Why you might replace your TV with one of these

Flat-screen TV sales soared over the past decade as prices decreased from thousands of dollars per set to hundreds. Now, the next wave of flat-panel televisions—even-higher-definition, beautiful “4K” sets—could finally be set to take off.

At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month, several manufacturers introduced new 4K TVs, including a line from Sharp that will start at under $750. More generally, 4K TVs in the US and Canada cost an average of $2,019 last year—down more than 50% from 2013—according to DisplaySearch, which tracks the industry.

If the HDTV era is any indication, dropping below that $2,000 barrier makes a big difference. When the average retail price of HDTVs fell to $1,423 in 2006, from $1,861 in 2005, annual sales increased by 10 million, according to DisplaySearch.

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Meanwhile, 4K TV shipments are still modest—about 1.1 million in the US and Canada last year, according to DisplaySearch. But as prices continue to fall, expect 4K sets to make up a greater percentage of TV sales. The research firm Gartner, for instance, expects 4K TVs to represent 57% of total global TV production in 2018, up from about 9% last year.

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One important issue this time: While HD television content was a huge upgrade over previous, low-definition content—especially noticeable in sports, films, and videogames—there hasn’t yet been a similar must-have case for 4K, and there isn’t much 4K content available yet.

But there were positive developments here, too, at CES in Las Vegas. A new “Ultra HD Alliance” between TV makers including Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic and content giants such as Disney, Fox, and Netflix, could help solve the what-to-watch problem.

Why you might replace your TV with one of these