Looking into a 4K TV to use with your Chromecast or Chromecast Ultra can be confusing. There are tons of options out there, each with their own little quirks. There are fantastic TVs at the high end of the market, but those cost thousands of dollars. Luckily, with the Samsung TU-8000, you don’t have to have an enormous budget to get a satisfying and reliable picture.
Best Overall: Samsung TU-8000
Samsung’s latest TU8000 comes in sizes ranging from 43 inches all the way up to 85 inches, covering every size you could need. With ultra-thin bezels and a sleek design, you’ll be able to keep your eyes focused on what you are watching.
Under the hood, the TU-8000 sports 4K upscaling with the help of AI, so even those older movies and shows look good. This television is also equipped with plenty of smarts thanks in part to the OneRemote, giving you the ability to control more than just your television. Plus, there’s Amazon Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby support for those times you aren’t using the Chromecast.
While the TU-8000 hits a lot of strong points, there are a few factors that may deter you. First and foremost, there are only two HDMI ports, leaving you with just one after connecting your Chromecast. There’s also the issue of this television not being certified for Dolby Atmos, although the picture quality is still great nonetheless.
Pros:
- Ultra-thin bezels
- Six different sizes
- Built-in Alexa and Bixby support
- 4K Upscaling
Cons:
- Motion Rate limited to 120
- Not Dolby Atmos-rated
- Only two HDMI ports
Best Overall
Samsung TU-8000
- $348 from Amazon
- $350 from Best Buy
- $348 from Walmart
A solid 4K for just about everyone
Samsung’s TU8000 comes in sizes starting at 43 inches and features 4K Upscaling and much more.
Upgrade Pick: LG Nano 8 Series
LG remains one of the main providers of quality panels at every level of the TV industry and the Nano 8 Series is no different. With the company’s new Nanocell technology, there are more than eight million “active pixels” when viewing content in 4K. This gives you a great visual experience and it even has Dolby’s Vision IQ and Atmos certifications.
The Nano 8 Series has a few other tricks up its sleeve, as you can pair this TV with up to two Bluetooth speakers. This gives you a surround sound experience without needing to worry about pesky wires getting in the way. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are built right in, and with the new WebOS Dashboard, accessing your favorite content or settings (or even controlling your smart home products) is easier than ever.
Taking a step back for a moment, one potential issue is that the Nano 8 Series may look sleek and slim, but you’ll have to deal with the wires coming out of the back. There is no built-in cable management, so you’ll have to route and hide cables on your own. And while this television looks phenomenal, it’s made from plastic and you could see some flexing issues during installation or when mounting it on the wall.
Pros:
- Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos
- Can connect up to two Bluetooth speakers
- Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integrated
- Up to 120Hz Refresh Rate
Cons:
- No cable management
- Slight flex due to plastic materials
Upgrade Pick
LG Nano 8 Series
- $597 from Amazon
- $600 from Best Buy
Perfect for gaming and watching your favorite shows
The LG Nano 8 Series packs in Google Assistant, along with a 120Hz refresh rate and has wide viewing angles.
Best Value: Insignia 2020 4K Fire TV
It’s been a few years since Insignia has updated its Fire TV, but the time has finally arrived for a new version to hit store shelves. The new 4K Fire TV is capable of viewing 4K content, along with sporting three HDMI ports. Having options is always a blessing, so having two left over after connecting your Chromecast is extremely convenient.
Not everyone wants to have to use a television stand, so Insignia continues to offer VESA wall mount compatibility. This gives you even more flexibility, to put the 4K Fire TV anywhere you want. And with the combination of the built-in Fire TV and your Chromecast, you can get rid of those old set-top boxes for good.
As our televisions (and phones) have gotten slimmer and sleeker, manufacturer’s have pivoted to improving the display. That’s why you’ll find many new televisions with a refresh rate of 120Hz, except for Insignia’s updated 4K Fire TV, as it’s limited to just 60Hz. Plus, you’ll want to make sure that you’re mounting the TV properly and sturdily, as this is quite hefty compared to similar models.
Pros:
- HDR-Compatible
- Built-in Fire TV
- Compatible with VESA wall mounts
- Three HDMI ports
Cons:
- Heavier than similar options
- No Dolby Atmos certification
- Refresh rate limited to 60Hz
Best Value
Insignia 2020 4K Fire TV
- $350 from Amazon
- $350 from Best Buy
Pair Amazon and Google together
The new Insignia Fire TV 4K is a fantastic value, giving you great picture and built-in smarts.
Best for a Curved Screen: Samsung RU7300
Samsung continues to attack the mid-range market with great TVs. The RU7300 series keys in on essential technologies like HDR 10+ with scene-by-scene optimization. The RU7300 also features plenty of smart features, including the company’s “OneRemote”. Not only can you control your television, but you can also use it to control many of your favorite peripherals.
