AI-powered robot pickers will be the next big work revolution in warehouses
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Robot pickers are finally getting a grip on things
By James Vincent Jan 29, 2020, 4:00am EST Share this story/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66211274/A_Covariant_robot_at_a_KNAPP_powered_warehouse_Obeta_outside_Berlin_.0.jpg)
A robot made by Covariant installed in
Right now, in a warehouse not far from Berlin, a bright yellow robot is leaning over a conveyor, picking items out of crates with the assurance of a chicken pecking grain.
The robot itself doesn’t look that unusual, but what makes it special are its eyes and brain. With the help of a six-lens camera array and machine learning algorithms, it’s able to grab and pack items that would confound other bots. And thanks to a neural network it will one day share with its fellows in warehouses around the world, anything it learns, they’ll learn, too. Show this bot a product it’s never seen before and it’ll not only work out how to grasp it, but then feed that information back to its peers.
“We tested this robot for three or four months, and it can handle nearly everything we throw at it,” Peter Puchwein, vice president of innovation at Knapp, the logistics company that installed the robot, tells The Verge. “We’re really going to push these onto the market. We want a very high number of these machines out there.”
For the bot’s creators, Californian AI and robotics startup Covariant, the installation in Germany is a big step forward, and one that shows the firm has made great strides with a challenge that’s plagued engineers for decades: teaching robots to pick things up.
It sounds easy, but this is a task that’s stumped some of the biggest research labs and tech companies. Google has run a stable of robot arms in an attempt to learn how to reliably grasp things (employees jokingly call it “the arm pit”), while Amazon holds an annual competition challenging startups to stock shelves with robots in the hope of finding a machine good enough for its warehouses (it hasn’t yet).
But Covariant claims its bots can do what others can’t: work 24 hours a day, picking items without fuss. This doesn’t mean that picking is a solved problem (Covariant’s robots uses suction cups not robotic fingers, making the task easier) but it does unlock a lot of potential. This is particularly true in the world of warehouses and logistics, where experts say it’s difficult to find human workers and they need all the robots they can get.
Speaking to The Verge, Pieter Abbeel, Covariant co-founder and the director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab, compares the current market in robot pickers to that of self-driving cars: there’s a lot of hype and flashy demos, but not enough real-world testing and ability.
”Our customers don’t trust short demo videos anymore,” says Abbeel. “They know very well most of the difficulty is in consistency and reliability.”
Puchwein of Knapp agrees, telling The Verge: “The typical thing for startups to do is to show some short, well edited videos. But as soon as you try to test the robots, they fail.”
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Covariant’s four co-founders, from left to right: Tianhao Zhang, Rocky Duan, Peter Chen, Pieter AbbeelImage: Covariant
A lot of this hype has been generated by the promise of machine learning. Today’s industrial robots can pick with great speed and precision, but only if what they’re grabbing is equally consistent: regular shapes with easy-to-grasp surfaces. That’s fine in manufacturing, where a machine has to grab the same item over and over again, but terrible in retail logistics, where the objects being packed for shipping vary hugely in size and shape.
Hardcoding a robot’s every move, as with traditional programming, works great in the first scenario but terribly in the second. But if you use machine learning to feed a system data and let it generate its own rules on how to pick instead, it does much, much better.
Covariant uses a variety of AI methods to train its robots, including reinforcement learning: a trial and error process where the robot has a set goal (“move object x to location y”) and has to solve it itself. Much of this training is done in simulations, where the machines can take their time, often racking up thousands of hours of work. The result is what Abbeel calls “the Covariant Brain” — a nickname for the neural network shared by the company’s robots.
Covariant, which was founded in 2017 under the name Embodied Intelligence and comes out of stealth today, is certainly not the only firm applying these methods, though. Numerous startups like Kindred and RightHand Robotics use similar fusions of machine learning and robotics. But Covariant is bullish that its robots are better than anyone else’s.
“Real world deployments are about extreme consistency and reliability,” says Abbeel. In the warehouse in Germany, Covariant claims its machines can pick and pack some 10,000 different items with accuracy greater than 99 percent — an impressive figure.
Puchwein agrees, and he would know. He’s got 16 years of experience in the industry, including working for Knapp, one of the largest builders of automated warehouses worldwide. It installed 2,000 systems last year with a turnover of more than €1 billion.
