SAN ANTONIO – Shopping for a new television this holiday season? Screen sizes are bigger than ever, and prices keep falling. Consumer Reports is offering some helpful buying advice to folks looking for a new television.
Experts at Consumer Reports have done their research and expect to see major television brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony as part of some holiday deals. In the past, those deals have mostly included only budget brands like TCL, Hisense and Westinghouse. Some of the lesser brands have been really aggressive, both in the 1080p and 4K markets. What that’s done is put a lot of pricing pressure on the major brands.
That means your money goes further. For example, for $500, you should be able to get a 40-inch 4K Ultra HD television from a top-performing brand would have cost a buyer nearly twice as much just a few years ago.
As the television industry matures, as new features come into the marketplace, at first they’re expensive. Then they become less expensive as they get rolled out into mainstream models.
That’s why for $750, you should be able to buy a higher-tier 50-inch 4K Ultra HD set from a major brand, which consistently do better in Consumer Reports’ ratings than value brands.
Spend a little more and you’ll likely get a larger screen and more of the latest features, including better video processing and high dynamic range, which can yield better contrast and more realistic looking images. And because most people keep their TVs for seven to 10 years, Consumer Reports says it’s worth it to spend that extra $100 or $150 if it means getting a higher-quality TV.