I noticed this most when watching a scene in Netflix's Marvel superhero mashup The Defenders, in particular a scene that has Alexandra (played by Sigourney Weaver) sitting in a sun-filled room enjoying a private performance by the New York Philharmonic. Yes, 4K is a huge pixel leap over 1080p, but the bigger change here is arguably HDR, which fundamentally changes how colors and contrast ratios work.

Lisa Eadicicco of Time says the real key feature isn't 4K, but high dynamic range (HDR) support: But the bottom line is: If you just need something to stream on-demand content from providers like Hulu, Netflix, HBO Now, or Amazon Video, the Roku ($60-$100), Fire TV Stick ($40 the Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD is currently unavailable), and Chromecast ($35 to $69) have got you covered.

Sure, the Apple TV 4K offers some extra bells and whistles, like being able to control your smarthome, download third-party apps (like Panna, a cooking app, or Zova, a fitness app), or view iCloud library photos on the big screen. Nicole Nguyen of BuzzFeed says the Apple TV 4K is best for people who have a high-end TV setup and want to do more with the device than just watch videos: And, just as Apple promised, several films I previously purchased on iTunes - 'Star Trek Beyond', 'The Lego Movie', and 'Kingsman' were automatically upgraded to 4K HDR. Even the rental prices for 4K are lower on iTunes - $5 versus $10 on Vudu.

Walmart-owned Vudu, which has been selling and renting 4K films for years, currently has those titles for $30. Notably, they're mostly selling for $20, with a few older titles going for $15. So far, the selection includes some major new releases like 'Wonder Woman', 'Baby Driver', and 'Alien Covenant'. You'll find Apple's first batch of 4K HDR films in their own section on the iTunes store. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.

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