Puchwein says the company’s engineers traveled around the world to find the best picking robots and eventually settled on Covariant’s, which it installs as a nonexclusive partner. “Non-AI robots can pick around 10 percent of the products used by our customers, but the AI robot can pick around 95 to 99 percent,” says Puchwein. “It’s a huge difference.”
Puchwein isn’t the only one on board, either. As it comes out of stealth today, Covariant has announced a raft of private backers, including some of the most high-profile names in AI research. They include Google’s head of AI, Jeff Dean; Facebook’s head of AI research, Yann LeCun, and one of the “godfathers of AI,” Geoffrey Hinton. As Abbeel says, the involvement of these individuals is as much about lending their “reputation” as anything else. “Investors aren’t just about the money they bring to the table,” he says.
Covariant’s picking robot at work in an Obeta warehouse in Germany. Image: Covariant
For all the confidence, investor and otherwise, Covariant’s operation is incredibly small right now. It has just a handful of robots in operation full time, in America and abroad, in the apparel, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries.
In Germany, Covariant’s picking robot (there’s just one for now) is packing electronics components for a firm named Obeta, but the company says it’s eager for more robots to compensate for a staff shortage — a situation common in logistics.
For all the talk of robots taking human jobs, there just aren’t enough humans to do some jobs. One recent industry report suggests 54 percent of logistics companies face staff shortages in the next five years, with warehouse workers among the most in-demand positions. Low wages, long hours, and boring working conditions are cited as contributing factors, as is a falling unemployment rate (in the US at least).
“It’s very hard to find people to do this sort of work,” Michael Pultke of Obeta tells The Verge through a translator. He says Obeta relies on migrant workers to staff the company’s warehouses, and that the situation is the same across Europe. “The future is more robots.”
And what about the employees that Covariant’s robots now operate alongside — do they mind the change? According to Pultke, they don’t see it as a threat, but an opportunity to learn how to maintain the robots and get a better type of job. “Machines should do the base work, which is stupid and simple,” says Pultke. “People should look after the machines.”
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The Best Gaming Headset To Buy In 2020: PS4, Xbox One, And PC
There are all kinds of gaming headsets right now, which makes finding the best gaming headset to keep you comfortable while gaming can be tough. Each pair of headphones boasts all kinds of key features, but which ones actually matter. Are there downsides to buying wireless? How universal is compatibility among headsets? How important are sound quality and surround sound audio? Can I tell from images whether a headset will be a comfortable fit? Should I get memory foam or something with fabric? What are planar magnetic drivers, and should I care? Are LED lights cool?
The most important thing to keep in mind when looking for the best gaming headset isn't necessarily high-end audio latency--that is, the delay between the action happening on screen and the time it takes for the audio associated with that action to reach your ears. Naturally, when playing video games, especially action games that require quick reactions, you want the lowest possible latency. Depending on what your situation, you might also be looking for a good microphone to go along with good audio and low latency.
Bluetooth wireless headphones are generally good enough but will, in most cases, usually suffer from some latency, but unless you're looking for a truly professional gaming headset, that might not matter. Wireless gaming headsets, like the ones we've featured, will usually have their own proprietary dongle that uses a short-range wireless signal, which minimises the latency greatly. If you're a massive stickler for best absolute best possible audio quality and latency however, you might want to stick to a purely wired solution.
We're in a fortunate situation where we have the opportunity to try out a diverse range of different gaming headsets from various manufacturers. In this roundup, we're highlighting some of our absolute favourites and giving you an idea of why they stand out from the rest. Aside from audio quality, we took comfort and build quality into consideration since those aspects are just as important. Our picks also exhibited traits or value propositions that really elevated them above the dozens of gaming headsets we considered.
If you're looking for other accessories to round out your gaming setup, make sure to check out our picks for the best gaming mice, best gaming keyboards, and, if you're a Nintendo fan, the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy right now.
Quick look: Best Gaming Headsets Best Gaming Headset - Budget Wireless PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset 
The Good The Bad + Very lightweight, minimal, and comfortable - Not exceptionally durable, somewhat on the flimsy side + Competent audio quality - PS4 sound profiles are very limited + Wired 3.5mm jack option is handy + Works on PC and Switch too
If you're looking for an affordable wireless stereo gaming headset, then the Sony Interactive Entertainment-branded Gold Wireless Headset is a very easy option to recommend. Its audio quality is competent and perfectly acceptable for all but the pickiest audio enthusiasts. The fact that it includes virtual 7.1 surround sound is a great inclusion at this price point, too.
