WHY YOU NEED A NEW 4K TV

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO UPGRADE, WHETHER YOU’RE INVESTING IN A HIGH-END SET, OR WORKING TO A BUDGET.

To watch 4K on the amazing new Foxtel iQ4 box, you’ll need a compatible TV. The good news is that there’s never been a better time to upgrade, whether you’re investing in a high-end set, or working to a budget.

Here’s what you need to know before you splash the cash.

Firstly, there are two types of 4K TV - LED LCD and OLED. The latter is the new kid on the TV block, and fast becoming a key screen technology of choice or you can invest in the new QLED technology.

Unlike LED LCD, OLED TVs do not use a backlight. The panels are self emissive, so every pixel can be individually controlled. The most obvious benefit of such precision is that an OLED screen can deliver pitch perfect blacks. As a viewer you’ll enjoy tremendous contrast and vibrant hues. An OLED TV would be a natural upgrade for fans and owners of plasma TVs, as they share similar cinematic characteristics.

LED LCD 4K TVs tend to be cheaper than their OLED rivals (although there are notable exceptions). While they don’t have comparable black level performance, they work extremely well in brightly lit rooms.

High-end LED LCD 4K TVs can also go much brighter than OLED, making them very effective with HDR (High Dynamic Range) sources. LCD TVs either use edge lighting (and as a result are very thin), or a full array, direct backlight. The latter are a little thicker but tend to have the edge in performance. Samsung has its own souped-up LCD variant, known as QLED.

Another key reason to upgrade is the phenomenal picture processing power 4K sets possess. All TV makers have their own secret source when it comes to video processing, but all deliver images that are infinitely better than we had just a few short years ago.

The very best of these models not only present crystal clear 4K, but can also do a marvellous job upscaling lower resolution sources to UHD levels.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when upgrading to 4K is to stepup in screen size. Don’t stick with the same size set you had before. To really appreciate the extra detail that 4K offers you’ll almost certainly want to get closer to the screen than you do with HD. This means either moving the sofa nearer, or buying bigger.

Back in the days of standard def, most of us wanted to sit back from our TV as the picture looked pretty crummy close up. Things improved with the arrival of HD. However, 4K is a huge step forward. The ultra crisp detail means you can comfortably view up close. Indeed, you should watch from a distance that’s no more than twice diagonal of your screen. Small wonder 4K has really driven interest in TVs larger than 50-inches.

The good news is that with a fashion for ultra thin bezels and minimalist design, a larger screen size may not take up appreciably more space than the model you’re replacing.