How to Buy Smart TVs?

Our specialists advise that when looking for a TV, you take in mind its size, resolution, panel type, and TV platform compatibility. Below, we break them all down in further detail.

• TV Size: Whether you plan to place your TV on a wall, set it up on a certain counter, or in another way, it is essential that it is the right size for your home. Measure your proposed TV advertisement to ensure that it will fit the upcoming screen.
• App Support: There are some differences when it comes to second-order services, such as music streaming services or specialized news applications, but the majority of TV operating systems support all of the big streaming apps, such as Netflix or Disney+.
• Panel Type: You want to be sure you’re purchasing the proper panel for you because different panels have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Generally speaking, OLED TVs are great for high-quality visuals in a dim atmosphere, such as while watching movies in the evenings. However, for better visibility when viewing during the day, you’ll want a bright LED or tiny LED screen.

How to Choose the Ideal TV Size for Your Room?

There is a wide range of styles and dimensions available for smart TVs. The optimal screen size for you will be determined by the dimensions of the room in which you plan to watch it as well as the distance at which you intend to sit.

According to Tech Expert, a professional TV tester and calibration expert who runs the HDTVTest YouTube channel, “the general rule of thumb for optimal viewing distance should be one and a half times the screen size [in inches],” but because most people probably don’t move their couch, “I personally would just go for as large a screen size as your budget/space can allow,” he says. “For instance, assuming a viewing distance of 10 feet away (which is equivalent to 120 inches), I would not go any smaller than a screen that is 75 inches in size, and I will even stretch to 85 inches if it is feasible.”

When viewing content on a smaller screen, you simply need to ensure that you are able to go in closer to the screen. You should also keep in mind that large watching parties (for things like sporting events and movies appropriate for the whole family) could benefit from larger screens to guarantee that everyone in the room can see what’s going on.

How to Choose Which Resolution Best for you?

The quantity of pixels crammed onto a single screen determines resolution, which is essentially the level of detail your TV screen is capable of. When watching TV shows or movies, a small, low-pixel screen can only display a little amount of detail, whereas a larger, high-pixel screen will allow you to see far more visual information.

The resolution standard for new TVs is becoming 4K, which is offered in a range of screen sizes. High dynamic range (HDR), which creates richer colors, and Dolby Atmos support are two additional excellent visual attributes that are frequently included with 4K TVs.

Smaller displays typically make do with 720p (720 pixels measured vertically) or 1080p (1080 pixels measured vertically) but TVs that are 40 inches or greater are typically 4K (and should be). This is due to the fact that 4K resolution makes little sense on smaller screens when pixels are squeezed too closely together for you to detect the extra information from a typical viewing distance.

Consider an 8K TV if you have a bigger room and don’t mind spending more money. A typical 8K screen has 33 million pixels overall and about 8,000 horizontally. There aren’t many 8K TV shows available, but these TVs can “upscale” video content to appear more detailed by simply inventing more pixels. However, you can purchase a comparable 4K TV for a lot less money. It is undoubtedly a luxury device.

According to Marek Maciejewski, Product Development Director at TCL Europe, 8K is a tough prospect because you need a sizable screen and to sit relatively closely to gain the added benefit of its pixel count. Despite the fact that TCL products are on our list, Maciejewski did not directly promote any of them. If you are three meters away from an 8K screen, you typically need one that is 100 inches. You won’t perceive [the gain] if you are farther away from the screen, he claims. Because the pixels on this device are so small, a lot of light must be pumped behind the screen in order to achieve a high dynamic range. Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind that an 8K screen would consume more electricity.

You generally don’t need to worry about spending money on a screen with a high quality.

Resolution “really comes down to taste and what your budget is,” according to Keith Doughty, an executive at film-specialist Quvis, which created the first 4K movie cameras and is currently working to improve 8K media distribution. “Unless you’re standing pretty near, it’s quite difficult to truly tell the difference between watching a 4K or an 8K movie. However, a higher resolution is worthwhile if you want to future-proof your TV setup.

Richer images are another benefit of 8K, according to Doughty. “However, the problem is that you are approaching the upper bounds of human sharpness. Although the clarity is astounding in 8K, where you can see every single power line in a field, it is actually softer and gentler on the eyes at lesser resolutions.

