- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best TV
- Mid-range TV
- Budget TV
- All Reviews
- Discussions
The 7 Best 4k TVs for Watching Sports - September 2018
Reviews
- Store-bought TVs; no cherry-picked units
- Retest after major updates
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
Manufacturers have focused their efforts to release models that will keep sports fans happy. When looking for a sports TV, one must look for brightness, uniformity (to avoid screen shade clouding also known as dirty screen effect), fast motion handling and wide viewing angles to accommodate for your friends when watching the Superbowl together.
We've tested 71 TVs and below are our recommendations for the best ones you can buy to watch sports in 2018.
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Best TV for Watching Sports: LG B8
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2✕Test Benches: test
- 1.2: Winter 2018
- 1.1: Summer 2017
- 1.0: Winter 2015
- 0.9: Winter 2014
- 0.8: Winter 2013
8.6Sports✕What it is Sports in a living room. The TV will be used to watch sports during the day, like football or hockey. Usually watched with a group, so from multiple viewing position.Score components:- 25% Reflections
- 20% Response Time
- 14% SDR Peak Brightness
- 11% Viewing Angle
- 9% Gray Uniformity
- 8% 720p Input
- 5% Sound Quality
- 4% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
- 2% Permanent Burn-In Risk
- 1% Flicker-Free
- 1% Temporary Image Retention
Score distribution:Sub-Type: WRGB✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 55" 65"The best TV for watching sports is the LG B8 (it has the same excellent picture quality as the more expensive LG C8). The LG B8 can display perfect blacks due to its emissive OLED technology. It has excellent motion handling and an instantaneous response time that leaves almost no trail when displaying fast content like sports. The gray uniformity is very good, and you will not notice any dirty screen effect when you watch your favorite sport. It has good viewing angles as the image remains accurate when viewed from the side, so it is a good choice for large rooms, unlike similarly premium models like the Samsung Q9FN.
However, just like all OLED TVs, it runs the risk of temporary image retention and permanent burn-in, although we don't expect most people to experience that.
Overall, the B8 (or the C8) is an excellent choice for sports fans and will not disappoint you with whatever usage you throw at it.
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Brighter LED Alternative: Vizio P Series Quantum
Sub-Type: VA✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 65"If the brightness of the LG B8 is not enough and you want a brighter alternative, then get the Vizio P Series Quantum. The P series Quantum does not have the wide viewing angles or great upscaling of the LG B8, but it is one of the brightest TVs we have tested so far. The PQ65-F1 has an impressive performance in sports due to the remarkable motion handling and good uniformity. Its excellent reflection handling allows you to place it in a bright room with many light sources without any worries.
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Best Mid-Range TV for Watching Sports: Sony X900F
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2✕Test Benches: test
- 1.2: Winter 2018
- 1.1: Summer 2017
- 1.0: Winter 2015
- 0.9: Winter 2014
- 0.8: Winter 2013
8.1Sports✕What it is Sports in a living room. The TV will be used to watch sports during the day, like football or hockey. Usually watched with a group, so from multiple viewing position.Score components:- 25% Reflections
- 20% Response Time
- 14% SDR Peak Brightness
- 11% Viewing Angle
- 9% Gray Uniformity
- 8% 720p Input
- 5% Sound Quality
- 4% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
- 2% Permanent Burn-In Risk
- 1% Flicker-Free
- 1% Temporary Image Retention
Score distribution:Sub-Type: VA✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 49" 55" 65" 75" 85"If you find the LG B8 expensive, the best TV we’ve tested in the mid-range category is the Sony X900F. You will not get the excellent picture quality of the LG B8 or its perfect blacks, and for those who plan to place it in a wide room, you will lack the good viewing angles the OLEDs have.
On the upside, the Sony X900F, just like its predecessor the X900E (that you should get if you can still find it) is a great TV with an excellent brightness that can be placed in well-lit rooms. It has good gray uniformity and thus it is unlikely that you will notice any dirty screen effect. This TV has a remarkable response time and excellent motion handling, better than more expensive models like the Samsung Q7FN, and you will enjoy every moment of your favorite sport. Finally, since the Sony has a VA panel, you do not have to worry about burn-in.