This pair of headphones is incredibly lightweight, and wearing it on your head for long periods of time is far from an issue--attributes which make it great to use in conjunction with PlayStation VR. However, that comes at the cost of the build quality feeling a little on the flimsy side--I'm always afraid of breaking the hinge that connects the earcups to the band when adjusting them, and the control buttons feel brittle.
PlayStation also boasts the ability to equip game-specific sound profiles designed by the developers of said games, using the dedicated Headset App for PS4. However, these options are incredibly limited--only 12 are available at the time of writing. Three of them are MLB: The Show games.
These flaws don't stop the Gold Headset from being a great value proposition, and there are other little perks too--using it as a surround sound gaming headset (through a virtual surround sound mode) on PC and Nintendo Switch (docked) works without extra setup or drivers as well, and it also features a 3.5mm audio jack to let you use the headset in wired form (cables included). This positive balance of cost and feature set means that I'm usually sizing-up other headsets in comparison to what the Gold Headset offers--using it as a gold standard, if you will.
The Good The Bad + Great, hard-wearing build quality and design - Lacks some small common conveniences + Exceptional audio quality and dynamic range + Unprecedented 100-hour battery life + The volume dial is incredibly satisfying to use + Comprehensive software
Sennheiser has a storied reputation in the audiophile space, so it's unsurprising that the company's entries into the gaming headset space, including the GSP 370, feature top-tier audio quality with great clarity and punchy low frequencies. But on first impressions, it's surprising to see what the mid-range GSP 370 wireless gaming headphones lack compared to models from gaming-focused brands. There are few physical buttons, meaning no chat volume control, no sound mode toggles--just a power switch and a volume wheel. There isn't even any kind of tone or aural indication that you've correctly switched the headset on (you need to check the coloured LED).
However, the GSP 370 is an exceptionally-built piece of hardware. Its adjustable hard-plastic shell feels incredibly durable and cleverly weighted to put zero pressure on the headband when resting on a surface. The foam pads and headband padding help keep it feeling snug and comfortable for long durations. Special mention needs to be given to the large volume knob on the side of the right earcup, which is exceptionally satisfying to use--it has a light amount of resistance and ratchets with soft clicks as you turn it, which is incredibly pleasing. The overall design is wonderfully minimal--almost industrial or brutal--looking and feeling like something a Mechwarrior pilot would be wearing.
Its battery life is also downright astounding. Sennheiser boasts 100 hours, which is believable considering it was more than two weeks before I had to plug them in for a charge. And while the lack of physical buttons means you're required to use Sennheiser's Gaming Suite software to adjust things like surround settings (which can be annoying if you need to Alt-Tab out of a PC game) it also gives you easy access to a bunch of comprehensive options like equalisation sliders, presets, sound tests, microphone enhancements, and firmware updates.
Plantronics, weirdly enough, began as a company making headsets for pilots and astronauts in the 1960s. Their current RIG gaming headsets have been a favourite of mine over the last few years because of their lightweight builds--they sport incredibly flexible plastic headbands which you can bend and twist to your heart's content (they're also modular and customisable, if you're into that), as well as very breathable cloth earcups that keep your ears cool at the cost of some sound leakage.
It's not without its quirks, however. The Plantronics wireless range uses a USB dongle that is quite large in size (about 6x6cm box, with a cord just shy of 1m)--especially compared with the thumbstick-sized receivers of competing brands. The receiver also has a weirdly long USB cord attached, but on the upside, the HS (PS4) and HD (PC) models support optical audio from your device and the RIG 700 exhibits an impressive wireless range of about 10 meters. It also features a detachable microphone design, which is great if you rarely use voice chat, but if not, it means that the mute function is relegated to a dedicated button, which is more of an effort than the common "flip mic up to mute" design.
It boasts a 12-hour battery life, which seemed more or less accurate during our tests, and the important thing is that you can feasibly wear a pair of these for 12 hours straight if you had to and be very comfortable. You could probably even go to the kitchen or use the bathroom without losing signal, too, and that's actually pretty great.
Japanese company Audio-Technica is very well regarded in the audiophile world (and in my heart), being responsible for the deservedly prolific MX50 studio over-ear headphones, as well as the clip-on earphones worn by the protagonist of Persona 3. The ATH-G1WL is their only wireless option in their gaming headset range, and it's an incredibly niche product--it's at a high-end price point, and it's only compatible with PC, though it also came in a more affordable wired version (the ATH-G1, RRP $169 USD) which is naturally more universal.
