As a frustrated owner of an outdated TV, I did some research to better understand the differences between 4K and LED TVs. After weighing the pros and cons, and researching tips and tricks, I have finally decided which one is the better option for me. I’m here to share my solution and the other solutions I discovered while doing my research.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview of 4K TV and LED TV
Both TVs have the same function—which is to emit videos on a screen. They also serve as a form of entertainment for many.
However, they only differ when it comes to their specifications. One is far more advanced when it comes to the technology it uses, while the other uses older technology, but is still on par with functionality.
4K TVs
4K TVs started in 2012, but it wasn’t until 2016 that it became popularized. The main distinction of 4K TVs is that it features a resolution that was originally used in digital cinema, which is 3840 x 2160. Said resolution is four times greater than other TVs.
People prefer 4K TVs not only because of their advancement (technology-wise). Furthermore, the TV also upgrades your watching experience because of how sharp and clear the images it produces are.
LED TVs
LED TVs, on the other hand, started hitting the market in 2004. It’s closely related to an LCD TV because both of them use backlighting to project pictures on the screen. Additionally, LED TVs have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or Full HD.
Though LED TVs have been in the market for a long time, they’re still one of the dominant TVs in the market. In fact, this kind of TV is still considered the best option when purchasing one, because the technology used for them is timeless.
4K TV and LED TV Comparison
In order to identify which TV is worth your money, you have to assess its differences. With that, you’ll be able to conclude which kind of TV suits your needs and preferences.
We’ll compare the TVs according to their image output, price, and the like.
- Color Accuracy
Since 4K TVs have more pixels, they can display more colors. As such, the color it produces is much more accurate and balanced. It can show the lightest and deepest colors, without the screen looking like it’s overexposed or underexposed.
On the other hand, LED TVs have a wide color gamut. This means the TV can also handle light and dark colors perfectly. In actuality, people who do color grading use LED TVs and monitors because of how accurate the colors are.
- Video Upscaling and Descaling
Video scaling is the deal breaker for people who prefer high-quality media when watching on their TV.
4K TVs are good at down-scaling any type of media. Say you’re watching an 8K film, the TV will easily downscale it to the size of your screen while retaining the original details.
However, up-scaling media isn’t the appliance’s strong suit. When the appliance upscales any form of media that’s lower than 4K resolution, the quality will look compressed.
LED TVs are good at up-scaling and descaling. Since most LED TVs have 1080p resolution, they can easily upscale media. Videos with a lower resolution will look clearer and sharper on a 1080p screen. The same goes with descaling because it’ll still retain the details.
- Energy Efficiency
Televisions in general consume high amounts of energy daily. If you’re a person who uses the TV as background noise, or you just have it open to catch the headlines, you should opt for an energy-efficient TV.
A 4K TV that’s on standby consumes 0.6 watts of energy. When it’s turned on, it consumes a whopping 80 watts. If the TV is on for 12 hours a day, and the kilowatt-hour cost is 15.46c, the energy cost per year is $54.17.
Moving on to LED TVs, they only consume 0.5 watts on standby, and 59 watts when it’s turned on. Using the same amount of usage and kilowatt-hour cost that’s mentioned earlier, the energy cost per year is $39.95.
- Price
Of course, not everyone has the luxury to buy the latest models. With that said, it’s best to determine which kind of TV costs more.
4K TVs can cost anywhere around $299 up to $24,999. The factors that affect the price are its size, as well as the brand. Smaller TVs and 4K TVs offered by lesser-known brands are much cheaper. Nonetheless, they’re still of great quality.
LED TVs, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from $89.99 up to $5,000. The same factors are also applied to LED TVs. Additionally, there aren’t that many Full HD LED TVs that are out in the market, so the options are quite limited.
| Pros of 4K TV | Cons of 4K TV |
|---|---|
| Resolution of 3840 x 2160, four times | Expensive |
| greater than other TVs | Not good at upscaling media |
| Sharp and clear images | High energy consumption |
| Advanced technology | |
| Can downscale any type of media |
| Pros of LED TV | Cons of LED TV |
|---|---|
| Wide color gamut | Uses older technology |
| Accurate colors | Limited options for Full HD LED TVs |
| Good at up-scaling and descaling media | |
| Low energy consumption | |
| Affordable |
Final Verdict
So, the discussion about 4K vs LED TV is a tough one, because there aren’t that many differences. It’s only a matter of preference of which one you think is better.
After all, they have the same functions. Whether you choose a 4K TV over an LED TV, it’ll still do its job, which is to entertain.
Read more: 4k TV is blurry
