The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Do you use your TV for gaming? Binging your favourite TV shows? Enjoying family movie nights? No matter what you’re using your TV for, you may be annoyed by the quality you’re getting. You may feel like you’re missing something. A TV with 4K resolution may be the upgrade you’re looking for.
A 4K TV has four times the number of pixels as a regular 1080p TV. Not only will you get to enjoy clearer images, but you’ll be treated to more vibrant colours as well.
If you’re ready to upgrade your TV experience with a 4K TV, you shouldn’t jump in with both feet until you know what features matter. Things like screen size, refresh rate, input types, thickness, mounting type, and more will all affect just how right each 4K TV is for you.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best 4K TVs in Canada in 2023 and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Upgrade Pick: Sony X93L Bravia XR Mini LED 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart Google TV
Budget Pick: Amazon Fire TV 50" 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV
Design Pick: Samsung 65" The Frame LED 4K UHD Smart TV
Also Great: Hisense 55U68KM-55 Mini LED 4K TV
There are so many things we love about the Samsung 55-Inch 4K S90C Series Quantum HDR TV. The OLED tech (self-illuminating pixels) makes colours pop and provides clarity in every scene. Thanks to the 144 HZ refresh rate, you won’t be bothered by any blurring, even during fast-paced sports games and action scenes.
If hands-free tech is your thing, you’ll love this TV. It’s compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple Airplay. If gaming is your thing, you’ll still love this TV. The Gaming Hub lets you stream standalone games and connect easily to your console(s). If a movie theatre experience is your thing, (you guessed it) you’ll love this TV. The audio follows the characters on screen so you’ll feel like you’re experiencing everything with them.
Of course, there will always be some low points to consider. Since the TV is so thin, you’ll need to be more careful when you are mounting it and packing/unpacking it during a move. Also, anyone who wants to connect their Samsung account to the TV will need to store up some patience first.
Reviewers are thrilled with their Samsung 55-Inch 4K S90C Series Quantum HDR TVs. A couple of people have run into issues with account linking, but the main worry people have is about the durability of the thin screen. The vast majority of reviewers are just raving about the video quality and enjoying the immersive audio, though.
Screen Size: 55”
Thickness: 1.6”
Weight: 35.7 lbs
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
Display Technology: OLED
Pros:
Self-illuminating pixels create stunning colour contrast and clarity
Object Tracking Sound Lite adapts the audio to the screen
Gaming Hub provides access to consoles and standalone games
Compatible with Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant
Cons:
Thinness of the screen makes it vulnerable to damage when moving
Can be tricky to get Samsung account linked
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, this Samsung TV has a ton to offer. The voice assistant connectivity, the convenience of the Gaming Hub, and the unbeatable video and audio quality will have you falling in love with this option as fast as we did.
We are so excited to boast about the Sony X93L Bravia XR Mini LED 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart Google TV. Where do we even start? Both the video quality and audio quality of this TV are unbeatable—you’ll never squint to make out the details in dark scenes or miss the action because of blurred moments again. Because of the compatibility with streaming services, you can access your favourite platforms from one remote.
Do you like to connect your PC to your TV? You’ll appreciate the two bonus features—an auto HDR tone mapping and auto genre picture mode keep the video quality clear and bright for all of your gaming. Everybody will get to enjoy the Bravia Core app, too. You’ll get five credits for new-release movies and a 12-month subscription for access to all of the older movies in their library.
There are a few downsides, though. Firstly, it’s expensive. Also, this TV is quite heavy, so you’ll want to invite a friend or family member over to help you unbox it and set it up. The anti-glare/reflection screen will produce a rainbow effect under certain conditions, which you’ll probably get used to over time.
Reviewers are very impressed by the Sony X93L Bravia XR Mini LED 4K Ultra HD HDR Smart Google TV. With its large screen size, excellent refresh rate, and stunning colours and brightness variations, this TV performs perfectly no matter what type of content it is displaying. The price is high, but everyone agrees that the quality makes it worth it.
Screen Size: 65”
Thickness: 2.25”
Weight: 94.1 lbs
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Display Technology: Mini LED
Pros:
Supports Netflix, Crave, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV
Colour contrast and brightness are unmatched
PS5 users can take advantage of auto HDR tone mapping and auto genre picture mode for improved picture quality
Comes with five credits for Bravia Core app to redeem for new movies, plus a 12-month subscription to their library
Cons:
Fairly pricey
Anti-glare/reflection screen produces a rainbow effect in certain conditions
Heavy, so two people are required for setup
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, this Sony TV is one of the highest-quality options you’ll find. No matter what TVs you’ve used in the past, we can almost guarantee that this one will perform better in every way. You’ll spend a bit more on this one, but trust us, it’s worth it.
For a highly affordable TV, this option has some pretty great features. Four HDMI ports let you connect all of your devices at the same time (yay for less hassle), and it’s capable of supporting all of the high-end video formats including 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus. This means you’ll have the best quality possible no matter what platform you use to stream your shows.
Speaking of streaming platforms, this TV supports (and has downloaded) Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more! You won’t need to waste any time getting your favourite platforms ready to use. If voice assistants are your thing, you can use Amazon Alexa for all of your TV needs. All of the smart features are super responsive, so you can say goodbye to lags and repeat requests.
