
Sharp, clear text in PC mode

Chroma 4:4:4 input is recognized in PC mode, so text will look sharp and clear.

Comment

Con
Large footprint

The stand is made of plastic and t’s quite wide and reaches far towards the back, so this TV has a large footprint.

Comment

Con
There may be a need for an external sound system

The TV is loud, with a maximum volume of 89dB. However, since the sound distorts at high volumes, it is advisable buy an external sound system for larger rooms.

Comment

Con
Reflections are noticeable

The semi-glossy screen does not handle reflections well. Although direct reflections are seen clearly, ambient lightning reflections aren’t too noticeable.

Comment

Con
No support for signals above 60 Hz

The TV supports signals up to 4K resolution and 60Hz with HDR support, meaning that most formats are supported except for 1080p at 120Hz.

Comment

Con
Wide color gamut not supported

The TV has a 10-bit panel but it does not support a wide color gamut, so there won’t be a visible difference when it comes to HDR content.

Comment

Con
Problems displaying HDR content

While HDR content is supported by the TV, it lacks the ability to properly display it. The KU6300 will display HDR content with less highlights and without the extra color data found in HDR compared to a standard signal. So although it can read and display HDR signals, you won’t be able to take full advantage of it.

Comment

Con
No display port

Display port is a port used to deliver high amounts of data, and more favourable than HDMI for very high resolution high fps gaming.

Comment

Con
Color distortion and brightness loss at higher viewing angles

The monitor is best viewed directly as the viewing angle of the screen is really shallow and colors start to get distorted at 35 degrees. There is a noticeable brightness loss at 31 degrees.

Comment

Pro
The best picture quality at its price.

The contrast levels are great even in dark environments. Brightness is average compared to other sets in its price range, but there should'nt be any problems in bright conditions like sunny rooms. Colors and shadows are look natural with almost no color banding. However, it doesn't upscale lower resolution videos well, making it look blurry and undetailed. Although this TV can playback HDR content, the actual result will not be as impressive as on the more expensive high-end models, lacking the really bright details and dark shadows.

Comment

Pro
Vivid scenes

The TV's decent black levels and contrast ratio of 1:4100 results in vivid scenes and sits above other TVs in this price range.

Comment

Pro
Compatibility with emerging technologies

The H8 supports 4K resolution, HDR, video streaming and HDMI 2.0 ensuring compatibility with the latest devices and emerging standards in streaming. For those with outdated TVs, this set is a worthwhile upgrade if you plan on acquiring streaming services and the latest media hardware without spending a fortune on a new set.

Comment

Pro
Wide range of applications with Opera TV

It uses an Opera TV platform that offers a wide range of applications, all the most popular streaming services are available.

Comment

Pro
Reflections are barely noticeable

Reflections aren’t that noticeable since the screen has a semi-gloss finish.

Comment

Pro
Built-in wi-fi

Wi-fi is built in, so there's no need to lay a cable from your router.

Comment

Pro
Can play HDR

The TV can display HDR content, but it won't look as good with higher-end TVs that support a wider color gamut and have better contrast ratios.

Comment

Pro
Suitable for use in sunlit rooms

There should not be any problems watching this TV in bright rooms as the brightness tops at 350 nits.

Comment

Pro
Good overall sound quality

Harmonic distortion hardly becomes noticeable even in high volumes. Though not fantastic, it actually fares better than most of its competitors in its price range.

Comment

Pro
Remote control has basic functionality dedicated streaming services buttons

Remote control comes with basic functionality and with dedicated buttons for the popular streaming services, so they are easily accessible even for users that have not used smart TV functions before.

Comment

Con
Average motion handling

Much like other TVs in this price point, motion handling is rather average with noticeable judder especially for discerning viewers.

Comment

Con
Issues with HDR content

The TV lacks a wide color gamut and sufficient brightness to properly display HDR content.

Comment

Con
Very thick

The TV is thick, measuring 7.6 cm: quite bulky when compared to other TVs.

Comment

Con
Average sound quality

It has average sound quality and modest loudness measuring only at 86dB. The frequency response is average for a TV, as the lows are cut off at 106Hz and there is a noticeable dip in the higher frequencies.

Comment

Con
Slight color oversaturation

Color reproduction is decent with no visible gradient banding due to its 10 bit panel, but the colors will have a tendency to be slightly oversaturated.

Comment

Con
Average, cheap-looking design

The design is average and feels cheap and plasticky, the only exception being the stands which has a different finish and gives it a somewhat modern look. The remote control feels really cheap.

Comment

Con
Limited amount of ports

The set has only two HDMI 2.0 ports and two HDMI 1.4 ports, which may limit the number of devices you can connect to the TV.

Comment

Con
Application availability and updates rely on 3rd party developers

The Opera TV store, which is used on this TV, is fairly popular but application availability and updates are heavily reliant on third party developers rather than the manufacturer.

