Author Archives: Tyler Lacoma

Learn What Makes the Best Camping Tents

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Best camping tents

A new tent is a great addition to exciting vacation plans, a resolution to get outside more, or a replacement for an older, heavier version. If you’re in the market for a tent, we have two ideas for you. First, check out the best tents of 2017 to see what the market can offer and how much these top-line tents cost. Second, review the features of the best camping tents so you know exactly what to look for when buying.

Signs of Easy Setup

It’s difficult to glance at a picture of a tent and see how easy it is to set up, unless you are very familiar with the design already. It’s tough to tell even when looking at a tent in the store. Still, here are a few positive signs that I’ve found really matter when it comes to tent-building:

  • Color codes: Coding the poles and canvas with the proper colors so they can be easily matched is a godsend, especially if you are setting up a tent with strangers or family – people who may need a little extra help.
  • Sleeve guides: All quality tents should have sleeve guides for the poles, a common-sense addition. However, there are good sleeves and bad sleeves – sometimes short, minimalistic sleeves are best, especially for smaller tents.
  • Only a few (connected) poles: Modern tents are generally excellent at providing only a few poles in a simple design (crosshatches are common – and welcome – choices), so getting a new tent is a good idea. The poles should be lightweight and connected via nylon or a similar material.

Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing should vary based on why you want a new tent! If you are interested in a summer tent, then nylon mesh windows and a mesh cover are vital for keeping bugs out but letting air pass through. Storm flaps are important for bad weather, and if you are camping in the rain or on wet ground, look for water-resistant finishes that force water to run off the tent. Finally, think carefully about the floor. Camping on the ground usually requires a thick floor covering for proper protection. If there’s a chance that you’ll be camping on wet ground, then consider folding in an accessory tent floor mat that you can lay down for added warmth and protection.

Spacing

Pay close attention the square feet descriptions of any given tent – and remember that square are usually less than you imagine. About 30 square feet is enough for two people to squeeze into a tent, but not more than that Also, pay attention to any descriptions of a “vestibule” which is typically a partially-covered section of the tent near the door to keep shoes, muddy clothes, and so on – it adds valuable space without a downside. Finally, look for specifications that describe how high the tent is at its highest points, which can give you a good idea of the inner size.

Storage and Door Options

Do you want one door, or two? How big does the door need to be? We already mentioned how useful vestibules can be, but some tents go a step further and add a whole “porch” with an overhead covering that adds extra shade for sitting near the tent (window coverings can also be used for this purpose). Also look for any information about the inside of the tent. The best tents usually include mesh storage pockets along the walls for personal belongings, a benefit not to be underestimated, especially on longer trips.

Weight

Weight may not matter at all – if you are heading to a campground with a pull-in parking spot, for example. Or weight may matter a lot – if you are backpacking solo on the PNW trail, for example. So if necessary, check the weight. Around 4-5 pounds is a nice average weight for a tent that’s big enough for a couple of people without being too heavy. Many tents also give two different weight, one weight with all the unnecessary accessories taken out to reduce weight for serious backpacking.

3 Of the Best Chef Knifes Perfect for Gift Giving

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So you know a chef or someone who spends a whole lot of time in the kitchen, and you want to get them a chef’s knife. Not just any knife, but a real chef’s knife, one of the very best that will last for years and be at home even in even the fanciest restaurant. But you don’t know much about knives – where will you begin? It’s a good thing we’ve got a list of the best chef knives of 2016 for you to peek at!

Note about sizes: If you’re giving a chef knife as a gift, you’ll probably have to pick the size yourself, which can be tricky – 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch blades are the common choices, but different chefs have different preferences. Longer blades are typically favored by the most experienced chefs for the biggest projects (they are at home in commercial settings). The best way to make a good buy is to sneak a close look at the chef knife they currently use, but that’s not always possible. When in doubt, an 8-inch blade is a good middle ground, but particularly picky chefs will demand a certain length.

There’s a related problem concerning weight. Certain people may have different preferences for weightier or lighter knives, which is another reason to take a look at what they’re currently using. All right, onto the best picks!

