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4K TVs are everywhere nowadays, and there are plenty of incredible-looking UHD TVs making the most of the advanced display technology. Here at TechRadar we've put our heads together to bring you the top 4K TVs of 2018 – all of which you can get your hands on right now.
The call for crisper pictures and higher resolutions has been answered, and 2018 was possibly the year when 4K TVs (also known as Ultra HD or UHD) truly broke through to the home entertainment market.
While we're sure to hear of a fleet of new sets in the new year, at CES 2019, the past 12 months saw a huge number of attractive 4K TVs. All the big tech players are on board, and they're all keen to push their sets to the best they can be.
- Want to know about the best 4K TVs of 2019? Our CES 2019 coverage starts January 7!
That means there's never been a better time to buy a 4K Ultra HD TV. The technology is improving all the time and 4K content from the likes of Netflix and Amazon has become the new norm (and that's before you get to physical Blu-ray discs).
But remember that putting out a new 4K TV isn't just about how many pixels you can pack into a screen – it's about the quality of those pixels as well. With that in mind, we're excited about the very latest add-ons to UHD, including High Dynamic Range and Wide Colour Gamut, which promise to take all those pixels and make them truly shine.
We've been testing TVs since the dawn of 4K, and using that wealth of experience alongside the hundreds of TVs that have crossed our paths, we've created a list of the best 4K TVs of 2018. We regularly update this list with new suggestions, so keep on checking back to see what replaces the leading models.
What you need to know about 4K TVs
Let's have a quick 4K refresher before we get stuck in.
For starters, not only do 4K UHD screens have four times the amount of pixels as their 1080p predecessors, these 4K TVs also usually pack in screen technology like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Colour Gamut (WCG) that really make the most of those extra pixels.
The other reason 4K TVs have taken off is that game consoles, like the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, have totally embraced the 4K future, as have the Blu-ray industry and streaming video player market. Pretty much everyone is on board the 4K Ultra HD train these days, so what better time to get a set?
If all of this sounds weird or archaic or tough to understand, don't worry. We're here to help decipher the wild, wonderful world of Ultra HD. Give us a few minutes of your time and we'll help you take home the best 4K TV on the market.
Check out our video below for an introduction to the world of 4K:
Samsung Q9FN 4K TV
After an underwhelming debut, Samsung’s QLED technology really needed to bounce back in style in 2018. It didn't surprise us in the least, then, to discover Samsung threw the kitchen sink in with its new Q9FN QLED Series of 4K TVs.
As well as being even brighter and more colourful than last year’s equivalent model, Samsung's 2018 flagship screens use a completely different lighting system to combat its predecessor’s contrast problems: Full Array Local Dimming rather than edge-lit LED lighting. The FALD panel works in tandem with Samsung QLED Quantum Dots to produce a picture that's brighter and more colourful than near any we've seen come from the South Korean manufacturer.
Do those features alone make Samsung Q9FN the best 4K TV on the market? No, but throw in technology like HDR10+ and Q HDR EliteMax – what Samsung bills as its maximum High Dynamic Range experience that’s exclusive to the Q9FN – and there's very little doubt in our mind that this is Samsung's best TV ever.
Read the full review: Samsung Q9FN QLED TV (65Q9FN)
LG C8 OLED 4K TV
We've long loved LG's B-Series of OLED 4K TVs with last year's B7 OLED as the pinnacle of affordable OLED technology. But this year, LG has delayed the B-Series and has instead made the C-Series its front-running screen.
While we're a bit miffed at the price increase from last year's B7 to this year's C8, it's hard to say it's unwarranted: LG’s C8 builds on the success of last year’s models, resulting in a TV that can deliver astonishing HD/SDR images and equally impressive 4K/HDR pictures. It’s not as bright as an LCD TV but those deep blacks make a huge difference to the dynamic range of the image. It’s also capable of vibrant and gorgeous colours, not to mention an astounding level of detail with native 4K content.
The WebOS smart platform remains the best available and the choice of streaming services is second to none. Once you add the gorgeous design and a comprehensive set of features, you have one of the most complete TVs that we’ve ever reviewed.
Read the full review: LG C8 OLED (OLED55C8, OLED65C8)
Panasonic FZ952/FZ950 4K TV
There's a very good reason that Hollywood video editors master on OLED TVs – they simply outmatch anything else on the market.
And while LG and Sony certainly have their merits in this area (the former is the largest producer of OLED panels in the entire world, after all), Panasonic is certainly no slouch. All you need to do is look at the Panasonic FZ952, the latest OLED reference 4K TV from Panasonic, to see why.