If you happen to fit that niche, however, the G1WL is an incredible option. The sound quality you get from them is crystal clear, with amazing clarity and incredible dynamic range, especially for a wireless audio device. The build is tangibly strong and lightweight--a mostly metal construction helps greatly with that, as does the breathable cloth earpads (a set of replacements are also graciously included). We found its advertised 15-hour battery life to be pretty accurate, which is relatively good.
There are some minor quirks to weigh up though, which is annoying for a high-end product. I'm always paranoid that I'll catch and pull on the exposed wires, for example, and the tiny volume dial, which you also push in to toggle surround sound, is a little finicky. But there are some niceties to counter those out--the mic is very svelte and one of the best we tested (though the detachable nature will either please or annoy you) and the ability to monitor your own microphone input is a surprisingly handy feature, too.
Its inability to be used with another device is its biggest letdown, especially at its price point. But if you're all-in on PC gaming, and you have the means to go all-in on the G1WL, then the extraordinary audio quality and lightweight nature will definitely impress.
Astro has a reputation for making some of the most comfortable gaming headsets around, and the A50s are no exception. The latest version of this flashy wireless, surround sound headset is very well-padded, both around the ear cups and underneath the head strap, making for a plush fit that's borderline luxurious. Considering that this is coming from an editor with an unusually large dome, trust me: the A50s are one of the most comfortable gaming headsets I've worn, and though the padding plays a large part in that, so too does the flexible rubberized plastic used for the headband.
In addition to feeling good in action, the A50s also have an unusually slick charging method: a simple drop-in charging dock. Though you can charge the headset directly using a Micro-USB cable, the dock is way more convenient and it has a display on the front to indicate how far along your charge is. Once it's fully charged, expect roughly 15 hours of use. The dock also shows you which of the three EQ settings you're currently using, and whether or not the virtual surround sound mode is active. The standard EQ options are fairly basic, but if you connect the dock's USB cable to your PC--where the headset itself is also supported--you can use the Astro Command Center to tinker with the EQ profiles to your heart's desire. While the A50s sound very good out of the box, a little time spent in the Command Center is necessary to get the most out of these cans.
Any gaming headset that costs $300 will come under great scrutiny. For all of its high-end materials, the considered design of the headset, and the impressive (and useful) charging dock, the A50s feel like a premium product--but there's still some room for improvement. The volume level gets reasonably high, but if you value cranking the volume beyond the point of reason, you'll be left wanting with the A50s. In terms of pack-ins, the included cables (one Micro-USB and one optical cable) are adequate, but with optical passthrough, auxiliary analog input (3.5mm stereo) and an additional USB port for charging, it would have been great to see a few more cables thrown in to ensure you're ready to roll, no matter your setup. That said, the A50s are still an impressive set that will almost assuredly be an upgrade for your console (and PC) gaming experience. Just make sure you pick the right one, as there are individual models for the PS4 and Xbox headsets. All around, this is a near pair of headphones perfect for wireless gaming.
Razer’s Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds are compact and well-priced against Apple’s comparable Air Pods ($159.00), and thanks to some pre-emptive work by Razer, they are also better suited for gaming. To combat the small-but-noticable lag that tends to plague Bluetooth headphones, Razer has introduced a game-specific mode for the Hammerheads that actually does a great job of eliminating the issue, making them well-worth considering if you’re interested in something truly portable.
Gaming mode is activated via an iOS or Android app that also serves to configure the Hammerheads’ gesture-control inputs. The Razer logo on the exterior has a touch sensor that supports numerous tap and gesture commands.
While they can’t compare to more robust headsets, the Hammerheads sound very good for their form factor, with strong bass response being the standout quality. The buds’ batteries last close to three hours of use on a single charge, and the included case provides four full recharges on a single charge of its own.
It’s also great to see both an exterior charging light and a USB-C connection on the case. These features help round out an already great product that feels like its outperforming its price tag. If you value flexibility and are looking for something compact, odds are you’ll be happy with Razer’s first stab at wireless gaming earbuds.
HyperX has a whole roster of PC-based peripherals; it even has a line of SSDs and storage drives. However, its surround sound gaming headsets in particular stand out. While HyperX offers choice in multiple price tiers and different feature sets, the flagship wired model, the Cloud Alpha S, is the best in its class. The Cloud Alpha S is an updated version of the original Cloud Alpha that adds a number of quality-of-life features for audio customization and virtual 7.1 surround sound, making it a better experience overall.