Shun Classic – $159.95

This Japanese style blade (the price is for the 10-inch model) combines beauty, strength and excellence to become one of the best chef’s knives on the market, particularly if you prefer Japanese edges and weight. The handle, made from Pakka wood, is particularly straight, suitable for chefs who prefer straight grips without any curves or divots.

The Classic is forged by KAI out of 32 layers of high carbon stainless steel. It’s probably a quick lesson on forged blades: a forged knife is literally forged by layering rods of steel together until they form a single blade, which is then cooled and sharpened. Forged blades tend to be sharper and more resistant to wear, but also more expensive. Stamped blades, the other common alternative, are stamped out of metal sheets and then sharpened. It’s a faster production process, and more affordable (usually), but the knives aren’t necessarily as strong.

Wusthof Ikon – $114

This powerful forged German blade is another masterful choice for your favorite chef (the price shown is for the 8-inch model). Note that the handle of this knife is triple-riveted and has a slight curve, which makes it more ideal for chefs with larger hands who like a bit more control of their knives for large projects. This knife is also by far the heaviest on our list, which can also help with control and leverage – although it’s also a matter of taste!

A final note here on the edge. Japanese and German blades typically have very different edges. This has limited impact on cutting, but becomes very important when sharpening. If you are buying a knife as a gift, try to find out if the person you have in mind prefers Japanese or German knives first!

Mac Hollow Edge – $119.95

This high carbon, stamped blade (price shown for the 10-inch model) is a Japanese knife with a narrow Pakka wood handle. In many ways it resembles our top pick, except that it isn’t forged and has a markedly lower price tag and longer, more curved “Western” style handle that some Chefs may prefer. It’s also light – in fact, it’s easily the lightest blade on our list, making it ideal for those who are used to lightweight blades, typically more experienced chefs who can handle swift blade without any trouble.

Got pets and kids? Check Out These 3 Air Purifiers to Keep Your Home’s Air Clean

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An air purifier does what your air conditioning and vacuuming can’t do – take the extra step to remove all possible particles from the air in your house. Whether your vacuum cleaner is kicking up a little bit too much dust from your carpet, or you need to get rid of as many allergens as possible for an asthma condition, these beauties can help out. If you’re looking for the best air purifiers of 2017, then we’ve got the list you need to see!

These standalone models (as opposed to units installed in your HVAC system) tend to work best when placed in a large living room or bedroom where they have access to the most air. We tend to prefer “mechanical” air purifiers, which use physical filters to “strain” the air and remove the smallest particles possible. Of course, that’s only a small part of the story, so let’s take a look at our top picks and the features that set them apart.

Honeywell HPA300 – $194

Top Air Purifiers

Honeywell’s slim and affordable model is an excellent air filtration device for those who have never had a purifier before and want to try one out. Not only is the price reasonable, but it comes with several different filtration options which can clean the air in a room up to 5 times each hour. In addition to HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration to remove even extra-small particles, this model also has a carbon filter, which can help remove annoying smells. It comes with plenty of different modes and timers too, allowing you to set the speed and schedule when the air purifiers will come on so you don’t have to remember every single day.

Perhaps best of all, the unit also provide on-screen filter replacement reminders. Since a dirty filter will both slow down a purifier and ruin its primary objective, these replacement reminders are important – and useful!

Note: Always pay close attention to the size ratings for models like these. This Honeywell is designed for rooms around 465 square feet, a great size for a bedroom or a similar space. However, keep in mind that air purifiers do make a little noise (thankfully, these newer models are pretty quiet) so make sure you can sleep with one in the room.

HealthMate Standard HM-400 – $539

Here’s a big jump in price for a much larger, more powerful air purifier, designed for buyers who know what they’re doing and want a system that can handle air throughout the house more easily…as long as it fits in the budget.

This filter is also an excellent pick for the health conscious. It has four different stages, which doesn’t make it the fastest purifier around, but certainly one of the most thorough for those who really need certain particles gone. The first two stages remove large and medium-sized particles as a warm up. The third stage is a 15-pound filter of activated carbon and zeolite to take care of odors – a very effective way of removing smoke or cooking smells from an area. The fourth stage is a certified HEPA filter that removes most particles that are larger than 0.3 microns for a final cleaning.

