Key Takeaways
- Upgrading my old FHD TV to a 4K 120Hz has dramatically improved my watching experience.
- The TV delivers sharper and more detailed images and details and realistic colors.
- Upgrading to a 4K TV is a game-changer.
After living with an FHD TV for a while, I finally upgraded to a QLED 4K 120Hz TV (a 55-inch TCL C728) in 2022, and my viewing experience improved tenfold. If you’re considering upgrading that old TV, here are some key advantages I’ve noticed since upgrading to my current TV.
1 Improved Visual Clarity and Detail
The first and most apparent area I noticed a massive improvement is picture quality. From the resolution numbers alone, it’s evident that a 2160p TV will deliver better image quality than a 1080p one. To put it into perspective, the transition from an FHD TV to a 4K TV results in four times the resolution (or four times the number of pixels). That translates to sharper images and detailed visuals.
As someone who watches entertainment content now and then, from YouTube videos to movies and TV Shows on Netflix (currently one of the best streaming services for 4K content), I can tell you that the picture quality difference is day and night. The content is more detailed, and the images are sharper across all types of content.
2 Smooth Motion with 120Hz Refresh Rate
One of the reasons I bought my TCL C728 is that it offers 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate support. For the unacquainted, refresh rate means the number of times the display refreshes the image per second (in this case, 120 times per second). With double the refresh rate of my old FHD TV, watching fast-paced content has never been better.
The TV delivers smoother motion with a 120Hz refresh rate, ideal for fast-paced content and scenes. Some use cases where this higher refresh rate is handy is when I’m watching Formula 1 or soccer. Still, the same applies to other sports and entertainment content with fast-paced scenes like action movies.
3 Enhanced Watching Experience with HDR Support
High dynamic range, or HDR for short, is another feature on my 4K TV that has made watching content enjoyable. But what is HDR? In a nutshell, HDR enhances the quality of videos by expanding the range between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites. In essence, this improves the color and contrast of images.
There are different HDR standards, but my TV only supports two: HDR10 and Dolby Vision (here’s a comparison between Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG). With HDR support, images on the TV pop (with more vibrant and realistic colors), the overall contrast is better, and there’s improved detail in both shadows and highlights. Put this all together, and movie nights have never been the same.
4 Personalized Smart Features
My current TV packs many smart features that my previous TV didn’t. First, it runs Google TV OS, which means I get to experience personalized recommendations across the Home Screen before jumping into any streaming service or entertainment app. One of the key advantages of Google TV is that it features content across different entertainment platforms on the Home Screen for easier discovery.
So, whichever service I use, the TV has my back. Also, with Google TV, I can discover other movies and TV shows that match my tastes from different entertainment services. It also supports voice inputs via Google Assistant for hands-free control, so I can use my voice to control the TV.
Upgrading from an FHD to a 4K 120Hz TV has improved my watching experience immensely. I’ve seen enhanced picture quality, smoother motion in fast-paced content thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, and realistic colors thanks to HDR support. On top of that, my TV includes a slew of personalized features that have enhanced my overall viewing experience.