Comment

Con
Very narrow viewing angle

Viewing angle is very narrow; color shifts are noticeable even at shallow angles.

Comment

Con
Difficult to fit on some TV tables

The stands have a nice finish, compared to the rest of the TV, but they are wide apart, meaning that it will be stable, but will not suit all TV tables.

Comment

Con
Some glitches in application handling

Although it's fast, responsive, and easy to use, it sometimes suffers from glitches and the apps have a habit of crashing. In some cases, the TV simply freezes and you'll need to restart the TV.

Comment

Pro
Small details will look sharp and clear

The TV is a great monitor for tasks like text editing, web browsing, 3D modelling or other situations where detailed color information is needed for each pixel. It supports 4:4:4 chroma in PC mode or uncompressed color data for each individual pixel. It eliminates jagginess on text and loss of detail on small objects caused by pixels with inaccurate color data.

Comment

Pro
Smooth motion for movies and games

The X800D’s strong motion control handling make it great for movies and games. At 15ms the pixel response time is better than its price range competitors which results in virtually no blurring or trailing with fast moving objects on the screen. Additionally, it supports black frame insertion, even in game mode, which further smoothes the picture and reduces eye tracking motion blur.

Comment

Pro
Great color reproduction

Despite the low price, this TV offers near-premium display specs and HDR functionality which separates this TV from its competitors. Sony’s Triluminos technology allows a much wider color gamut and more natural looking colors previously only found on high-end models. Pictures will look more dynamic and natural compared to other TVs in this price range, especially when using an HDR signal.

Comment

Pro
Thin TV with thin bezels

The bezels are only 1 cm thin and TV itself is only 4.5 cm thin, so it will look good either on a wall or on a table.

Comment

Pro
Picture enhancement

This TV has a special processor that enhances picture quality. The signal is broken down and sent to the display in several components (texture, outline, contrast, and color). Each one is separately analyzed and processed, to ensure the clearest, sharpest, most attractive final image.

Comment

Pro
43" model has excellent contrast ratio

It has an excellent contrast ratio of 3900:1, providing a dynamic looking picture.

Comment

Pro
Good frequency response

Low frequency cut off is at 90Hz and there are no major drops on the high frequencies, ranking this TV above average

Comment

Pro
Good support for various input formats and resolutions

The X800D’s support for different resolutions and refresh rates, when hooked up as a PC monitor, is excellent.

Comment

Pro
Input lag sufficient for casual gamers

Casual gamers will be satisfied as X800D delivers barely noticeable input lag of 33ms at 1080p and 35ms at 4K.

Comment

Pro
Attractive, compact stand

The stand is metallic and does not require much space on a table.

Comment

Pro
49" model has good viewing angles

For the 49-inch model the viewing angle is very generous and can suit almost all situations.

Comment

Pro
Handles reflections adequately if the room isn’t too bright

The screen has a semi-glossy finish which helps reduce reflections.

Comment

Pro
Speakers suitable for daily use

This TV's speakers are okay for regular use at normal volumes, reaching 92dB which is enough for a mid-sized room. But for larger rooms it is recommended to buy a separate sound system.

Comment

Con
43" model has rather poor viewing angles

Colors start to shift at 20 degrees and a noticeable brightness loss begins at 40 degrees.

Comment

Con
49" model has mediocre contrast ratio

Contrast is about 1500:1 for the 49-inch model.

Comment

Con
No support for signals above 60 Hz

The TV supports signals up to 4K resolution and 60Hz with HDR support, meaning that most formats are supported except for 1080p at 120Hz.

Comment

Con
Input lag might be too much for pro gamers

If you are a serious first person shooter or racing game player, where every millisecond counts, the input lag may not suit you.

Comment

Con
Lacking black levels

Although the TV can reproduce colors brilliantly, provides a great picture in a dark environment and the shadows can be distinguished clearly in complex dark scenes. The black levels won’t compete with higher end models since it lacks local dimming, or the ability to dim the LEDs only on parts of the screen displaying black.

Comment

Con
Depending on the setting, inputs can be hard to access

Note that if the TV is mounted on a wall, some inputs are difficult to access.

Comment

Con
Somewhat lacking brightness

The maximum brightness of the set is 375 nits, which provides acceptable performance in sunlit rooms. HDR content, where brightness is needed, will look decent but lacks the peak brightness of higher-end models.

Comment

Con
Separate power brick

There is a separate power brick on the 49” version.

Comment

Con
Distortion at higher volumes

Harmonic distortion is not a problem in low and mid high volumes, but the sound becomes heavily distorted at maximum volume.

Comment

Pro
Good picture quality

Full array local dimming with 64 zones and Clear Action 960 provide a very sharp picture with deep blacks.

Comment