With 360-degree intake, you’ll want to keep this model away from walls to increase its efficiency. It has three speed settings based on your goals, but all three are very effective. In fact, this model can make an excellent commercial option for businesses or contractors if necessary.

Coway AP-1512HH – $230

This Coway model has a bit of a different design for those who like purifiers with more technology and eco-saving capabilities. It, too, has four stages of filtration, although they are different from the HealthMate stages: There’s a pre-filter, a carbon filter, a true HEPA filter, and then a “vital ION” filter. That ion filter is an interesting addition: It uses an ionized plate to attract particles – much like static – and trap them on the surface, an extra type of filtration that works well for larger, non-organic particles.

There’s also Energy Star features that can help you save money – and the time you may spend fiddling with settings. The auto mode is particularly useful, since it adjusts air flow speed based on how many particles the unit is pulling out of the air. If the unit goes for 30 minutes without detecting many particles, then it will shut off to conserve energy.

Our Top Picks: The Best Xbox One Headset

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If you’re an Xbox One gamer, life is exciting right now. Gears 4 just came out, the Xbox One S is the perfect holiday present, Project Scorpio is waiting in the wings…and all you need is a really great gaming headset to go along with your adventures. But there’s the problem: Xbox is pretty proprietary when it comes gaming headphones. It can be tricky to find good choice, and even harder to find options that are as good as PC headsets.

Well, we’ve got good news: Here are the top Xbox One headsets for stunning sound, audio customization, chatting, and everything else you need! We did the work for you: Now take a look at the best Xbox One headset options you’ll find:

Astro Gaming Halo A50 – $290

Astro A50

Astro’s specialization in high-end headsets has really paid off for Xbox One fans with the A50, which has some of the best low-distortion sound we’ve heard from a wireless headset, along with a pack of features smartly designed to make gaming better no matter what it is you like to do. Three different sound modes all you to switch between settings for movies, shooters, and general gaming, while the flip-up mic has excellent vocal clarity and very little fuzz around the edges, all with Dolby 7.1 surround sound. The model also comes with a few Halo 5 freebies (not very important these days) and a cool Halo skin (more impressive). Battery life is around 8-10 hours. From sound to features, it’s hard to find a better pair of Xbox headphones anywhere…as long as you can afford them.

We should point out, however, that with the extra-large ear cups and hefty headband, this headset does feel a bit heavier than many other models. If heavy headsets bother you or give you headaches after a while, you may prefer something a little lighter. If that’s not something you usually notice, then don’t worry about it.

Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven Pro Premium – $96

Turtle Beach Ear Force XO Seven Pro Premium

Not everyone can spend around $300 on a pair of Xbox One headphones, no matter how great they might be. If you want to spend a lot less cash but still get an excellent model, try out this Turtle Beach unit. It doesn’t have surround sound, but it does come with other features to make up for it, including several presets for both sound (bass, vocals, etc.) and mic (quiet rooms, loud rooms, etc.). There’s a “superhuman” mode for amplifying quiet sounds, although the 50mm neodymium drivers do fine work without the boost.

Additionally, this headset has some extra-durable design features, from the nylon-wrapped cord to the sturdy headband cushioning and pullout mic, which makes it better suited for rougher environments – and people accidentally sitting on it.

Turtle Beach Ear Force Stealth 500X Premium – $234

Turtle Beach Ear Force Stelth 500x

This powerful Turtle Beach model is somewhere between our first two picks. It comes with with DTS 7.1 surround sound, so if you have your Xbox set to DTS you may be more interested in this model. The mic features are also particularly robust with both chat boost and variable mic monitoring, so if you do a lot of talking this headset may be even more useful for you.

This fully wireless (no connection to the controller necessary) headset does have genre specific audio options, and while they aren’t quiet as good as the A50 they still give you a pleasant amount of customization. Plus, they sit a little lighter on the head than the Astro model. Battery life is comparable at around 10 hours, too. If you constantly use chat, want a lighter pair of headphones or just like the Turtle Beach aesthetic, this may be your number one choice.

