Sony is going all out to get its 4K streaming service Ultra in gear on April 4, and that means consumers will have yet another great reason to get their hands on a Sony 4K Ultra HD TV with Android TV in the United States. However, the question of exactly how much moola they'll need to fork over for the service still remains.
The Cost
A 4K movie with HDR on Ultra will cost $30 apiece, and as a cherry on top, each one will come with Digital Extras free of charge.
The initial selection Sony laid out includes films such as Concussion, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Ghostbusters, The Night Before and The Walk. It should also be noted that customers who buy a compatible TV this summer will get four free movies upon sign-up.
The other goodies don't end at that too, as viewers who already have HD films from the Sony Pictures Store can upgrade them to 4K at a discounted price. On that note, Ultra is also compatible with UltraViolet, providing owners the capability of linking their Ultra profiles to their UltraViolet libraries and streaming their Sony Pictures content that were bought via other UltraViolet-compatible stores.
Going over the math real quick, a Sony 4K Ultra HD with Android TV starts out at $799.99 for the 43-inch model, and each movie is priced at $30 a pop, so purchasing a TV this summer will save $120 easily. That means $829.99 will be enough for a great experience with all five movies that Sony mentioned.
"Consumers are rapidly upgrading their living rooms to 4K, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's new ULTRA streaming service will provide a premium viewing experience to satisfy growing demand for 4K movies and television shows. Ultra takes advantage of the latest industry innovations – 4K resolution, high dynamic range, a wider color spectrum, digital movie extras and UltraViolet interoperability – so viewers get the most out of their televisions and their movie collections," Jake Winett, VP of consumer services and advanced platforms at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, says.
The Background
As a quick refresher, Sony introduced Ultra at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, showcasing the Netflix-like 4K possibilities. That was just a little shy of four months ago, indicating just how determined Sony is to make the app accessible to viewers as soon as possible.
Engadget also got in touch with Winett, finding out that it's easy for the company to add in a rental option on Ultra and noting that it could be included in the service when Sony sees a demand for it.
The Cost In Perspective
To start things off, Amazon also has a 4K streaming offering, and it's part of the Amazon Prime subscription. That means it'll hold back subscribers by $99 annually.
Meanwhile, the other option to watch 4K movies is to buy the $399.99 Samsung UBD-K8500, the first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. For 4K content on this front, a disc will cost $19.99 and above. That could save a couple of bucks at times, but it cuts both ways, as other discs will cost more than the $30 offering that Sony brought to the table.
The Bottom Line
Ultra is a pretty viable option for 4K movies at $829.99, and it's arguably the most affordable choice out of the bunch. Yes, the Samsung UBD-K8500 is a good way to go as well, but that's $399.99 plus perhaps $200 more for a good collection of 4K discs, totaling to $600 without a 4K TV in the equation.
As for Amazon, the retailer has been garnering a ton of 4K movies and shows in line too, receiving quite a lot of support from third parties. However, this alternative comes with subscription-based shackles. On the bright side, Amazon Prime does offer more than just 4K content, including but not limited to unlimited photo storage, free two-hour delivery and music streaming.
In the end, the best bet is still probably Sony's Ultra, as $829.99 already includes a 43-inch 4K TV plus five 4K movies to choose from, not to mention there's more or less a possibility that a rental option could roll out in the foreseeable future.
