Hey there! As you probably know, 4K televisions can produce incredibly sharp, ultra high-definition images that make shows and movies feel immersive. But while 4K TV prices have droppedquickly, there are still some drawbacks to these cutting-edge sets you should consider before upgrading in 2023.
In this buyer‘s guide from a home theater enthusiast, I‘ll outline 5 compelling reasons why it still isn‘t the right time for most people to buy a 4K TV this year:
1. 4K TV Prices Are Dropping, But Remain Expensive
There‘s no doubt 4K television prices have come down swiftly since this resolution debuted. In 2022, the average 55-inch 4K TV cost $897, a 40% drop from 2020. Seems great, right?
But compare that to quality 55-inch 1080p HD TVs, which sell for just $428 on average — less than half the price!
For many household budgets, it‘s still difficult justifying paying over $400 more for that extra pixel density. Not when so much content is still lower resolution, as we‘ll get into next.
| TV Type | Average 55" Price |
|---|---|
| 4K TV | $897 |
| 1080p TV | $428 |
So while discounts are welcome news, 4K televisions remain premium purchases out of reach for many. You‘re simply not getting 2x the experience for 2x the money yet.
2. 4K Content Selection Remains Extremely Limited
Here‘s the real catch — while these TVs can display 8 million pixels per frame, most movies and shows simply don‘t contain resolution that high. In fact, less than 10% of available content is natively 4K as of early 2023.
According to research firm MoffettNathanson, only 7% of Netflix‘s catalog is available to stream in 4K as of January 2023. They estimate less than 5% for other major platforms like Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO Max too.
Without enough native 4K video sources, that extra resolution often goes untapped. You‘ll end up watching mainly upscaled 1080p or SD video that doesn‘t fully showcase what your expensive 4K television can do.
| Streaming Service | % of Library Offered in 4K |
|---|---|
| Netflix | 7% |
| Hulu | <5% |
| Prime Video | <5% |
| HBO Max | <5% |
Since greater than 90% of what you‘ll probably watch is non-4K, it begs the question — is paying the premium for 4K capabilities worth it yet?
3. Streaming 4K Requires Much Faster Internet
Here‘s another catch of 4K televisions – they require very fast internet speeds to stream Ultra HD content smoothly.
Netflix themselves recommend a consistent internet connection of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for streaming their limited 4K library without buffering. For perspective, that‘s over 3x faster than the 5-8 Mbps needed for smooth 1080p streaming.
Many households don‘t subscribe to internet packages that reliable yet. As of 2022, the average internet speed in the United States is just 115 Mbps. And connections often run slower than advertised, especially during peak evening hours when congestion piles up.
This speed gap leads to frequent buffering and stream quality drops. That ruins the 4K viewing experience.
| Video Format | Minimum Internet Speed |
|---|---|
| 4K Streaming | 25 Mbps |
| 1080p Streaming | 5-8 Mbps |
| Average U.S. Internet Speed | 115 Mbps |
Until internet infrastructure improves, users will be bottlenecked without enough bandwidth headroom for flawless 4K streams.
4. Results Vary Greatly When Upscaling 1080p To 4K
Okay, so streaming native 4K video isn‘t widely practical yet for many. But can‘t 4K televisions just "upconvert" the lower 1080p resolution most watch into something closer to 4K sharpness?
The answer is…it depends. Every 4K TV houses image processing technology to upscale non-4K signals. Performance between models varies wildly though.
Some 4K televisions manage this conversion wonderfully, employing advanced AI and quality components that sharpen and clean up lower resolution sources very nicely.
However, cheaper 4K TVs often have very mediocre upscalers. Instead of getting a crisp near-4K image from a 1080p Blu-ray movie or cable broadcast, visuals can look overly soft, pixelated, and artifact-ridden.
This defeats the point of owning a 4K television when most of what you watch could look worse than on a quality 1080p display.
Without an extremely performant video processor on board, results take a nosedive. So that‘s an important capability to account for if you pull the trigger anyway.
5. Industry Standards Remain In Flux
Stepping back, the 4K video ecosystem is still rapidly evolving. Technical standards are in flux and lack widespread consistency across services and devices right now.
A perfect example is High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology. HDR renders a wider range of brightness levels for atmospheric contrast closer to what our eyes see. It‘s a key ingredient that makes 4K content shine brighter with more realistic depth and details.
Problem is there are currently 3 major HDR formats duking it out with no consensus winner yet: HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG. All have their pros and cons.
Content studios and streaming platforms support them differently depending on licensing costs and technical limitations too. This fractures the compatibility landscape for consumers when trying to watch HDR movies.
Until HDR format unification emerges, frustrating compromises with 4K picture quality happen because of ongoing interoperability issues.
The same holds for HDMI standards connecting devices as well as access and copy protection protocols surrounding premium content. Those facets remain fragmented too.
This standardization uncertainty introduces pitfalls for less tech savvy people diving into the 4K arena at present time.
Okay, you get it now. There are some compelling reasons to postpone that 4K television purchase another year or two. So what are better options today that serve up fantastic visuals at reasonable costs?
OLED TVs (LG B2 Series)
What OLED televisions lack in peak resolution they more than compensate for with their mesmerizingly beautiful image quality driven by self-illuminating pixels and best-in-class contrast.
An OLED TV like the bang-for-buck LG B2 provides deeper, more uniform blacks alongside rich, cinematic colors. Scenes pop with extra perceived detail that outshines what standard 4K LCD/LED televisions can achieve right now.
Better still – OLEDs cost hundreds less on average than equal-sized 4K TVs! So you enjoy superior picture splendor that arguably outpaces 4K/HDR Televisions in many areas while saving big bucks not chasing higher resolutions yet.
1080p Plasma TVs (Used Panasonic ST60 Series)
You might be surprised to hear this, but lauded plasma televisions from 10+ years ago still perform better than most brand new 4K LCD options hitting the market lately.
Renowned display review site Rtings.com gave the 2013 Panasonic ST60 their highest picture quality score ever awarded. It continues to equal or outrank the clarity of $3,000+ flagship 4K models Samsung and LG have released the past couple years.
For under $700 used on eBay, I‘d take a mint 60" 2013 Panasonic plasma over ANY similarly priced 2023 4K LED/LCD television without hesitation. The colors, contrast richness, deep blacks, motion handling, and liveliness remains untouched at this price point.
There‘s no question 4K TVs are now cheaper than ever with appealing razor sharpness. But limitations around price, available content, internet speeds, upscaling prowess, and technical maturity damper their real-world experience for most of us.
Rather than overpaying to become an early adopter still working through growing pains, now is the time enjoy advancing display technologies that offer comparable visual impact for substantially LESS money.
The plunge into 4K and next-generation 8K televisions will be right someday as infrastructure catches up. But for 2023, compelling alternatives like OLED and used plasma TVs bring you unbeatable bang for buck that looked better to my eyes.
Hope this detailed buyer‘s guide helps you decide whether to upgrade your television this year or hold off just a little longer! Feel free to reach out with any questions.
