Experts at Consumer Reports have done their research and expect to see major TV 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," Consumer Reports' Jim Willcox said.
That means your money goes further. For example, for $500, you should be able to get a 40-inch 4K Ultra HD TV from a top-performing brand, something that would have cost you nearly twice as much just a few years ago.
"As the TV industry matures, as new features come into the marketplace, at first they're expensive," Willcox said. "Then they become less expensive as they, you know, 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.