The FZ952 is a luscious OLED that puts performance first. Its colour handling is class-leading, and its HDR talents are a match for any of its rivals. In fact, it just might offer the best picture performance that we’ve seen on a 4K UHD OLED to date.
The FZ952 isn’t quite the complete package though, lacking as it does Dolby Vision and Atmos compatibility, but it wins more arguments than it loses. We suspect you’ll appreciate the easy sophistication of its smart platform, the quality of that low-lag game mode, and the sheer musicality of the Technics soundbar.
Read the full review: Panasonic FZ952/FZ902 OLED
Sony Bravia AF9 OLED
The Sony Bravia A9F OLED is Sony's best OLED so far, no contest. This second-generation set manages to hold its own against Samsung and LG's renewed efforts in OLED displays – Samsung Q9FN QLED and LG E8 OLED – with a truly stunning picture.
Part of Sony's new Master Series, the A9F is a step up from last year's Sony A1 OLED. While we experienced some minor issues, like struggling black level when watching in Dolby Vision, niggles are to be expected on a set as ambitious as this. If you can live with the slightly idiosyncratic design, and afford the asking price, it’s a glorious UHD display.
Read the full review: Sony Bravia A9F OLED
Philips 803 OLED
Philips has significantly upgraded the picture processing power of its 2018 OLED TVs, and the benefits of this new found brawn can be seen writ large on the Philips 803 OLED, with enhanced contrast and spectacular colours. The brand’s second generation P5 Perfect Processing Engine offers twice the picture processing power of the original, and that was a pretty impressive chip in its own right.
While the 903 is still the brand's flagship model, beyond its Bowers & Wilkins sound system, there’s little to separate that from the 803, making it the smarter buy.
If there's anything holding Philips back from holding the top spot in our round-up, it's the minor irritations, like poor catch-up TV provision, just two full-spec UHD HDMI inputs and the lack of Dolby Vision. If that doesn't bother you, though, Philips Hue-compatible Ambilight room lighting system, and the promise of an early upgrade to the new Android Oreo TV OS, however, might just make this the most promising OLED on the market.
Read the full review: Philips 803 OLED
Sony XF90 Series 4K TV
Short and sweet, the KDL-55XF9005 is a brilliant mid-priced 4K TV. Every one of the improvements Sony has introduced over and above last year’s already excellent XE90 series – better processing, more brightness, slightly more backlight dimming zones, improved motion performance – delivers the goods, resulting in picture quality that humbles many more expensive TVs.
Its Android TV system and some generally minor backlight clouding stop it short of perfection, but it’s hard to imagine any similarly priced upcoming 65-inch UHD rival getting the better of it.
Read the full review: Sony BRAVIA KDL-55XF9005
Panasonic FZ802/FZ800 OLED TV
The FZ802 does exactly what it was designed to do: deliver exceptionally accurate pictures at a competitive price. The Panasonic is cheaper than its main competitors, but is still well made, and boasts a smart platform that is simple but highly effective. The 4K UHD TV also produces the best SDR and HDR images that we have seen out of an OLED to date, thanks largely to highly sophisticated picture processing.
It’s not the compete package, lacking the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support found on LG’s OLEDs, but it does include HDR10+. The sound quality is reasonably good for a modern slimline TV, although if that’s a factor you might want to check out Panasonic’s FZ952 with its Technics-tuned soundbar.
Read the full review: Panasonic FZ802/FZ800 OLED TV
Samsung Q7FN QLED 4K TV
While Samsung’s Q7FN isn't quite the pinnacle of QLED technology – that honor is reserved for the Q9FN – it is a great compromise between price and performance, offering a bright screen, three forms of HDR and incredibly accurate colours for £1,999 (around AU$3,699).
Ambient Mode adds a design aesthetic sure to please even the keenest of eyes and its low-latency game mode makes it a competent companion for the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro. HDR+ mode helps liven up HD/SDR content and of course 4K/HDR content has an eye-watering sheen when viewed on this set. While the Q7FN isn’t the shining star of the QLED range, it’s still a bright spot in the mid-range.
Read the full review: Samsung Q7FN QLED TV
Additional resources:
- Want something to watch? Check out our best movies on Netflix and best movies on Amazon Prime guides.
- Need to give your TV's sound a boost? Check out our guide to the best soundbars available.
- Ultra HD Blu-rays are a fantastic way of watching 4K content without worrying about buffering. Check out our guide to the best Ultra HD Blu-ray players for some suggestions.