Buying a 4K TV with HDMI 2.1 is the smartest way to prepare yourself for the near future, especially if you’re a console gamer. This latest HDMI upgrade comes with a bandwidth cap of 48Gbits per second (more than twice the 18 GBits per second obtained with HDMI 2.0), supports an uncompressed 8K signal (12-bit color) at 60 frames per second, and comes with other impressive perks such as HDR support, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and more.
In this post, we’d be reviewing some of the best 4K TVs on the market that come with HDMI 2.1 support.
Best 4K TVs with HDMI 2.1: Our Top Recommendations
HDMI 2.1 is still new. So, it’s quite understandable that only recent models by top brands would sport the feature. We hit the market and found a decent number of 4K TVs that come with HDMI 2.1 ports.
Since our aim is to help you make the right choice from the pack, we had to compare our “candidates” in terms of other important factors such as design, features, performance, brand trust, buyer reviews, and price.
After cutting out the low performers per our criteria, we ended up with these top 5 contenders.
1. Samsung Q70T
If you’re in the market for an excellent 4K without a punishing price tag, consider investing in the Samsung Q70T. It comes equipped with the Quantum Dot technology, enabling it to display more vivid and vibrant colors.
Design
There may be a few differences but cosmetically, the Q70T looks much like its sibling, the Q80T. It has a vanishingly thin bezel around the QLED screen and the design is pretty good without being anything extraordinary. Although the entire body is made of plastic, the TV is well made and it rests on wide-set feet that support it well.
In terms of connectivity, the Q70T has four HDMI ports, including one that supports HDMI 2.1, which will be included on Xbox Series 5 and PlayStation 5. In addition, you also get Ethernet, two USB ports, and an optical digital audio output as well as Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi wireless.
Features
Just like other Samsung QLEDs, the Q70T brings the latest version of Tizen, and with it comes a variety of media apps including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Apple TV.
Setting up the TV is simple, thanks to Samsung’s SmartThings app while other unique features are present such as Multi-View with Casting, which allows two screens, and Ambient Mode, which turns the set into a big JPEG gallery, able to blend along with your flock wallpaper. And serving as your virtual assistants alongside Bixby are Alexa and the Google Assistant.
Display & Performance
As mentioned earlier, the Q70T delivers a sharp picture with vibrant, noise-free colors. It is an excellent up-scaler and does a great job when it comes to adding subjective detail to HD sources. Somehow, it manages to disperse reflections on the screen via the semi-gloss layer but this is not the case when the room is brightly lit.
The VA panel sends a message that the viewing angles are average but Samsung improves on it via its Wide Viewing Angle technology. Input lag is awesome as the return figures for game mode is just bout 9.1ms. Also, the Q70T supports the basic HDR10 and the more advanced HDR10+ and HLG.
Audio
Unlike the Q80T, the Q70T doesn’t feature Object SoundTracking but it does feature two speakers with a total of 20 watts of power. It knocks off clear and loud sounds but you won’t get any form of immersion. For optimization, there are two sound modes: standard and adaptive sound, which adjusts dynamically to combat ambient noises in your space.
Pros
- Razor-sharp images and vivid colors
- Low input lag
- HDRD10+ support
- Deep black levels
Cons
- Some dimming at edges
- Limited black level
2. LG NANO85
The LG Nano85 is one of the most affordable offerings in LG’s NanoCell series. It is a 4k LED TV with an elegant design and decent overall performance.
Design
Out of the box, the NANO85 sports a stylish and modern design. Its front face has minimal bezels and it rests on a stand with two separate. Its entire body is made of plastic and it is well built. Aesthetically, the NANO85 has no remarkable feature but the minimalist approach earns it some points.
For connectivity, the NANO85 comes with four HDMI ports, two of which are HDMI 2.1, three USBs, digital optical audio, and Ethernet. It uses the same LG Magic Remote as other LG TVs.
Features
The NANO85 runs on the latest version of LG’s WebOS smart platform, which is smooth, easy to use, and bug-free. It offers a great selection of media apps including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
The TV also supports voice navigation and in addition to the company’s ThinQ, you get Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It also supports screen mirror, which allows you to cast content from your device to the TV.
Display & Performance
The LG NANO85 is powered by a7 Gen 3 image processor, which enables it to upscale images more efficiently. Because of the chipset, you get AI-related features like AI sound, AI picture, and AI brightness, which mean they can automatically change the TV settings when they detect the content on the screen. For gaming, the NANO85 has excellent latency reduction which stands at about 15ms.
Audio
As expected of a TV in its price category, the NANO85 has 40-Watt sound output 2.2 channel speakers and a 20-Watt subwoofer. As a result, it delivers sound as though it is coming from the middle of the action but it lacks sufficient bass to give the room-shaking effects.
Pros
- Good color accuracy
- Impressive reflection handling
- Low input lag
Cons
- Bad local dimming feature
3. Samsung LS03T
The Samsung LS03T is the latest model of The Frame TV, a series from the Korean giant with the option to add a frame in a variety of color options. It doubles up as a work of art when not used and can blend into your space with a mixture of your own artwork.
Design
One of the first things you’d notice about the LS03T is that it is nothing like most TVs out there that brag about thickness. Rather, the focus seems to be achieving an understated design so that it remains hidden until you turn it on. The bezels are thin on all sides and there’s no Samsung branding anywhere on the front while the stand has tiny legs.
Spin the LS03T to the back and you will find the set of ports for four HDMIs (2.0 & 2.1), two USBs, digital optical audio, and Ethernet. The TV comes with a pair of remote: one basic remote with all the buttons on it and a designer remote with a minimal button layout.
