The Consumer Electronics Showcase always exhibits the most state of the art gadgets and appliances, which are never within reach to the general public at the time -- it is a showcase, after all.

But for those not willing or capable of paying several thousand dollars (or more) for an Ultra High Definition TV, but are still curious about the next generation television technology, the big show items at CES are little more than examples of what may be available far in the future. Beyond the headline-stealing 100+ inch curved UHD (or 4K) screens, are any new 4K TV sets this year within the average person's reach?

Unlike CES 2013, the answer this year is yes -- but a qualified yes. Here are some of the affordable 4K televisions to keep an eye out for this year.

Polaroid

If you thought Instagram was the end of Polaroid, think again. At CES 2014, the electronics company brought out a 4K TV for that costs $999.99, just breaking the important psychological "five zero" line. The TV (50GSR9000 50" 4K Ultra HD) has a 50-inch display and 4K resolution with more than eight million pixels on the screen total. Polaroid

Unfortunately, however, reactions to the Polaroid 50-inch UHD TV have generally been lackluster. The viewing angles are reportedly too narrow, causing images to grey out and become less vivid if you're not right smack in front of the set, and the picture won't dazzle like a high-quality UHD screen. It's surprising, if a little disappointing, but Polaroid is an off-brand when it comes to televisions. In any case, there are already off-brand 50-inch TVs that are technically 4K for less than $1000.00 anyway.

Vizio

Don't be too downtrodden, though. Vizio, though not carrying a name like LG, Samsung, or Sony, introduced a 4K TV that impressed. It also costs $999.99 and features a 50-inch screen, but don't call this set cheap. Part of the company's new "P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV" line, or P-Series for short, Vizio announced the high-quality sets in a total of five screen sizes -- ranging from 50-inches to a 70-inch set (for nearly $2,600.00).

The P-Series comes with a brain and 4K streaming capabilities built in: advanced local dimming technology; a backlight with 64 active LED zones; a quad-core GPU and dual-core CPU; the HEVC H.265 4K codec pre-installed; and it comes Netflix 4K streaming-ready. The screen is capable of displaying UHD video at up to 60 frames per second.

Sony

For a name-brand UHD TV to look forward to, the only 4K TV set that looks likely to be near the range of affordability is from a new "entry-level" line of 4K Ultra HD TVs, called the XBR-X850B series. It will be available in 49-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 70-inch variants (obviously look for the 49-inch model for a possibility).

However, Sony has only promised these would be entry-level, to bring the 4K Ultra HD experience to "a broader audience." While we know it is coming to market in Spring 2014, and that it will pack great features like Sony's 4K X-Reality Pro engine, Triluminos display, screen mirroring, and 4K streaming-ready, Sony hasn't announced the prices yet.

Bottom Line

This year may not be when 4K televisions hit the mainstream, but the technology definitely looks more in reach. Trusting some TV-version of Moore's law, or at least the efficiencies of mass production, we may see some decent 4K TVs this year at ever-falling prices. But the preliminary cheap UHD televisions will be basic, and you undoubtedly run the risk of encountering weird bugs or technological incongruities with such an early crop of low-cost, next generation tech -- and don't expect any attainable 4Ks to be like those huge, curved OLED 4K television walls that consumed our attention last week.