While those added features sure are nice, the basics are what make the Cloud Alpha S worth its asking price. Its firm, solid build makes it so that the headset never feels like it'll come apart, regardless of how you're handling it, which can be attributed to the strong aluminum frame. This makes it easy to flex when putting them on or taking them off. The stitched upholstery looks neat, and the cushioning underneath provides comfort atop your head. And when it comes to comfort, the plushy leather-like memory foam pads provide much-needed comfort for those long PC gaming sessions (the earcups also provide a secure fit on your head, which helps with sound isolation). It's a got noise cancelling mic, too, which means the sound of your voice will come in nice and clear, even if you happen to have your first-person shooter of choice blaring on your speakers as well as your headset (shame on you!).
Of course, we wouldn't recommend this as one of the best gaming headsets if it didn't sound good. Both games and music come through clear with mids, highs and bass never sounding muddled. Even at high volumes, any distortion was largely unnoticeable. The bass adjustment slider is a nice option to have on hand as well as a chat/game audio mixer. Since this is a wired headset, you can use it on any device that has a 3.5mm audio port, though you will need to use the packaged USB DAC if you want to get 7.1 and audio mixing features on PC. Virtual 7.1 surround still isn't all that great, as it sounds a bit artificial, and the same holds true here. One thing to note for those who really want to tweak their EQ levels: there currently isn't any software to mix audio.
With so many wireless options on the market, recommending a wired headset can be tough, but HyperX's Cloud Alpha Sticks almost every box when it comes to things you'd expect from one. And since it uses a standard 3.5mm jack, it has pretty widespread compatibility, too.
The best 4K TVs for a killer Super Bowl in 2020
The Super Bowl is coming, and this year will be the first-ever broadcast in 4K and HDR, meaning it might be time to grab a shiny new 4K HDR TV.
But don’t worry, you still have time, and we’ve rounded up the best models out there. We’ll skip the details and get right to the point: LG’s 65-inch C9 OLED is the best 4K TV for sheer value and performance you can buy. If the C9 isn’t for you, though, we have some great alternatives that should satisfy any shopper on the hunt for a great 4K display.
(Can’t find something you like here? Check out our lists of the Best TVs under $1,000 and Best TVs under $500 for more affordable options. Also: Check out these awesome Super Bowl TV deals on now.)
Best 4K TVs At A Glance The best 4K TV: 65-inch LG C9 4K OLED TV 
Why you should buy this: It has a fantastic OLED screen, is brimming with smarts, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants top-notch picture quality and can afford the price.
Why we picked the 65-inch LG C9 4K OLED TV:
Before we dive into what makes the 65-inch LG C9-Series so great, let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with OLED. First, the basics: OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. An OLED TV is made up of millions of individual OLEDs — known as pixels — which work together to form the image on the screen.
OLED TVs have a number of advantages over QLED, a competing screen tech popularized by Samsung. It has a better viewing angle, can reach the darkest shade of black, and uses a lot less power.
The 65-inch C9-Series is the top 4K TV on our list for one primary reason: It blends cutting-edge imaging with an amazing feature set and offers a relatively modest price tag attached. Keep in mind that this is an OLED, though, so it’s not exactly cheap.
With a premium display, you’d expect the C9 to be crammed full of all the basic tools found on the best 4K TVs, and it is. There’s a great 4K Upscaler for turning HD content into 4K Ultra HD, as well as support for the leading HDR standards, including Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma, and HDR10.
It’s also decked out with the firm’s versatile webOS smart software, which is home to a myriad of premium live TV and on-demand streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, CBS All Access, AT&T TV Now, HBO Go, Hulu, Netflix, and Sling TV — making a set-top box, streaming stick, or anything of the sort unnecessary for a lot of people.
The 65-inch C9-Series will undoubtedly sit at the center of your living room, functioning as the infotainment hub for the entire household. As such, LG has armed it both Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and its own in-house voice assistant, so you can control both the television and the other smart appliances in your home using nothing but your voice.
Here’s a look at the myriad of commands it is capable of executing:
Finally, the C9 is fantastic for gaming. That’s true not only because of its incredible OLED screen and 120Hz panel, but also thanks to an update that includes both Freesync and G-Sync, Adaptive Refresh Technology (ART) that help to smoothe out gameplay thanks to reduced input lag and a refresh rate that adapts to (or “syncs”) with that of your gaming device.