Budget-friendly products will always come with a few shortcomings, so let’s get those out in the open too. The standard LED backlighting doesn’t do as much for the image quality as more advanced LED tech, so you’ll need to adjust your expectations there. The refresh rate is low enough to create blurring, and we recommend a sound bar, especially if this will be your main TV.
For the most part, reviewers are quite happy with the Amazon Fire TV 50” 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV. Users think it is a great choice for a secondary TV, or the main TV if you don’t care much about getting the best quality out there. The smart features work very well, and it’s easy to set up on your own.
Screen Size: 50”
Thickness: 1.6”
Weight: 30.2 lbs
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Display Technology: Direct LED
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Has 4 HDMI ports
Supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus
Amazon Alexa is integrated along with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more
Smart features are very responsive
Cons:
Likely will need a sound bar for better audio
Image quality and refresh rate are fairly low
Performance: 3.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
All in all, the Amazon Fire TV 50” 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV is a great option. Its affordability shows up most in the lower quality of video and audio, but for general use, it gets the job done.
The Samsung 65” The Frame LED 4K UHD Smart TV is, in our opinion, the most unique TV you’ll find. When you aren’t using the TV, you can display your photos or one from the Samsung library to convert your TV into a 65” picture frame. There are two different bezel options and colours available so you can match your home’s décor. Pretty cool, right?
The good things don’t end there. The included wall mount is super slim, so your TV will sit flush against the wall just like a regular picture frame. The actual performance of the TV is boosted by the Quantum Processor 4K—say hello to colours you’ve never seen on your TVs before. Even the remote is high-tech. It can charge with a USB-C cable or with solar energy from the natural light in your house.
Keep in mind that the price of this TV is quite high, and considering the lower video quality compared to other (less expensive) 4K TVs, it might not be worth it. The other main problem is the headache of the Wi-Fi connection—it drops quite frequently and will require a multi-step process each time to bring it back online.
Reviewers have mixed feelings about the Samsung 65” The Frame LED 4K UHD Smart TV. Everyone is blown away by its ability to blend in with the artwork on their walls, and they love that they can put their own photos on display. However, its performance as a 4K TV is letting them down a bit. Most people expected a bit more from the video quality.
Screen Size: 65”
Thickness: 0.98”
Weight: 50.7 lbs
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Display Technology: QLED
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Functions like a picture frame when off to maximize the aesthetic of a space, and is available in two different bezel options and multiple colours for each
Comes with a slim wall mount that keeps the TV flush against the wall
Remote can be charged via USB-C or solar charging
Quantum Processor 4k optimizes picture and sound
Cons:
Very pricey
Wi-Fi connection can be unreliable
Video quality may not be worth the price
Performance: 3.5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Samsung 65” The Frame LED 4K UHD Smart TV has quite a lot to offer, aesthetically speaking at least. Its video quality doesn’t quite meet our expectations, but with a design this unique, all the art lovers out there might have just found their perfect TV.
The Hisense 55U68KM-55 Mini LED 4K TV has 500 dimming zones (yes, really!!) to create an exceptional contrast between colours. This also means you’ll see more details in darker scenes. Plus, there are 4 HDMI slots to let you swap between devices with the push of a few buttons.
A filmmaker mode lets you watch your movies as they were intended by—you guessed it—the filmmakers, and game mode enhances the video quality so you can lose yourself in other worlds. One of our favourite features is the EZPlay tech. It will automatically connect to any Hisense sound bar you plug in and will offer custom settings, too. You can’t have TV without great audio, right?
There are only a couple of low points we want to bring to your attention before you make a decision. As a Google TV, you’d expect it would be easy to connect your Google account, but this is not the case. Also, with the low 60 Hz refresh rate, you might experience some blurring when you’re watching sports or action movies.
Reviewers really like the Hisense 55U68KM-55 Mini LED 4K TV. There have been no complaints about the quality of the video or sound, and people have actually been highlighting how much better this TV is compared to their previous ones. Some people have run into a bit of trouble connecting their Google accounts, but everything gets sorted out in the end.
Screen Size: 55”
Thickness: 3”
Weight: 41.2 lbs
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Display Technology: Mini LED
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
500 dimming zones create excellent contrast between colours
Google TV is integrated plus a filmmaker mode and game mode
Has 4 HDMI input slots and is pre-loaded with Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube
EZPlay automatically connects any Hisense soundbar to the TV and can customize settings
Cons:
Can be tricky to connect Google account
Refresh rate could be better; fast-paced videos (sports, action movies, etc.) can be a bit blurry
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, this Hisense option is a standout choice if you haven’t found your perfect match yet. It’s much more affordable than most of the other TVs on this list, but it still offers great quality.
Prices for 4k TVs will range from less than $500 to more than $2,500. Set your budget before you shop and stick to it!
If you want the most out of your 4K resolution, larger screen sizes are the way to go. Our recommendation? Look for a model 55” or larger.
The refresh rate affects how clear your fast-paced video content will be. Refresh rates of 60 Hz will produce some blurring, so for the best picture, you’ll want 120 Hz or more.
Some TVs will require a sound bar as a companion to create a home theatre, others won’t. How much does it matter to you?
Three main types of backlighting exist: OLED, QLED, and Mini LED. For the most vibrant colours and best brightness contrasts, you should go with OLED or Mini LED.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.