The Best LED TVs Money Can Buy

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It’s that time of year again – the time when everyone starts thinking about brand new TV and big screens to watch games, enjoy the holidays, and try out their new consoles with. Obviously 4K is the big new feature to look for, but what other features will you find in the best LED TV of 2016? We’ve got your answers, so let’s look at the top affordable models!

Note on 4K: If you can, always choose a larger screen for 4K. All those pixels will do a lot better job if they have a bit more space to work with, so to speak. 4K differences can be hard to notice on a small TV.

Samsung UN65JU7100 – $2,500

Samsung un65ju7100

To be blunt, Samsung makes some of the best HDTVs you can find, both in terms of features and overall durability. We love a lot of different Samsung models, but if you have to pick a favorite it’s this one, which includes a little bit of everything for the people who want a TV that has it all. First, it comes with 4K and 3D capabilities to give you cutting edge imaging in both formats. It comes with smart features and Wi-Fi – a lesser consideration, but great for those who don’t have any set-top boxes. On the other hand, if you have a lot of set-top boxes, then you’ll love the four different HDMI ports and 3 USB ports, which allow you to connect even the most complicated, non-receiver entertainment systems. The “effective” refresh rate, while not important to everyone, is also at a high 240CMR.

You also get a number of choices when it comes to size, from 40-inch to 75-inch models. We chose the 65-inch option as our favorite because 1) that’s probably a lot larger than your current TV and 2) it’s a great size to really enjoy the 4K and 3D content that you might be using.

Vizio M55-C2 – $800 (roughly)

Vizio m55-c2

Okay, we know, $2,500 is a whole lot of money to spend on a TV, even if it can do everything. If your budget is a bit lower, then we suggest this 55-inch Vizio model instead. For around $800 (sellers have different prices for this model), you still get 4K resolution and a 120Hz effective refresh rate: This is ideal if you think of 3D as more of a gimmick and only want that good old ultra resolution. There are smart features here, as well as 5 different HDMI ports to work with and one USB port for attached storage devices, etc.

Otherwise, this model is pretty bare bones, but that adds to the charm if you ask us. Many people already have all the other bells and whistles they want in other devices or setup: They just want a good, easily mounted screen to for their image. This Vizio option works very well in these circumstances. Also note that you have multiple screen sizes to pick from here, too, but if you start going above 65-inch models then they get very, very expensive.

Sharp LC-55UB30U – $1,200

Sharp lc55ub30u

This Sharp model is somewhere between our first two picks. It has many of the same features that make them all great purchases, including 4K capabilities, a 120z effective refresh rate, and smart features. But what really makes this model stand out is the focus on plenty of input options. Not only do you get multiple HDMI and USB ports, but also options for component, composite, and digital optical audio out. That makes this model a good choice if you have older devices that require more traditional connections that some modern HDTVs just don’t have. If you have needs beyond HDMI, then this TV can probably handle them for you.

Our Top 3 Best Blenders

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It’s easy to assume that all blenders are pretty much the same thing – you stick stuff in, you turn them on, you hold them for dear life until they’re finished. However, from the motor power to the blade assembly, there’s a surprising amount of different between blender models. Do you want a powerful blender for green smoothies? Then you need to know what you are getting – and why some features are better than others.

To help out, we’ve collected some candidates for the best blender for green smoothies and other challenging recipes. Take a look at what makes these models special and why we chose them!

Blendtec Designer 725 – $680

Blendtec 725

Blendtec’s Designer 725 has a goal: Give you the best of everything in one blender, no matter what it takes. That makes it easy to list all the ways we love this ultra-powerful blender. It has a 3.8HP motor, one of the most powerful that we’ve seen, and blunted blades that are great at ripping apart even the toughest greens without getting jammed up. The container includes a unique “Wildside” design that includes a fifth side to the jar for better mixing and larger blends (or even bread dough). We also love the easy-to-clean control panel, which uses a modern touch interface with multiple cycles for specific recipes (salsa, smoothies, etc.) and a touch slider with 100 different speed options for controlling precisely how powerful the blending cycle is.