In short, you can’t miss with the LG C9.
Read our full LG C9-Series review
The best budget 4K TV: 65-inch TCL 6-Series 4K Roku TV 
Why you should buy this: It’s the cheapest quality 65-inch 4K TV you’ll find, comes bundled with Roku OS, and looks incredible.
Who’s it for: Anyone looking for a big screen on a budget.
Why we picked the 65-inch TCL 6-Series 4K Roku TV:
TCL’s 6-Series has been a favorite of ours since it debuted. Every year, it gets a bit better, with new features and faster performance. In 2019, TCL added quantum dot technology to the display for even better color accuracy. As a QLED TV, the new 6-Series boasts a brighter and more colorful on-screen image than ever before, yet it maintains the affordability that helped earn it high praise in previous years.
Sticking around for this year are all of the features that make the 6-Series a great buy: The built-in Roku TV experience is one of the best smart TV platforms you can find, with unparalleled ease of use, thousands of apps for every streaming service you can think of, and a smartphone app that adds lots of extra conveniences.
Pair that with a stunning 65-inch 4K screen and multi-format HDR (including Dolby Vision and HDR10) and the result is a must-have affordable 4K TV that can tap into a near-endless catalog of HD and 4K content from the likes of everything from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to the least known services you can find.
The fun doesn’t end there, though. The 6-Series is also armed with a voice control feature of its own. Instead of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, it’s armed with Roku’s in-house alternative. True, you won’t be able to control other devices in your home, but you can do what matters: Track down shows, change the volume, and much more.
Let’s take a peek at some of the instructions you can shout its way:
Read our full TCL 6-Series review
The best 4K TV for movies: 65-inch Sony Master Series A9G 4K OLED TV 
Riley Young/Digital Trends
Why you should buy this: It’s the most impressive picture quality we’ve ever seen.
Who’s it for: Anyone looking for the best OLED experience money can buy.
Why we picked the 65-inch Sony Master Series A9G 4K TV:
The 65-inch Sony Master Series A9G 4K TV is the best 4K TV for movies, and frankly, it’s the best TV we’ve ever seen, taking advantage of the firm’s trademark X1 Ultimate imaging processor to deliver best-in-class HDR. It’s a worthy successor to the previous A9 model, the A9F.
It’s through a close relationship with Dolby and IMAX that Sony has been able to push the envelope when it comes to 4K HDR. The A9G is one of the few TVs to ship with IMAX Enhanced, a form of HDR that optimizes Hollywood movies to provide accurate color, dazzling detail, and fantastic contrast, just as the director intended.
That’s all well and good if the movie you’re watching has been encoded with HDR, but what happens when you’re reminiscing with a classic? Well, the aforementioned X1 Ultimate processor will take care of that, upscaling it to a 4K Ultra HD resolution, with remastering thrown into the mix for an HDR effect.
You may have heard that LG’s OLED TVs and Sony OLED TVs use the same OLED panel, so why would you want to pay more for the Sony? Simple: Sony’s picture processing is better than LG’s. The LG C9-Series may get a bit brighter, but it can’t top the A9G for detail and color accuracy, both of which are superb.
The glorious images are only part of the story, however. We don’t think a TV this great should be viewed without an equally good sound system, but if that’s not going to happen, you might be surprised to learn the A9G also sounds great too, thanks to Sony’s clever technique of turning the screen itself into a speaker. The result is dialogue that sounds as though it is coming directly from actors’ mouths. Even if you have a full 5.1 or 7.1 home theater system, you may want to swap out your center channel for the A9G’s built-in speaker — something you can do using the included speaker terminals on the back.
You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something to watch, be it in 4K HDR, 4K Ultra HD, or even Full HD. That’s because the Master Series A9G comes with Google’s Android TV OS on board — a one-stop-shop for all the leading streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, CBS All Access, DirecTV, Hulu, Netflix, and Sling TV.
It’s uncommon to find an Android device that hasn’t been infused with Google Assistant, and the Master Series A9G is no exception. It lets you control both the television itself and the rest of the smart-connected hardware in your home, like a Nest Thermostat, using your voice.
