2015 Sharp: 4K UHD TVs
Monday, January 5, 2015 at 9:00AM Updated on December 24, 2015: new pictures, product details, pricing
Sharp is known for making affordable big screen LCD TVs that other manufacturers find difficult to make or match - think screen sizes of 80-inches or 90-inches with a mid 4-figure price! Sharp's 2015 TV line up showcases 4K ultra high-definition (UHD) across a wide range of screen sizes with modern thin frame designs.
The entire 2015 Sharp AQUOS 4K UHD TV lineup will share some technical commonalities including:
- 3840x2160 screen resolution
- Next generation "Revelation" upscaler
- Ultra thin narrow bezel design
- Quad-core processor
- HDMI 2.0 + HDCP 2.2 for all ports
- Built-in WiFi networking
- 4K streaming with popular apps
- HEVC/H.265 and VP9 codec support
Sharp's most affordable 4K UHD TV line includes a 43-inch screen size that equates to more than 102 pixels-per-inch (PPI) - great for people who like to sit very close or for use as a supersized PC monitor. The 65-inch UB30 is notable for its addition of multi-zone local dimming.
- Screen sizes: 43-inches, 50-inches, 55-inches, 65-inches
- Refresh rate: 60Hz (65-inch 120Hz)
- Backlight: edge-lit LED
- Local dimming: 65-inch model only
- Ports: 3 HDMI, 2 USB (43-inches/50-inches)
- Ports: 4 HDMI, 2 USB (55-inches/65-inches)
- Smart TV features: SmartCentral 3.0
Pricing:
- 43-inch LC-43UB30U: $546
- 50-inch LC-50UB30U: $734
- 55-inch LC-55UB30U: $986
- 65-inch LC-65UB30: $1400
Eyes on the UB30
One of the most impressive 4K TVs at the Sharp CES booth was the 65-inch LC65UB30 (pictured above). Although it lacks Sharp's latest smart TV interface, it's the only 2015 LCD from the company to feature edge-lit local dimming for improved picture contrast. Subjective comparisons with other nearby 2015 Sharp 4K UHD TVs led me to believe the 65UB30 may quickly become a favorite among image quality conscious buyers looking for a 65-inch screen. I look forward to testing this TV in the very near future.
UE30 Series
The UE30 series brings Sharp's 4K UHD to larger screen sizes, and it features the new SmartCentral 4.0 that's powered by the Google Android TV platform - expect easy integration with all things Google including Google Cast-enabled apps and Android mobile devices.
- Screen sizes: 60-inches, 70-inches, 80-inches
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Backlight: edge-lit LED
- Local dimming: AquoDimming (software based)
- Motion resolution enhancement: AquoMotion 480
- Dual stand position (70-inch/80-inch)
- Ports: 4 HDMI, 3 USB
- Smart TV features: SmartCentral 4.0 w/Android TV
Pricing:
- 60-inch LC-60UE30: $1000
- 70-inch LC-70UE30: $1897
- 80-inch LC-80UE30: $3780
UH30 Series
The UH30 line represents Sharp's flagship 4K UHD TV series for 2015. Aimed at impressing home theater aficionados with a focus on superb picture quality and performance at larger screen sizes that most benefit from UHD resolution.
The SPECTROS color technology featured in Sharp's best 2015 televisions expands color output through a the use of blue LEDs that are coated with green and red narrowband phosphors and an updated color filter design that is better optimized for the light output of the enhanced LEDs.
Other specs for the UH30 series include:
- Screen sizes: 70-inches, 80-inches
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Backlight: edge-lit LED
- Local dimming: AquoDimming (software based)
- Motion resolution enhancement: AquoMotion 960
- THX 4K Certified Display
- SPECTROS rich color display technology
- Ultra thin narrow bezel with silver stand
- Ports: 4 HDMI, 3 USB
- Smart TV features: SmartCentral 4.0 w/Android TV
Pricing (MSRP):
- 70-inches LC-70UH30: $1997
- 80-inches LC-80UH30: $4298
Best for last
Saving the best for "late 2015", Sharp will introduce a TV that points to the future of where big screen LCDs as a whole are heading. The "Sharp AQUOS Beyond 4K Ultra HD TV" aka "Sharp AQUOS 4K UHD TV with Pixel Splitting Technology" lacks an official model number, but it flirts with (pseudo) 8K resolution by splitting each of its 4-color subpixels in half. The multiplied subpixels are uniquely mapped to provide a claimed improvement in perceived detail.
The as of yet unnamed TV also incorporates Sharp's most advanced backlight unit (BLU) that will deliver high dynamic range imagery (not Dolby Vision) and an expanded color palette. Until more is revealed, we are left with a nice list of specs:
- 3840x2160 input resolution
- 7680x4320 effective resolution
- Backlight: full-array LED
- Local dimming: hardware multi-zone
- 4-color Quattron subpixel technology (RGBY)
- SPECTROS rich color display technology
- High dynamic range
- 100% DCI P3 color gamut
- 70% Rec. 2020 color gamut
- Pricing: TBA
Takeaway
It's good to see Sharp embracing full-array local dimming with its premium 2015 offering and that edge-lit local dimming will make it into the 65-inch UB30 TV. I do find it somewhat odd that the UE30 and HU30 are regulated to software-based contrast enhancements, but Sharp LCDs have a history of good black levels and I'll reserve final judgment for a review sample in a controlled lab environment.
Read more about the latest 2015 TVs and display technologies.
Reader Comments (2)
Nice!
I've read, elsewhere, that the 4K+ will utilize Quattron as well as Spectros.
The Spectros takes advantage of a new red phosphor and another in the blue-green range.
The 4K+ set will have to use some of the yellow phosphor that Quattron has traditionaly used as well.
Having owned a couple of 70" Quattrons, I can say that it will be a giant leap forward for color gamut!
My current UQ17U set uses an improved red phosphor compared to the 2012 mode it replaced.
My current Q+ set uses the split pixels on an HD screen and the difference is quite stunning.
It will be great to see the new 4K+ technology, but the wider color gamut is most interesting to me.
Quattron began in 2010 by claiming an expanded gamut, but Sharp has only used it for added
brightness to date, thanks to a lack of blue-green output. Spectros changes that and will allow the
original promise of Quattron to shine in all its glory! Hopefully...