As you can tell, these features are all top-notch and actually very professional in nature. This makes it a best blender for caterers or people who need to make large recipes. However, it might be a little too much if you only make a smoothie or two a week, especially when you consider the very high price tag. However, we suggest you look at the full Designer line if you like what you see here, because there are some more affordable models (albeit with fewer features).

Cleanblend – $200

Cleantech

The Cleanblend has been around for a while, but in this case that’s a big advantage: The blender mechanics remain as solid as ever, but this is one of the most affordable top-line models around, so if you have a limited blending budget this might be your first choice. This model comes with a 3HP motor, a tamper wand for encourage more stubborn ingredients to blend, and a large 64-ounce, BPA-free container. The blade assembly is also sealed, a surprisingly important blender feature that means the blades are far easy to clean, and the pitcher is easier to handle.

The downside to the solid features and low pricing is that the Cleanblend doesn’t offer much that is exciting. The controls could have been found on the very first blenders, with an on/off switch, a pulse switch, and a basic variable speed dial. The pitcher doesn’t have any modern grips or rubberized edges. This is a blender that works best if you’re already comfortable with this format.

Vitamix 5200 – $420

Vitamix 5200

This Vitamix model has a lot of power, especially when it comes to the blade assembly. Vitamix blades are designed to liquefy in short order, while the container is made for strength and stability. If you like extra-smooth smoothies, soups, dips and similar recipes, this is Vitamix’s specialty.

Of course, there’s a trade for specializing in one task so well – there’s not much else that really separates the Vitamix from, say, the Cleanblend. The controls are the traditional on/off, pulse, and variable speed. The container may be stable, but it’s also tall and a little awkward to use and store. Vitamix scores a place on our list for its high-quality components and smoothie potential, but think carefully about what you want to blend before making a final decision.

Capture Your Entire Vacation with Our Top 3 Waterproof Cameras

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These days we demand that our digital cameras do things that our smartphones can’t – which makes sense, considering how similar some of their features remain. And one thing that digital cameras can do better is survive: Specifically, they can survive in situations and environments where you really wouldn’t want to risk a smartphone – like in the water. So if you love snorkeling, snow sports, poolside antics, or the beauty of underwater shots, we’ve got some of the best waterproof cameras for you to take a look at.

OLYMPUS TG-4 – $350

OLYMPUS TG-4

Olympus has produced quite a few ruggedized cameras through the years, and they still know exactly what they are doing. We particularly like the TG-4 because it’s a great middle-of-the-road choice without too high a price tag, making it an ideal choice for many buyers. It’s waterproof up to 50 feet, freezeproof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, shockproof when dropped up to seven feet, and crushproof up to 220 pounds. That covers most accidents that would happen on any adventure short of Jason Bourne’s exploits, making this camera perfect for those who like to push the limits.

But onto the other specs – this camera comes with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor that lets you shoot in RAW (another benefit as long as you have the storage space), an F2.0 high-speed lens designed for light capture, and several modes for taking pictures underwater and so on. There’s also GPS for going off-road, and built-in Wi-Fi for sharing images.

Canon PowerShot D30 – $300

CANON POWERSHOT D30

Maybe you are more interested in reliable waterproofing than any of those other rugged features. In that case, the PowerShot D30 may be a great pick. Yes, it’s shockproof for drops under 6.5 feet, but the real focus is on the innate waterproofing, which will protect the camera up to 82 feet submerged. That’s a whole lot of space for casual scuba-diving, snorkeling, and other aquatic adventures – plus, the combination of shockproof and waterproof features makes it a great choice for a poolside camera.

As for other features, the camera has a 12-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor (not the best comparatively, but hey, you’re here for waterproofing), a 5x optical zoom, an option for 1080p video capture, and an ISO range of 100 to 3,200. Unfortunately, there’s no Wi-Fi and not too many modes to work with.