On the back, you’ll find that you can put this on the wall with your favorite VESA mount. Plus, there are three HDMI ports for you to take advantage of, leaving you with a couple of extras after your Chromecast has been connected. And even if you don’t connect your Chromecast right away, the RU7300 can be integrated with your Google Home, allowing for voice controls.
We would have liked to see a higher refresh rate, although the RU7300 series has yet to be updated for 2020. 60Hz will do the job for most, as it’s likely what you are already accustomed to. Plus, those who want to mount this on the wall will likely find out that curved panels aren’t the easiest to mount.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Google Assistant
- 4K UHD Upscaling
- Multiple USB and HDMI ports
Cons:
- Refresh rate limited to 60Hz
- Mounting a curved display can be tricky
- Heavy
Best for a Curved Screen
Samsung 55RU7300
- $498 from Amazon
- $500 from Best Buy
- $500 from Newegg
Immerse yourself with a curved television
With the Samsung RU7300, you get a fantastic curved television along with many features you’ll enjoy.
Built-in Chromecast: Skyworth Q20300
While other televisions on this list require you to install your own Chromecast, the Skyworth Q20300 is a bit different. That’s because it has Android TV built right-in, so you won’t have to worry about taking up a precious HDMI port just to cast your favorite content. Even the remote gets in on the fun, as you can control your television and Google Assistant-enabled products with it.
Some folks don’t need the biggest television possible, and Skyworth is there to help. With sizes ranging from 32 inches all the way to 65 inches, there’s something available for just about everyone. As for the television itself, you’ll find one-millimeter bezels around the sides and top, and a little bit larger bezel at the bottom. And this television panel sports Dolby Vision certification, giving you the best picture quality possible.
Although newer products have moved on from the need for RCA inputs, you may be forced to go that route. There are no RCA ports available on the Q20300, so you may have to snag some adapters. We would have liked to see a higher refresh rate, especially if you plan to do any gaming on this television. And some owners have reported issues with software updates taking too long to be installed, along with some jittering after the installation is complete.
Pros:
- Android TV built-in
- 1mm bezels
- Smart voice remote included
- Many sizes available
Cons:
- Refresh rate limited to 60Hz
- Does not include RCA inputs
- Software updates can take some time to download
Built-in Chromecast
Skyworth Q20300
- $380 from Amazon
Forget the Chromecast, get an Android TV
With Android TV built-in and Dolby Atmos, you can forget the Chromecast with the Skyworth Q20300.
All the Bells and Whistles: Sony X800H
When you take a look at the X800H, you may actually be blown away by everything you get. There’s Dolby Atmos certification, 4K Upscaling, ultra-slim bezels, and the ability to mount this television anywhere in your home.
Sony has also packed in plenty of features, including Motionflow XR, and the Dynamic Contrast Enhancer to give you the best video quality possible. And that doesn’t even include the fact that the software being used to interact with the X800H is an Android TV. This gives you Assistant support built right-in, along with Amazon Alexa and even Apple’s AirPlay for your smart home needs.
While the MotionFlow technology aims to improve the refresh rate, it does so using the X1 HDR processor. That’s largely because the X800H sports a refresh rate of just 60Hz. And if you’re a big Netflix user, you’ll be missing out on the specialized “Netflix Calibrated Mode”. That doesn’t mean you can’t use the X800H for Netflix, it just won’t give you the same picture that Netflix thinks you should have.
Pros:
- Dolby Atmos-certified
- Plenty of features to improve picture quality
- 4K Upscaling built-in
- Android TV built-in
Cons:
- Native refresh rate limited to 60Hz
- Does not feature Netflix Calibrated Mode
All the Bells and Whistles
Sony X800H*
- $598 from Amazon
- $600 from Best Buy
- $600 from Walmart
Everything but the kitchen sink
The Sony X800H is quite an impressive package with a slim design, along with 4K Upscaling and Android TV built-in.
Bottom line
When it comes to displays, there may not be a better company than Samsung. With the Samsung TU-8000, it’s extremely apparent that you don’t have to spend thousands to get a great 4K TV. Onboard, you’ll find 4K AI Upscaling, to go along with the ultra-thin bezels and the plethora of size options so you can get the right TV for your needs.
Even though the standard refresh rate is set to 60Hz for the TU-8000, Motion Rate will make it feel like you’re looking at a brand-new Galaxy S20 on the wall. The gamers out there will feel right at home, as Samsung has even included Auto Game Mode, which automatically optimizes your television, for a great gaming experience. All-in-all, this is one of the best Samsung TVs you can get today.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Andrew Myrick is a regular freelancer at Android Central and iMore. He has been a tech enthusiast ever since the original iPhone was released and continues to flip-flop between devices. You might as well hook him up to an IV filled with coffee to get him through the day. If you have any questions, you can find him on Twitter, and he’ll get back to you.
