Good-Quality Free or Cheap 4k Videos

focus123 on 04/07/2025 - 16:46
Last edited 04/07/2025 - 17:44 by 1 other user

Dear OzBargainers, I recently upgraded my TV from a 2012 LCD to an 83" Samsung S90D OLED thanks to this deal.

I only spend about 6-8 hours on TV per week due to work commitments and a busy young family.

I like to enjoy the limited hours that I watch TV to the fullest (which is the justification that I gave myself to spend $3500 to purchase the new OLED).

I checked some of the free 4k Docos on you tube and could not see a massive difference in quality when looking at both my new OLED and the 12-year-old LCD when watching side by side from 10ft distance. however, there was a noticeable difference when watching a 'downloaded' 4k movie where the high contrast 3D-ish look of OLED was much more appealing.

Now, can OzBargainers provide their inputs on where I can find good-quality free or cheap 4k videos? my main focus is movies and documentaries.

Entertainment 4k Ultra HD

Comments

  • Hybroid on 04/07/2025 - 16:54
    +2

    4K UHD Blu-Rays for the best quality. Cheap second hand in charity shops or marketplaces. YouTube compression is not going to cut it after that.

    No Dolby Vision on that TV is a big bummer though.

  • Guybrush57 on 04/07/2025 - 16:54
    +1

    4K Blu-ray player with 4K Blu-rays

    Not free but the picture quality is best in class.

  • Gunnar on 04/07/2025 - 16:55
    +2

    I saw a great movie about a lovely young gent vacationing with his step mother the other day, was in 4k. I can't remember its name unfortunately but it was on some sort of movie hub that was mostly aimed at men who want to watch movies.

  • frondono on 04/07/2025 - 16:58
    +1

    real debrid with something like kodi and fen light you can stream bluray remuxes.

  • scrimshaw on 04/07/2025 - 17:03
    +2

    I checked some of the free 4k Docos on you tube and could not see a massive difference in quality

    Online video streaming is always compressed, even if you selected the 4K resolution on YouTube you're still being sent a compressed stream (to save bandwidth costs) and lossy audio.

    I've tried a variety of subscription services (Hulu, Amazon Prime) and 4k generally still looks quite compressed in comparison to Blu-Ray media. So if you want to benchmark your TV and see what it can really do you might need to hook it up to a Blu-ray player.

    Some libraries allow you to borrow / loan DVD's, although I'm not sure if any of them have Blu-ray media.

    • focus123 on 04/07/2025 - 17:12

      Libraries do have 4k media for loan. however, the discs are scratched and unusable on most occasions.

  • beltdrive on 04/07/2025 - 17:03

    just go to JB Hi-FI and watch the demonstration videos if you want to admire a 4K display

    then come back home and enjoy the Sopranos DVD boxset

    • Mechz on 04/07/2025 - 20:09
      -1

      I tried watching the Sopranos but it just doesn't hold up anymore.

  • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2025 - 17:09
    +2

    HDR is just as important as 4K, probably more important. Most recent movies are HDR. Look at Prime Video, you also get free shipping on Prime items on Amazon. So you can get like a $2 roll of tape delivered for free. Worth it. In the U.S. Amazon Prime costs a lot more than it does here, they also have a lot more stuff to buy. But it's still good value.

    Also could consider piracy if you want to be able to watch literally anything that's available in 4K HDR.

    Also if you're used to a cheaper TV without HDR then HDR content will probably look weird to you at first. It'll look too dark, it'll just look off. But just stick with it, it is better.

    • focus123 on 04/07/2025 - 17:10

      Is Prime Video 4K better quality than YouTube 4K?

      • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2025 - 17:13
        +1

        I'd think that Prime Video uses higher bitrates than YouTube, yeah. 4K Blu Ray will use the highest bitrate, so if you care about absolute quality, the largest range of content, and the lowest price, then piracy is your best bet.

    • Potatohead82 on 04/07/2025 - 18:30

      Are you talking about remuxes from the parrot world?

      • AustriaBargain on 04/07/2025 - 19:05

        Yes, though compressed ones can be quite good too. If you have the home setup for it and the internet bandwidth and the storage, why not go remuxes. You can notice the difference imo.

  • Potatohead82 on 04/07/2025 - 17:54
    +1

    How cheap is cheap for you? From time to time, JB Hifi has offers on blu-rays and 4Ks, there is a Facebook group that follows JB hifi discounts on blue rays and 4Ks. 2nd hand market on ebay might be an option too - I've bought from there 2nd hand, just look for sellers with good reviews.
    You'll need to buy a 4K disc player though. Panasonic UB820 won't disappoint.

    • spackbace on 04/07/2025 - 18:02

      Or a used Xbox One S or X (not the base model)

      • Guybrush57 on 04/07/2025 - 20:43

        Xbox is better than nothing but it isn't the best 4K Blu-ray player

  • Downvoter on 04/07/2025 - 18:34

    83” fark me hope you have optical included as an extra for fvcked eyes if less than 5m away

    • focus123 on 05/07/2025 - 09:16

      Eyes are already damaged after many years of staring at a computer monitor for 8 hours a day. Other barriers prevent us from getting a longer viewing distance .
      3m or 10ft is above the minimum recommended distance and very close to the ideal viewing distance for an 83-inch TV

  • Bignudge on 04/07/2025 - 21:17

    Real Debird + Stremio. About $28 for half a year. 4K HDR movies, doccos, and pornos for the win. Just make sure your internet is up to scratch

  • djones145 on 04/07/2025 - 23:26

    young family means
    4k blu ray of ….
    frozen or cars

    • focus123 on 05/07/2025 - 09:08

      So true, kids watch the TV more than the adults :D

  • tenpercent on 05/07/2025 - 07:27

    young family
    …
    from 10ft distance

    I didn't realise young people had travelled back in time and resumed using Imperial or American (is there a difference?) measurements.

    For those wondering, 10ft = 3.05m.

    • focus123 on 05/07/2025 - 09:21

      Isn't it funny how, when it comes to TVs, everyone forgets the metric system and switches back to the Imperial system?
      Would you ever walk into a store and ask for a 2.15-metre TV?

      • tenpercent on 05/07/2025 - 10:06
        +1

        I'd walk into a shop and find the 2.15 m tv by myself.
        A 2.15m object is hard to miss.

  • 87percent on 05/07/2025 - 12:16
    +1

    Just download David Attenborough documentaries. They’re really good too watch in 4K

    • ThithLord on 08/07/2025 - 09:35

      Unless OP downloads a 4k BluRay rip (~100GB size), they'll get a compressed image and audio.

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