The best new TVs announced at CES 2017

Xiaomi has just announced its new television set, the Mi TV 4. The Mi TV 4 is a high-end set that features a 4.9mm thick frame, virtually no bezel, and a modular system that separates the panel from the rest of the electronics. In addition, the Mi TV 4 features Xiaomi’s “Patch Wall” software, which is said to be an AI system that can predict content based on what you’ve watched already. It comes with a soundbar that has 10 speakers, two wireless speakers, a subwoofer, and support for Dolby Atmos surround sound.

Xiaomi will see the 65-inch version of the Mi TV 4 in China for “well under $2,000” including the full soundbar setup later this year. 59-inch and 49-inch versions will also be available.

Sony has announced a new Ultra HD Blu-ray player with 4K and HDR support — the UBP-X800. The company is calling the X800 its “first” UHD player, but it did previously announce a similar device last September, the UBP-X1000ES. But, the latter product was part of Sony’s professional ES series, available only through custom installations, while the X800 will be sold to a wider market. You know, through shops.

The X800 appears to be identical to the X1000ES in terms of design, though, meaning it’s a fairly anonymous-looking device. (The X1000ES itself cribs from the design of the 4K streaming box, the UHP-H1.) The X800 can play UHD Blu-ray discs, stream in 4K from services like Netflix, and supports HDR or high dynamic range content. It also works with Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and CD, and has a USB port for other digital content. In terms of audio specs, it supports playback up to 192kHz/24-bit and DSD 11.2MHz1. It also has integrated Bluetooth to work with wireless headphones.

Oh man, oh boy. Look at this thing.

Sony made what is ostensibly a 4K short throw projector, but all I'm seeing is a $25,000 chunk of delicious black metal.

Sony just revealed its XBR-A1E Bravia 4K OLED TV here at CES 2017, the company’s flagship TV of 2017. The news confirms Sony’s rumored, big shift in display technology for the living room. OLED TVs have been LG’s thing over the last several years, with most other TV makers focused on LCD panels. But now — finally — there’s some pretty significant competition coming in.

Sony says that moving to OLED allows it to offer a TV with “unprecedented black levels, rich and lifelike color, dynamic contrast, blur-less image, and a wide viewing angle.” LG would probably disagree with the whole “unprecedented” thing, but it probably holds true compared to Sony’s previous televisions. Sony isn’t actually producing OLED screens; they’re likely being provided by LG Display (which is separate from LG Electronics and the competing TV business). The company declined to identify the vendor of its OLED displays.

Another year of CES means another year of Hisense attempting to take over the US TV market, and 2017 is no different. This time around, Hisense is bringing out the big guns, with a massive 100-inch Laser 4K TV as its flagship device.

Utilizing a short-throw projector, Hisense’s Laser TV projects a 4K HDR picture onto the included screen over HDMI or USB. The TV also features wide color gamut support and comes with a 5.1 sound channel system, with two rears and a subwoofer included in the bundle. For $13,000 that’s a pretty good deal for those who can afford it.

Samsung is challenging the notion that OLED TVs represent the pinnacle of picture quality in the living room. Tonight at CES 2017, the company unveiled its latest flagship televisions, the QLED series. It’ll be available in three models: the Q9, Q8, and Q7. Samsung says that QLED TV represents its best achievement in image quality and viewing experience yet.

Of course Samsung would say that at an event meant to showcase said product. But the company insists it’s made very real improvements compared to the flagship TVs it unveiled only a year ago. One of those upgrades pertains to brightness. The QLED TVs reach a peak brightness between 1,500 and 2,000 nits — up from the 1,000 peak from 2016’s lineup.

LG is defending its champion-of-TV-picture-quality crown here at CES 2017. For a few years running, the company’s dedication to OLED sets has earned it rave reviews and the loyalty of home theater buffs. It’s been rumored that LG is (finally) about to get some competition in OLED 4K TVs from Sony, so this year the company needs to find another way to stand out. And it’s doing that through presentation. This is the new LG Signature 4K OLED W series. The W stands for wallpaper and refers to the TV’s new “picture-on-wall” design. It’s a two-part system: the main display up top, and a Dolby Atmos soundbar below it. That soundbar also houses the TV’s primary guts, HDMI inputs, and so on.

The screen itself is a 4K HDR OLED panel that measures just 2.57-millimeters thick. That’s the 65-inch model; the W also comes in a 77-inch size. But the point is that it’s very, very thin. Hard to believe thin. At 17 pounds (again, we’re talking the 65-inch version), it’s fairly light too.