Features
As expected, the LS03T runs on Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, which is one of the best at the moment. It is easy to use, fast and comes with a selection of apps, which you can pin, delete and rearrange the row of apps as you wish. That way you can be in full control of the media apps based on your preference. Of course, all the popular streaming apps and services are present on The Frame. Press the voice control button to invoke Samsung’s Bixby and Amazon Alexa to receive your commands.
Display & Performance
Coming to the most important department, the LS03T uses a QLED panel and it has an amazing picture quality that is incredibly sharp. The actual picture quality isn’t really that great but the Quantum Processor 4K exhibits great upscaling excellence, making pictures looking crisp and clean on the screen.
The LS03T isn’t the absolute best in picture quality but it puts up great performance that might even make your friends think it uses an OLED panel. At 4K resolution with HDR, the input lag is around 15ms.
Audio
You get a 20W sound output, which is sufficient for you to hear what is being said on TV but inadequate to produce any rumble or thump. It can get quite loud to fill a large room.
Pros
- Gorgeous design
- Customizable bezels
Cons
- No Google assistant
4 Sony X900H
Also known as the X90CH, the X900H is probably the best midrange TV from Sony. It provides picture quality that punches well above its price point as well as a range of cutting-edge features.
Design
The X900H looks dashing in black and silver, with slim bezels enclosing that huge expanse of screen. It is supported by metal feet that provide a solid foundation for the TV but wide enough to take in a little extra space and depth.
Around the back left of the TV are all the side-facing connections including four HDMI 2.1 ports with HDCP 2.3, optical digital audio, two USBs, 3.5mm headphone, composite video, Ethernet, cable RF, and IR blaster.
Features
Sony X900H comes pre-installed with a combination of Android TV 9.0 and YouView, with the latter being to support UK TV catch-up services. With Android TV comes a solid selection of video and audio apps: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Vudu, Fandango Now, and Tidal as well as its support for Dolby Atmos material. Chromecast and Google Cast come built-in as do voice control through Google Assistant and Alexa.
Display & Performance
The X900H delivers superb picture quality due to Sony’s X1 processor, which did a great job at minimizing contouring and color banding. Pair the chipset with the motion processing technology, you will realize why the images are vivid and detailed with nothing forced or unnatural about the pictures delivered.
While the X900H can’t boast of being the brightest HDR TV available, its light output is still quite good. The company’s X-Wide viewing technology ensures that you get clear images even if you sit as close to the dead-ahead as possible. When Dolby Vision is detected, the TV offers you three options to select from — Dolby Bright, Dolby Vision Dark, or Vivid.
Audio
By prevailing standards, the built-in speakers are not powerful or versatile. They are basically a 20-watt setup, which Sony refers to as ‘multi-audio systems’. According to Sony’s promotion, they are to deliver more direct sounds from characters on the screen but in practice, the audio performance is not too different from that of its predecessors even though it produces full-bodied sounds.
Pros
- Excellent overall image quality
- Impressive upscaling
- Full-bodied sound
Cons
- No HDR10+
5. LG CX
The LG CX is the company’s new entry-level OLED TV, succeeding 2019’s C9 as one of the most affordable options available on the market. It packs a range of gaming features as well as an outstanding picture quality complemented with decent sound output.
Design
Up close and personal with the CX, there are no surprises as it adopts the same design that was on its forebears with the exception being that the screen has gotten thinner. It sports ultra-slim bezels on all four sides but it gets slightly chunky at the bottom, which is because it is the section that houses the inputs, power supply, speakers, and other depth-eating components.
For connections, the CX uses two panels with one around the bottom and the other at the left side of the TV. In all, you get four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, an optical audio port, and antenna plugs. The package ships with the standard ‘Magic Remote’ that has remained unchanged for a few years now.
Features
Like the rest of LG’s OLED TV lineup, the CX deploys the proprietary WebOS smart platform and its menu system hasn’t changed much. It doesn’t offer the extensive array of apps that other smart platforms offer but it does feature all the popular media apps including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Also, the platform allows you to control the TV using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, both of which you can bring up with the remote. A new feature on the platform is the Sports Integration, which will give you fixtures, score updates, and reminders when your favorite team is playing.
Display & Performance
One of the first things you’d notice about the CX is that there are several modes to choose from for optimum performance. For instance, the Filmmaker mode lets you watch movies just the way they are shot while the Cinema mode allows you to get the most accurate picture of your favorite movies. There’s also the sports and games mode. In all modes, a fact that’s too obvious to miss is that the TV displays perfect blacks, intense colors, and an overall stunning picture. This is largely due to the new a9 Gen 3 processor, which is more powerful than the chipset used on previous models.
Audio
Sonically, the CX won’t give you a wowing performance as it can’t handle deep bass very well, largely because the speaker hardware isn’t any different from that on the C9. Nonetheless, it comes with AI Sound Pro to detect and enhance dialogue so you never have to miss a word from your favorite TV show or movie. Dolby Atmos is also included in the mix to deliver a multi-dimensional sound all around you.
Pros
- Ultra-thin design
- Great picture quality
- Dolby vision HDR4
- Plenty of smart features
Cons
- Not far-field voice control
- Missing a few UK catch-up apps
Related
- 7 Best TVs with Center Stands (2024 Review)
- 6 Best 4K TVs with 120Hz Refresh Rate (2024)
- 5 Best OLED TVs for Gaming (2024 Review)
- 6 Best TVs for Off-Angle Viewing (2024 Review)
- 5 Best 4K TVs with HDMI 2.1 (2024 Review)
- 7 Best 4K TVs with 240Hz Refresh Rate (2024)
- 7 Best Blu-ray Players with Wi-Fi Connectivity (2024)
- 5 Best TVs For Video Wall Setups (2024 Review)
- 5 Best TCL 4K TVs for Gaming (2024 Review)