Overall, the Sony X900F is a great choice if you are a sports fan and want good quality at a reasonable price.
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Wider Room Alternative: LG SK9500
Sub-Type: IPS✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 65"If you want to place your TV in a large room and find that the Sony X900F is not a suitable choice due to poor viewing angles, then get the LG SK9500. You will not get the excellent response time or the good gray uniformity of the Sony X900F. However, the SK9500 is a very good TV that you can place in a large room and watch your favorite sport with a group of friends without worrying about who will sit on the side.
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Best Budget TV for Watching Sports: LG UK7700
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2✕Test Benches: test
- 1.2: Winter 2018
- 1.1: Summer 2017
- 1.0: Winter 2015
- 0.9: Winter 2014
- 0.8: Winter 2013
7.8Sports✕What it is Sports in a living room. The TV will be used to watch sports during the day, like football or hockey. Usually watched with a group, so from multiple viewing position.Score components:- 25% Reflections
- 20% Response Time
- 14% SDR Peak Brightness
- 11% Viewing Angle
- 9% Gray Uniformity
- 8% 720p Input
- 5% Sound Quality
- 4% Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
- 2% Permanent Burn-In Risk
- 1% Flicker-Free
- 1% Temporary Image Retention
Score distribution:Sub-Type: IPS✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 55" 65"If you think that the Sony X900F is expensive, the best budget sports TV we’ve tested is the LG UK7700. The UK7700 does not have the great picture quality or the excellent motion handling of the Sony X900F.
It is not only a good TV for mixed usage but also a good choice for sports watching due to its fast response time and good gray uniformity. It has excellent reflection handling so placing it in a room with many lights should not be a problem. Also because of its IPS panel, watching from the side is ok since the viewing angles are better even when compared to more expensive models that have VA panels, like the Samsung Q6FN.
Overall the UK7700 is a good TV for watching sports and can be placed in a variety of rooms with different lighting conditions.
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Cheaper Alternative: TCL R617
Sub-Type: VA✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 55" 65"If you're looking for a cheaper alternative than the LG UK7700, then get the TCL 6 Series R617. You will not get the wide viewing angles of the UK7700 and you might spot some dirty screen effect depending on your panel. However, the TCL R617 is a TV with very good picture quality, good reflection, and motion handling, that will keep you happy for almost any usage and certainly for sports.
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Larger Screen Alternative: Vizio E Series 2018
Sub-Type: VA✕What it is: Type of display technology used by the TV.When it matters: Different technologies have different performance and are suited to different usesGood value: IPS maintains good color accuracy at an angle, but has a poor contrast ratio from in front. VA has great picture quality in front, but loses saturation at an angle. OLED maintains good color accuracy at an angle without any of the other issues seen with IPS and VA, as they keep good brightness and contrast at an angle.Sizes : 43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"If you would like a TV in the budget category that is available in bigger sizes than the LG UK7700, then get the Vizio E Series 2018. You will not get the wide viewing angles or the excellent reflection handling of the UK7700. On the upside, the E Series 2018 is a TV with decent picture quality, low input lag and good motion that will perform well in most usages including sports, and is only found in larger sizes.
Notable Mentions
- Sony X930E. Great choice for watching sports, but has similar performance to the Sony X900F. See our review
- LG B7A. Excellent OLED TV for watching sports, but is very hard to find. See our review
- Samsung Q8FN. Great TV for watching sports, but more expensive than the B8 for worse performance. See our review
- Samsung Q7FN. Very good TV for watching sports, but the LG B8 performs better for a similar price. See our review
- Sony X720E. Very good TV for watching sports, but not any better than the LG UK7700. See our review
- Sony A1E. Excellent TV for watching sports, but the LG B8 performs the same for cheaper. See our review
- LG C7. Great OLED TV, but the B8 is better. See our review
- Sony X690E. Great choice for watching sports, but the Vizio E series 2018 is better. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best TVs to watch sports for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of TVs. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
