Hisense and other TV manufacturers are talking relatively low dollars and cents for 4K HDR TVs at CES 2016 in Las Vegas this week. Hisense is leading the charge with 43-inch 4K sets as low as $400.
Ahead of CES 2016, Vizio continued its effort to drive down the price of 4K TV sets by the affordable D-series. The D-series' lineup includes a 40-inch 4K TV for $600 and 50-inch 4K TV for $729.
That was the floor for 4K TV from any company with brand recognition. That was the floor until CES 2016.
Hisense
Hisense's H7 series TV set is home to a 43-inch 4K TV that's going for $400 and a 50-inch model that's priced at $550, both of which are smart TVs.
The pair of economy-priced 4K TVs include support for HDR, motion smoothing and UHD upscaling. Neither of them have local dimming, a technology that can dim areas of the screen to make colors deeper.
For $50 more than the $550 H7 series set, Hisense is offering a 50-inch H8 series 4K TV that includes local dimming.
Hisense will begin shipping the H7 and H8 series this April.
TCL And Roku TV
With the help of its partners, Roku plans to launch nearly 60 smart TVs this year. One such partner set to release TV sets with Roku's brand is TCL.
TCL plans to launch two series of 4K Roku TVs that'll be available in sizes of 43, 50, 55 and 65 inches. One of the company's representatives told CNET that the 55-inch model would come in at $600, making it $50 cheaper than Hisense's 55-inch H7 model at $650.
While TCL has revealed pricing for its 4K Roku TV sets, that $600 ceiling for the 55-inch model suggests that the company will offer a 43-inch 4K TV at around the price of Hisense's set of the same size.
TCL will also partner with Roku on the company's push for HDR Roku TVs. As the company prepares to build HDR smart TVs based on Roku's reference designs, TCL's Chris Larson, vice president of sales and marketing, heralded the release of his company's Roku-branded 4K TV as a "significant step" in its partnership with Roku.
"We're confident we'll deliver one of the richest experiences available on a 4K smart TV and that consumers will love the complete 4K entertainment package these TVs deliver," says Larson. "TCL is also thrilled to be one of the first partners using the new Roku TV HDR reference design to enhance the great picture quality of TCL Roku TVs."
Sharp
Even as brand new big screens snack on a dearth of UHD content, Sharp has its eyes on what comes after 4K. However, while it pushes its pixel splitting Beyond 4K UHD TVs, the company is still tipping the branches at the bottom of the tree to entice the budget conscious.
Sharp's N6000U is ripe with 4K TVs and will offer consumers a UHD selection that includes a 43-inch for $449.99, a 50-inch for $599.99 and a 55-inch for $749.99.
The three sets won't feature local dimming or full support for HDR, though they are capable of displaying the content. The N7000 line will offer local dimming for about an extra $50 per set.
The N6000U TV sets will be at the core of Sharp's 2016 offerings, the company stated.
"The Sharp brand has long been esteemed in the TV industry for pioneering sophisticated picture technologies and creating the big screen category," saiys Mary O'Neill, Sharp brand marketing manager. "2016 will be no different, with unique viewing features coupled with paramount quality, immense screen sizes and high value."
