Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a New TV

With a plethora of different models out in the market, it can be overwhelming to decide what TV to buy. Indeed, there are so many factors to consider and a lot of jargon that’s hard to understand.

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect display, read on for some tips in buying your new TV:

Smart TV Capability

These days, most modern TVs can be connected to the Internet, allowing you to enjoy a set of online features. Many models also allow you to access media files that are stored on other devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and external hard drives, among others. If you own several smart devices at home, you may want to get a smart TV that can easily access content on your other gadgets through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

However, not all smart TVs are made equal. While some have tons of useful built-in features, other models come with pointless apps that only clutter up the smart interface. Hence, it may be a good idea to look up in-depth reviews online so you can compare and contrast smart TV technologies.

Screen Size

Contrary to popular belief, a bigger screen isn’t always better. This is because you have to take into account the room’s viewing distance. Otherwise, you might end up getting a TV that’s too large for your room, which can make for an uncomfortable viewing experience.

To calculate your ideal TV size, there’s a general formula you can follow. All you have to do is get your current viewing distance in inches, then divide it by three. The final result is the recommended diagonal measurement of the TV. For instance, a viewing distance of 10 feet or 120 inches divided by three would give you a recommended screen size of 40 inches.

Screen Resolution

For many years, full HD has been the most popular resolution around the world (at 1920 x 1080 pixels.) But these days, more manufactures are shifting to Ultra HD or 4k TVs (at 3840 x 2160 pixels). Because 4K models have four times the number of pixels as a standard HD TV, which delivers clearer pictures with higher-quality details.

Generally speaking, a standard HD TV should be enough for your needs. But with native 4k content becoming more common, there’s no harm in future-proofing your home technology by getting an Ultra HD TV. When in doubt, we recommend buying a 4k model for your living room entertainment system and getting HD TVs for any second screen around the house.

Panel Technology

The two main types of TV technologies in the market are LCD-LED and OLED.

LCD-LED displays use light-emitting diodes to illuminate the screen. As such, these kinds of TVs are incredibly thin. They also feature active or local dimming, wherein the TV can dynamically light up or dim specific portions of the screen to better represent light and dark areas in a scene. Also, LCD-LED TVs are typically more affordable, they have limited viewing angles.

On the other hand, OLED displays use organic phosphors that allow each pixel to generate its own light. This allows OLED TVs to achieve stunning levels of contrast and light precision. While they offer better viewing angles, their screens achieve the same level of brightness as LCD-LED models. They also tend to be much more expensive and have a shorter lifespan.

Viewing Angles

Viewing angles may not seem to matter at first. But when you invite friends and family over for a movie party, everyone who sits off on the side should be able to see the screen without any distortion.

Hence, you’ll want to buy a TV with excellent viewing angles. If you can, drop by a store and examine a few sets in person. Make sure to move around a bit in front of any TV that catches your eye and compare and contrast how they look at different angles. If you plan to mount your TV, you’ll also need to consider its vertical viewing angle.

Display Refresh Rate

In simpler terms, a TV’s refresh rate is how quickly it can “redraw” an image on the screen to effectively portray movement. These days, 60Hz is the base refresh rate considered adequate for most types of programming. But when it comes to portraying fast-paced action, a lower refresh rate may result in a blurry picture.

So, if you’re fond of watching sports or action movies, you may want to consider a model with a higher refresh rate of at least 120Hz. However, there’s no need to get a model with a refresh rate that’s higher than 120Hz, as it’s usually too much for the average consumer. Just keep in mind that TVs with higher refresh rates will usually cost more.

In Conclusion

By doing your research before buying a TV, you can save a lot of time, money, and effort. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be sure to find the best model for your needs.