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Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

What to Look for in a 4K TV in 2021

To fully enjoy 4K content, your TV must deliver exceptional performance. Look for wide viewing angles, high contrast with deep blacks, and preserved detail in dark scenes.

Top models often feature full-array local dimming, which darkens specific screen areas for superior contrast and vibrant, color-rich images.

A premium 4K TV should also offer fast response times to eliminate lag or stutter, plus ample HDMI and USB ports for cable boxes, game consoles, and media players. High-end options include HDMI 2.1 ports and 120Hz refresh rates.

In our comprehensive guide to the best TVs, we cover leading display technologies. Budget-friendly LED LCD TVs provide solid images but can struggle with contrast without advanced features.

Self-emissive OLED displays, where each pixel generates its own light, deliver near-infinite contrast by turning off individual pixels. However, they carry a risk of burn-in. Understand these trade-offs before buying.

Now, discover our top 4K TV recommendations based on rigorous testing.

Best 4K TV Overall: Samsung QN90A Series

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

Samsung's QN90A flagship from the NEO QLED lineup stands out with Mini LED backlighting, enabling extreme brightness where needed.

Full-array local dimming ensures deep blacks and high contrast, though you might notice a slight halo effect around bright objects on dark backgrounds.

The QLED panel offers wide viewing angles with crisp images from any seat. It delivers solid response times, HDMI 2.1, and a native 120Hz refresh rate ideal for gaming.

HDR content shines with peak brightness and wide color gamut, supporting HDR10+ (but not Dolby Vision). While not the ultimate gaming TV, its features excel with Xbox or PlayStation consoles.

Best Budget 4K TV: Hisense U6G Series

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

The Hisense U6G delivers impressive value with strong contrast, uniform blacks, minimal backlight flicker, and effective local dimming.

Viewing angles are limited, and the smart interface includes ads. It's perfect for sports, shows, and SDR movies in bright rooms—but dim the lights for HDR, as peak brightness is modest.

Gaming performance surprises with low input lag and quick response times, rivaling pricier sets. It lacks HDMI 2.1 or variable refresh rates. Vizio offers solid alternatives, but the U6G wins on price and performance.

Best 4K TV for Gaming: LG C1 Series

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

LG's 2021 C1 OLED series outpaces rivals, excelling in TV shows, HDR movies, and especially gaming with PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Four HDMI 2.1 ports support 120Hz across the board, with a game optimizer and compatibility for AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync, and variable refresh rate.

Near-infinite contrast and colors immerse you in games—especially in dark rooms. Avoid prolonged static images to prevent OLED burn-in.

Best 4K TV for Movies: LG G1 Series

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

The LG G1 excels for movies, particularly HDR, with outstanding contrast for stunning visuals and fast response times to banish motion blur or jitter.

Wide viewing angles make it ideal for group movie nights. It handles 24p cinema framing smoothly, eliminating judder.

Drawbacks include OLED burn-in risk and occasional aggressive auto-brightness limiting (ABL), noticeable in sports or games. For cinephiles, it's unbeatable.

Best 75-inch 4K TV: LG C1 77-inch

Best 4K TVs of 2021: Expert Picks for Every Budget and Need

Go big with the 77-inch LG C1, boasting near-infinite contrast and versatile connectivity: four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USBs, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (no composite inputs).

All HDMI ports support 120Hz and variable refresh rates. Audio passthrough handles Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 5.1.

OLED burn-in and moderate brightness suit controlled lighting best. Perfect for movies and games on a grand scale.