Believe it or not, there are already more than 20 models of flat-panel LED LCD TVs with 4K resolution for sale in the US. Here's how their prices and screen sizes stack up. October 1, 2013 1:34 PM PDT The Sony XBR-X850A was the first major-brand 4K TV to hit $3500. (Credit: Sony Electronics) This time last year there were zero 4K/Ultra High Definition TVs on the market. The first, LG's 84LM9600, launched in late October 2012 and sold for $20,000. Now there are more than 20, ranging from 39 inches for $700 all the way up to 85 inches for $40,000. It seems like every week another TV maker launches another 4K TV, cuts pricing on current models, or both. Most are still very expensive however. The lowest you'll pay for a 4K set from a non-Chinese TV maker is $3500 for 55 inches. Those prices have fallen somewhat as manufacturers jostle for a slice of the nascent, tiny, yet quickly growing 4K pie. They might fall yet again before the holiday season or afterward, as the inevitably larger wave of 2014 4K TVs makes its way onto store shelves. In the meantime, if for some reason you want a first-generation 4K TV, we've compiled the following list of every one we know about that's available, or soon to be available, in the U.S. this year. Unfortunately we've only had the opportunity to review one of them so far, the $999 50-inch Seiki. We have reviewed a few comparable, flagship-caliber non-4K sets from major TV makers however--namely the Sony KDL-55W900A, the Samsung UNF8000 and the LG 55LA8600. They should give an inkling of the picture quality of their 4K cousins. In case you're wondering, that inkling tells me the Sony sets should outperform the non-85-inch Samsungs very slightly and the LGs more. My experience with the Seiki and previous TCL sets warns me not to expect much from them. I won't speculate about the picture quality of the others, however, beyond my strong hunch that none of these 4K TVs, which are all LED-based LCDs, can outperform the best plasmas, let alone OLED TVs. I won't know for sure until I can test them, however. On the table below, pricing is current at Amazon or, if unavailable there, at BestBuy.com as of today. If pricing isn't available, the lowest announced price is listed. Click through to the links for our writeups and further information on each TV. This table will be updated throughout 2013 to reflect any new models or large price drops. Manufacturer Model Size Price Seiki SE39UY04 39-inch $699 Seiki SE50UY04 (review) 50-inch $966 TCL LE50UHDE5691 50-inch $999 Seiki SE65UY04 65-inch $2,999 Sony XBR-55X850A 55-inch $3,498 Samsung UN55F9000 55-inch $3,498 LG 55LA9650 55-inch $3,499 Toshiba 58L9300U 58-inch $3,756 Sony XBR-55X900A 55-inch $3,998 LG 55LA9700 55-inch $4,299 Sony XBR-65X850A 65-inch $4,998 Samsung UN65F9000 65-inch $4,998 LG 65LA9650 65-inch $4,999 Toshiba 65L9300U 65-inch $5,396 Sony XBR-65X900A 65-inch $5,498 Panasonic TC-L65WT600 65-inch $5,499 Sharp LC-70UD1U 70-inch $5,997 LG 65LA9700 65-inch $6,499 LG 84LM9600 84-inch $16,999 Toshiba 84L9300U 84-inch $16,999 Samsung UN85S9 85-inch $39,999 The future of 4K TV pricing: bold predictions So how soon before the difference between a like-sized flagship 1080p TV and its 4K TV brother becomes "affordable?" Right now that difference ranges from $1000 to $1500 at the 55-inch size for Sony, LG and Samsung. I would be surprised if by the end of 2014 that difference wasn't down to $300-$500, or about $2000 for the least-expensive 55-inch 4K TV from a major maker, and $3500 for a 65-incher. Not exactly affordable, but getting there pretty fast.
Believe it or not, there are already more than 20 models of flat-panel LED LCD TVs with 4K resolution for sale in the US. Here's how their prices and screen sizes stack up.
The Sony XBR-X850A was the first major-brand 4K TV to hit $3500.
(Credit: Sony Electronics)
This time last year there were zero 4K/Ultra High Definition TVs on the market. The first, LG's 84LM9600, launched in late October 2012 and sold for $20,000.
Now there are more than 20, ranging from 39 inches for $700 all the way up to 85 inches for $40,000. It seems like every week another TV maker launches another 4K TV, cuts pricing on current models, or both.
Most are still very expensive however. The lowest you'll pay for a 4K set from a non-Chinese TV maker is $3500 for 55 inches. Those prices have fallen somewhat as manufacturers jostle for a slice of the nascent, tiny, yet quickly growing 4K pie. They might fall yet again before the holiday season or afterward, as the inevitably larger wave of 2014 4K TVs makes its way onto store shelves.
In the meantime, if for some reason you want a first-generation 4K TV, we've compiled the following list of every one we know about that's available, or soon to be available, in the U.S. this year. Unfortunately we've only had the opportunity to review one of them so far, the $999 50-inch Seiki.
We have reviewed a few comparable, flagship-caliber non-4K sets from major TV makers however--namely the Sony KDL-55W900A, the Samsung UNF8000 and the LG 55LA8600. They should give an inkling of the picture quality of their 4K cousins.
In case you're wondering, that inkling tells me the Sony sets should outperform the non-85-inch Samsungs very slightly and the LGs more. My experience with the Seiki and previous TCL sets warns me not to expect much from them. I won't speculate about the picture quality of the others, however, beyond my strong hunch that none of these 4K TVs, which are all LED-based LCDs, can outperform the best plasmas, let alone OLED TVs. I won't know for sure until I can test them, however.
On the table below, pricing is current at Amazon or, if unavailable there, at BestBuy.com as of today. If pricing isn't available, the lowest announced price is listed. Click through to the links for our writeups and further information on each TV. This table will be updated throughout 2013 to reflect any new models or large price drops.
| Manufacturer | Model | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seiki | SE39UY04 | 39-inch | $699 |
| Seiki | SE50UY04 (review) | 50-inch | $966 |
| TCL | LE50UHDE5691 | 50-inch | $999 |
| Seiki | SE65UY04 | 65-inch | $2,999 |
| Sony | XBR-55X850A | 55-inch | $3,498 |
| Samsung | UN55F9000 | 55-inch | $3,498 |
| LG | 55LA9650 | 55-inch | $3,499 |
| Toshiba | 58L9300U | 58-inch | $3,756 |
| Sony | XBR-55X900A | 55-inch | $3,998 |
| LG | 55LA9700 | 55-inch | $4,299 |
| Sony | XBR-65X850A | 65-inch | $4,998 |
| Samsung | UN65F9000 | 65-inch | $4,998 |
| LG | 65LA9650 | 65-inch | $4,999 |
| Toshiba | 65L9300U | 65-inch | $5,396 |
| Sony | XBR-65X900A | 65-inch | $5,498 |
| Panasonic | TC-L65WT600 | 65-inch | $5,499 |
| Sharp | LC-70UD1U | 70-inch | $5,997 |
| LG | 65LA9700 | 65-inch | $6,499 |
| LG | 84LM9600 | 84-inch | $16,999 |
| Toshiba | 84L9300U | 84-inch | $16,999 |
| Samsung | UN85S9 | 85-inch | $39,999 |
The future of 4K TV pricing: bold predictions
So how soon before the difference between a like-sized flagship 1080p TV and its 4K TV brother becomes "affordable?" Right now that difference ranges from $1000 to $1500 at the 55-inch size for Sony, LG and Samsung. I would be surprised if by the end of 2014 that difference wasn't down to $300-$500, or about $2000 for the least-expensive 55-inch 4K TV from a major maker, and $3500 for a 65-incher. Not exactly affordable, but getting there pretty fast.