LED, OLED, QLED, and Mini LED: Which Panel Type is Right for you?

The component of the TV you actually look at is the panel. The majority of TVs include an LED (light-emitting diode) display, which lets light pass through it to show images. Sometimes they switch to side illumination, which employs LEDs integrated into the panel’s side. This is a little less expensive, but it results in less uniform brightness throughout the screen.

The QLED technology expands on this idea by adding a second layer that enhances color and contrast. The majority of Samsung TVs employ some form of QLED technology, and some are referred to as Neo QLED—high-end versions from the company that feature updated LEDs for increased brightness and color punch. These brighter panels are excellent for viewing during the day.

Other LED TVs are referred to as Mini LEDs because their light-emitting diodes are very compact (often under 0.2 mm in diameter), greatly increasing the number of diodes in a single TV and enabling significantly better brightness control.

OLED is a completely other animal. OLED (or organic LED) doesn’t employ any sort of backlight. Instead, these panels are self-emitting, which means that each individual pixel is illuminated and dimmed in a variety of tones and shades to produce amazingly vibrant colors. Although overall brightness can be a touch dim compared to other screen types, the ability to completely turn off pixels assures that deep blacks and bright highlights in contrast to one another, creating a genuinely dramatic picture. (The LG G Series OLED, with its MLA technology that increases brightness, is an exception.)

The majority of TV manufacturers provide a variety of panel types, but generally speaking, LG, Panasonic, and Sony favor OLED for their high-end screens while Samsung and TCL promote QLED and Mini LED. Some TV manufacturers are now promoting hybrid QD-OLED technology, which combines the brightness of a QLED screen with the remarkable contrast and deep blacks of an OLED.

However, in general, if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll want an LED or QLED TV, an OLED TV for a stunning mid-range screen, and a premium Mini LED or QD-OLED model to put on a spectacular show.

Roku, Google, Fire TV: Which Smart TV Platform is Best?

Your smart TV’s software is something else to take into account. This smart TV platform serves as your access point to a variety of streaming services, applications, and TV features, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Many of the best TVs use first-party software. LG TVs use the webOS platform, while Samsung TVs primarily use Tizen, a Samsung-made operating system. Both are excellent choices with a similar horizontal homepage layout, equivalent app support, and voice recognition options for using the OS hands-free. Samsung’s TV+ service likewise lets you stream a large number of television channels for free, while LG’s platform is slightly more streamlined and comes with a widely used multifunction controller.

Some TV manufacturers, such Hisense and TCL, use a number of third-party platforms in various models, so depending on the model, you might get Roku, Google TV, or something else entirely. The usability, adaptable tile-icon layout, original screensaver, good customer support for streaming services, and superior search functionality of the Roku are well known.

There are several Sony TVs that support Google TV, which provides good connectivity with Android devices, smart navigation, and Google Assistant. Android/Google TV “remains in the lead in terms of app support,” according to Teoh.

According to Maciejewski, the most important factor a shopper takes into account when shopping is content availability (what streaming services and channels you can access now or anticipate being able to in the future). The majority of popular streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Apple TV+, are universally supported, but the specifics can differ, so it’s worth checking to see whether your favorite programs or channels are available.

What to Consider Before Buying a New Smart TV?

In an ideal world, your brand-new TV would come pre-loaded with everything you require, but this isn’t always the case. A streaming stick or box can be an easy solution if you don’t like the built-in OS; you can acquire Roku streamers or more expensive solutions like the Apple TV 4K as a solution.

The desired use case is one of the most crucial factors to take into account when purchasing a TV, according to Teoh. You should look for a TV with decent HDMI 2.1 support (such as LG and Samsung TVs) if you intend to play games on next-generation consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X. OLED may not be a good idea if you frequently watch news with banner ads or use your TV as a computer display because of the higher danger of permanent burn-in.

If not, audio will be your major priority. The majority of smart TVs have a basic 10–20W volume output, whereas luxury versions can have up to 160W of power, with varied levels of audio quality. If the sound seems a little underwhelming, a specialized soundbar or speaker setup should solve the issue.