Nikon 1 AW1 – $800

NIKON 1 AW1

If you’re less worried about price and more interested in taking high-quality underwater shots with ease, try out this Nikon model. Note that this camera combines DSLR features with its point and shoot design, so you can use any Nikon 1 lenses that you want, which is ideal for more professional underwater or waterside photography. In addition to its waterproof and shockproof capabilities, the camera comes with a 14.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, an HD video mode, and a potential 14 fps with autofocus. Note that it’s also designed to be freezeproof, which makes it ideal for snow sports. There’s a built-in GPS, but no Wi-Fi capabilities.

DirecTV Customers Offered iPhone 6s Free Until June 30th

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Do you really, really wish that you had an iPhone 6s for the summer? AT&T has some good news for you – you can get one for free, just by signing up for DIRECTV.  But before doing that I recommend that you educate yourself to the correct satellite provider and read our DISH vs DIRECTV comparison.

In case you haven’t been following AT&T’s business deals closely (we don’t blame you), you may not know that AT&T has bought DIRECTV and has been working hard to get customers to sign up for its TV content with a variety of deals. This latest deal has two parts, and they’re both very impressive at first glance: Sign up and you get a free iPhone 6s, as well as being able to purchase 5 more iPhones from AT&T at 50% off.

Sounds pretty good, right – especially if you already use AT&T? But you may be wondering where the catch is at…and there is a catch or two. First, the deal does end on June 30th, so you don’t have much time to catch up and get your free iPhone. Second, AT&T’s definition of the word “free” is a little dubious, because this is more of a refund than a free product. You still have to buy the iPhone yourself, with your own money. When you do this and sign up for DIRECTV, AT&T will issue you 30 monthly bill credits that add up to the price of the iPhone.

Yes, this is a bit problematic. You have to have the cash on hand for the new iPhone if you want one, and you have to buy (and get your money’s worth) DIRECTV for two and half years. That’s a long time to eventually get paid off for buying an iPhone, and you’ll never see any cash out of the deal. Actually, since you have to pay for DIRECTV month by month – the credits cannot cover the entire bill – you’ll have actually lost a lot of cash by the end of the deal.

iPhone 6s

A sort-of free iPhone…and some sizable discounts on other purchases.

However, we would like to point out that the second half of the offering is much more interesting, at least if you like saving money. For example, if you want to upgrade the whole family’s iPhones, then just three purchases means that one of those iPhones is free, even without the weird monthly bill credits. We recommend this deal for anyone who wants to upgrade multiple phones at the same time.

Another thing to keep in mind: the iPhone 7 is expected to be announced and released later this year. That means if you get an iPhone 6s now, you’ll be behind the current iPhone trend. Sometimes people really don’t care about this, but sometimes it’s an important factor in decision making, so it’s worth mentioning.

Of course, we haven’t even discussed if DIRECTV is worth it or not: Cable cord cutters and video streamers have already made up their minds on that point. If you’re the sort of person who still buys cable or satellite TV, the synergy between DIRECTV and AT&T is worth investigating. While prices vary the baseline DIRECTV package sells for around $50 per month. There are some two-year deals to lock in your starting price as well, which can help you save money after the first year.

3 Top Rated Gaming Monitors

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Asus MG279Q

While gaming processors and GPUs get a lot of attention, your gaming monitor is still very important when it comes to your experience: If you haven’t upgraded to 4K yet – or have been wishing for a larger screen or better customization options – then allow us to introduce the best gaming monitors of 2016.

Acer Predator X34 – $1,223

Acer Predator X34

If you want the best gaming experience and have enough room, this is probably the monitor for you: It clocks in at a gigantic 34 inches, with a large metal tripod stand and a curved display with a 21:9 aspect ratio supporting 3440 x 1440 resolution. That’s a whole lot of screen, so much that you probably won’t mind the lack of other features – who needs them? There’s a Display Port and an HDMI 1.4 port for your high rez experiences, the screen is rated at 60Hz with some overclocking options, and that’s about it.  For those who like to pay close attention to their graphics requirements, this model does feature Nvidia G-Sync tech, which is still relatively rare on big gaming monitors and another big plus here.

Curved screens tend to be a gimmick in the living room, but this is one case where we are for it: Not only does the screen save a little bit of room, but gaming monitors aren’t exactly designed for more than one person anyway, so viewing angles aren’t an issue. On the downside that big curved screen isn’t exactly mobile – you can’t swivel or tilt it, and you absolutely can’t mount it to the wall…so break out the measuring tape before you buy.