Read our full Sony Master Series A9G 4K OLED TV review
The best 4K TV for sports: 65-inch Samsung Q90R-Series 4K QLED TV
Why you should buy this: Available in huge sizes and with awesome off-angle viewing, it’s the best QLED TV you can get.
Who’s it for: Anyone looking for a premium 4K TV, but especially for those who want a very big screen.
Why we picked the 65-inch Samsung Q90R-Series 4K QLED TV:
Watching sports, perhaps more than any other TV content tends to be a group experience, especially around major events like the Super Bowl. The Samsung Q90R handles this task better than most other TVs because of its excellent viewing angles — the widest in a QLED TV — and its sheer size. Unlike other TVs on this list, the Q90R comes in 65-, 75-, and 82-inch sizes, giving you the biggest array of options for powering your own private viewing party.
If you want to make your TV the centerpiece of your shrine to sports (and really if you’re going to buy an 82-inch TV, why wouldn’t you?), Samsung makes it easy. The company sells a special flush mount for the Q90R that lets it hang on a wall with virtually no clearance at all. Combine that with the Q90R’s remarkable detached input hub, and all you have to worry about is one tiny, nearly invisible cable running to the TV. No special power or in-wall wiring needed.
It’s also an excellent TV for other content, even besting Sony and LG’s OLED panels on one unusual but well-known test of a TV’s abilities: The grueling Game Of Thrones, Season 8, Episode 3, The Long Night test. “This episode, which many found unviewable when it aired, looked the best we’ve seen yet on the Q90R,” noted our reviewer Caleb Denison.
The Q90R gets impressively bright, while still maintaining the best black levels this side of OLED. If you’re looking for your favorite teams to pop from the field, you won’t be disappointed.
If there’s one drawback to the Q90R, it’s Samsung’s ongoing refusal to add Dolby Vision as a supported HDR format. Now that services like Amazon Prime Video and Google Play are beginning to support Dolby Vision’s chief rival, the Samsung-backed HDR10+, it’s less of an issue, but one you should be aware of.
Read our full Samsung Q90R-Series 4K QLED TV review
Research and Buying Tips
What size 4K TV should I buy?
The answer to that depends on many factors, including your stylistic preferences, the size of the room, and how far away you’ll be sitting. Take a look at our guide to choosing the perfect size for you.
How well does 4K TV upscaling work?
That depends on the TV but as a general rule of thumb: The better (and more expensive) the TV, the better the upscaling.
What if I need a 4K TV for a bright room?
OLED brightness has come a long way, but QLED TVs like the Samsung Q90R still perform better in bright environments.
Are budget 4K TVs any good?
Almost all new TVs are 4K, so there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from at the lower end of the pricing scale. Don’t expect a standard LED TV to rival an OLED, though — set your expectations accordingly.
Can a 4K TV work well as a PC monitor?
Yes, so long as your computer has an HDMI output. Adapters can be used for other output types but frequently do not pass along audio. Keep in mind, however, if you’re connecting a 4K TV to a PC for gaming purposes, make sure it supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and is compatible with your PC’s gaming technology, like Nvidia G-Sync. Otherwise, certain games might not look very good.
Do 4K TVs usually have Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri?
Most modern TVs can be paired with Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant through either an Amazon Echo, Fire TV, or Google Home. Some televisions even have them built-in, eliminating the need for an external smart speaker.
Right now, there are no TVs that have Siri built-in. Those that support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, however, can be controlled using Siri on an iOS device, such as an iPad, iPhone, or iPod, as well as a Mac.
Do 4K TVs have problems with burn-in?
OLED TVs are the only type of 4K TVs that have the potential to suffer from burn-in, though it’s incredibly uncommon. It’s not really something for average consumers to worry about anymore.
How We Test 4K TVs
We begin each model year by bringing in the top-tier televisions from each of the major brands, including Samsung, Sony, LG, and others. These premium televisions help set the highest standard for the year, managing expectations for each model below them, and providing context among the competitors.
We begin testing by setting up each TV in a completely dark room and adjusting its picture settings using tools and methods readily available to consumers — just like you might do at home. From there, we use a series of test patterns and familiar content, from streaming services to Ultra HD Blu-ray to over-the-air (OTA) TV, to judge each TV’s performance characteristics, including color production, motion resolution, black levels, backlight influence, brightness, HDR quality, and detail resolution.
Once we’ve analyzed a TV’s picture quality, we move on to elements that affect the user experience, including each set’s smart TV interface, user settings interface, remote control, external device recognition and control, and other essential touchpoints.
When possible, we’ll place two competing models side by side to provide additional context for the pros and cons that each TV exhibits. Finally, we make a determination as to which type of user a TV might appeal to. For instance, some TVs provide better bright-room performance, while others are better for dedicated home theater performance. Some are better for sports, while others are better for watching movies or playing games.
In short, we make a thorough evaluation to determine not only which TVs offer the best picture quality, but those that offer the best overall user experience. After all, you’ll be living with your new TV for years to come, and using it should be a joy, not a pain.
Read our complete test methodology for more information.
Glossary of Terms
Here’s a rundown of some of the most common terms associated with today’s TV technology.
4K Ultra HD
This refers to a display resolution that is four times that of 1080p HD. A 4K Ultra HD TV’s pixel resolution is a 3,840 x 2,160 grid in a 16:9 aspect ratio, resulting in nearly 8.3 million pixels. This increase in density adds striking detail and realism to an image and allows larger screens to be viewed from closer distances without individual pixels becoming visible.
High Dynamic Range (HDR)
High dynamic range is probably most familiar to people through the HDR mode on their digital cameras. It’s designed to deliver a picture that has greater details in the shadows and highlights, plus a wider range of colors. HDR in televisions pursues the same goal. The color palette is wider, blacks are deeper, and whites are brighter. Presently, there are two major HDR formats: HDR10 and Dolby Vision, with a third — HDR10+ — beginning to show up on new models. The first is the HDR standard, but Dolby Vision offers a premium experience. Consider a TV that supports both. HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) is another recent addition to the HDR collection, which supports over-the-air (OTA) broadcast content with HDR.
Full-Array Local Dimming (FALD)
This refers to an LED TV’s backlighting system. A FALD display contains an array of LEDs spread out in a grid behind an LCD panel, rather than just at the edges of the TV. This LED array is broken up into zones that can be dimmed when necessary to achieve better black levels. Another benefit is more uniform brightness across the screen.
Wide Color Gamut (WCG)
These are the expanded color reproduction abilities of a 4K Ultra HD TV, which are closer than ever to what we see in a digital cinema. By approaching the Digital Cinema Initiative’s P3 color specification, a 4K UHD TV can produce billions of more colors than a 1080p HD TV.
Quantum dots
A layer of film loaded with tiny nano-crystal semiconductors that is placed in a TV’s display panel to help produce a wider array of colors. Quantum dots work by altering the light coming from a TV’s backlighting system before it is passed through the TV’s color filter.
Phosphor-coated LED
An alternative to Quantum Dots, phosphor-coated LEDs have a chemical coating to alter the light’s output. When used in a TV, this results in a purer backlight that’s more easily manipulated by a TV’s color filter, resulting in a wide color gamut and increased color accuracy.
OLED
This stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. In an OLED display, the pixels also produce their own light, eliminating the need for an additional LED backlight, making OLED screens super thin. They also tend to exhibit better black levels and color accuracy than LED TVs. For more information, see our OLED versus LED article.
HDMI 2.0b and HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1 is the latest version of the HDMI spec, however, it is only just beginning to show up on new TVs in 2020. TVs made and sold in 2019 typically use the older 2.0b specification. If you own a 4K TV that uses 2.0b, don’t worry: There’s no reason why it shouldn’t offering fantastic performance for years to come. If, however, you’re thinking of buying a new TV and want to be absolutely future-proofed, choose one that has HDMI 2.1. Here is a full explainer of all the new features HDMI 2.1 will support.
HDCP 2.2
The latest version of the High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection technology, which provides copy prevention specifically of 4K Ultra HD content. Any source device that requires HDCP 2.2 will require a 4K Ultra HD TV with an HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI port for a compatible connection.
HEVC (H.265)
Stands for “High-Efficiency Video Coding.” A new compression technology developed to make large 4K UHD video files smaller and, therefore, easier to stream over broadband Internet connections. HEVC is said to double the data compression ratio over H.264, the predominant encoding technology used today for 1080p videos while retaining the same video quality. A smart TV or streaming set-top box must be able to decode HEVC in order to play back 4K Ultra HD video from sites like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.
VP9
An alternative to HEVC developed by Google and used predominantly for encoding 4K Ultra HD YouTube videos. In order for a smart TV or streaming set-top box to play back 4K Ultra HD YouTube videos, it must be able to decode VP9 videos.
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