Asus MG279Q – $600

Asus MG279Q

This Asus model has a smaller 27-inch screen, but since monitors tend to be closer to your face than TVs, this is plenty of room for 4K to work its magic (or whatever ultra HD resolution gaming monitors have – it varies based on the shape of the screen). Not only is this model much more affordable than our top pick, but it has a 144Hz refresh rate, and some algorithms to help manage flickering and other issues.

You’ll also have no problem with positioning this monitor, since it can be tilted, swiveled, pivoted, lowered, or mounted to fit whatever arrangement you need. If you have an average-sized space to game in, this monitor is probably your best bet.

BenQ XL2730Z – $510

BenQ XL2730Z

At first glance, this 27-inch BenQ seems very similar to our Asus pick, but there are a couple things that set it apart. In addition to the 144Hz refresh rate, it also has an especially low 1-millisecond response time, so if you find that response time is important you may prefer this model (mileage varies when it comes to response time effects). There’s also extra customization options for adjusting the color, which is nice for micro-managing.

However, like many other gaming monitors, there’s no support for G-Sync on this model. This is changing, of course, but for now it’s something to be aware of if you prefer the very latest graphics technology.

Three 4K TVs that Cost Less Than $1000

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It’s the dilemma of every entertainment system owner out there: You really want a display upgrade, but you can’t pay thousands of dollars for it – and if you’ve checked the latest, fanciest TVs available these days, you know they are well over thousands of dollars, especially when it comes to big new features like 4K.

The good news is that 4K TVs are finally growing common and prices are falling. The even better news is that we’ve searched the very best 4K TVs of 2016 to find those under $1,000, so they can fit both your living room and your wallet!

Before we begin, here are two important points to remember:

  • Screen Size: Look we love 4K resolution, but it does have a screen problem. On smaller screens, you really can’t tell the difference between a lot of pixels and a whole lot of pixels. The bigger the screen, the more 4K matters. It’s a good idea to get a screen that’s at least 50 inches to benefit from 4K: After all, if you can’t tell the difference then why bother paying more? Also remember that the distance you sit from the TV is also important when it comes to resolution.
  • HDMI: Remember that you’ll need HDMI 1.4 or HDMI 2 port for wired connections on your 4K TV. Early HDMI standards don’t support 4K, so you won’t get a 4K picture, end of story. Other port options won’t support it either, so you have to be careful on this point. Wireless streaming directly to your TV is a different matter: Make sure you have plenty of bandwidth!

Hisense 50H7GB2 – $550

Hisense 50H7GB2

If you really want to save money, this model is absolutely your best bet: We haven’t seen any other 4K TV with such a low price, and we probably never will again. This 50-inch screen includes a 120Hz refresh rate and plenty of outputs, including four HDMI ports. The backlighting is pretty simplistic and may decrease the quality of bright images, but at this price you can live with the knowledge of all the money you saved – it’s a fair trade, right?

Vizio P552ui-B3 – $1,100

Vizio P602uiB3

Okay, so we’re cheating a little bit on this one, although we will note that the 50-inch version of this TV is well under $1,000 so there are options to save even more money. The great thing about this TV – in addition to its wireless capabilities – is the 64 active LED zones, a feature that tends to provide better backlight for clearer contrast. Otherwise extra features on this TV are sparse, but as we like to say, what do you use your TV for anyway? With so many features provided on receivers, set-top boxes, and consoles, most people just need a few HDMI ports and great screen quality – and that’s what you get here.

Sharp LC 50UB30U – $750

Sharp LC 50UB30U

This 50-inch sharp TV increases LED backlighting yet again with a full array, which means the enter screen is backlight instead of just the edges, a feature that also tends to provide clearer, brighter images and so is usually worth the extra money (unlike many of those super special tech “features” that are just branding language). The refresh rate, however, is only at a native 60Hz, which may disappoint some hardcore gamers. Inputs include two USB ports and four HDMI ports, which should be plenty!