Smart TV’s Buying Guide
The following guide helps you to know that everything looks better on a better TV. Finding the right TV, however, is difficult. With lessons learned across dozens of reviews, guides and technical explainers, this guide is your sherpa through the TV shopping wilderness, whether you’re looking for simple shopping advice or need to know which features matter most.
Today, there’s a staggering array of high-definition (HD), 4K Ultra HD and even 8K TVs in stores, from bargain big screens to the high-end displays that distinguish the best TVs available. From the differences between 8K and 4K resolution, the basics of smart TV features, why you want HDR, and the differences between LED and OLED, we’ve got answers to all of the common questions about smart TVs.
TV buying guide quick tips :
If you’re in a hurry, here are the most important things to consider before you buy a television. We explain each of these points in greater detail in our TV buying guide below:
Don’t buy a TV with less than 4K resolution. Avoid full HD or 1080p sets.
You can skip 8K TVs (for now). 8K TVs are super expensive, and 8K movies and shows aren’t available yet.
Expect to pay about $500 for a good budget 55-inch 4K TV. And at least $900 for a 65-inch model. Models with better picture, speakers and features will cost more.
Look for 60 Hz or 120 Hz refresh rate: When it comes to refresh rates, 60 Hz is good, but 120 Hz is better. A higher refresh rate provides smoother motion for everything from movies and shows to live sports and gaming.
Look for an HDR-compatible set: This offers more realistic colors and better contrast.
OLED TVs look much better than most LCD sets: But QLED TVs from Samsung, Vizio and TCL are an affordable middle ground.
Look for at least four HDMI ports. And opt for the newer HDMI 2.1 format if you can.
Plan to buy a soundbar. TV speakers are worse nowadays because the screens are thinner.
Avoid extended warranties. Your credit card company may already provide purchase protection
Plan to buy a soundbar. TV speakers are worse nowadays because the screens are thinner.
Avoid extended warranties. Your credit card company may already provide purchase protection
Pixels and Screen Resolution
The next thing to consider in Tv buying guides is screen resolution. Your viewing habits will decide what resolution you need, and this to an extent also depends on the screen size you pick. But first, let’s go into the details on the different options in this space.
HD or HD-Ready (1280×720 pixels or 720p)
The most basic resolution available on most budget TVs, HD Ready or 1280×720 pixels (or thereabout) is considered the entry-level specification today. This resolution is often seen on smaller screen sizes, and is commonly used on 32-inch TVs. As you go up in size, an HD-Ready resolution will offer poor picture quality, so it’s best resorted to only if you cannot get a large screen size.
Full-HD (1920×1080 pixels or 1080p)
Full HD is trending now, While not quite as low as HD Ready and yet not as high as 4K, full-HD is the middle-ground of screen resolution, so to speak. With 1920×1080 pixels, full-HD is sharp enough for most things, and the vast majority of cable and satellite TV content available today tops out at this resolution. It’s also the most common resolution of the now ageing Blu Ray format (though higher resolution Blu Rays exist), and you’ll find a decent amount of online and streaming content in this resolution as well.
4K (3840×2160 pixels)
The most pixels on commonly available TVs today, the 4K resolution boasts a sharper picture, thanks to having four times as many pixels as full-HD screens. While 4K content was hard to come by even a couple of years ago, there is a significant amount of quality content in this format available today. Much of this can be found on popular streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and with many smartphone now able to record 4K video, you can also play back these videos in their full glory. Furthermore, many new games also support 4K resolution, enhancing the gaming experience when used with a 4K TV.
HDR Means… Must know about
A new term in the Tv space, High Dynamic Range (HDR) video support refers to the ability of the TV to play back supported content with a greater dynamic range in colour, wider colour gamut, and often, brighter and cleaner visuals. A key quality of HDR video is better contrast within the same frame, allowing for deep blacks and bright colours in different parts of the frame simultaneously.
Other things should know
Unless you’re using some really dated support equipment such as an old set-top box, you’ll be heavily dependent on the HDMI port for most of the devices you use with the TV. This includes Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles and most streaming dongles, with the HDMI 2.1 standard currently capable of streaming both audio and video at up to 8K resolution. While you could possibly make do with just one or two HDMI ports, the more you have the better. Three or more ports will allow you to connect all of your devices and not have to manually switch every time.
For older devices including many standard definition set-top boxes, it’s useful to have component video ports as well. USB ports may also be needed to not only play back media from USB drives, but also to provide power to some streaming dongles. Further, ports such as ethernet for smart TVs and optical digital audio to connect high-end audio equipment will further enhance connectivity on your new TV.
Which and What should ou buy
With the above factors in mind, choose the best TV for yourself based on your needs and viewing requirements. Once you’ve finalised on the TV size based on the room you intend to watch TV in, you should then pick the screen technology and additional features.
If you’re looking for a value purchase, you’ll be suitably served by an LED-LCD TV. These are available in all sizes, and are more than adequate for all kinds of viewing content, including cable and satellite TV, online streaming services and gaming. Further, if most of your viewing is regular cable TV programming, you’ll be fine limiting the resolution to full-HD, and may not need to invest in a 4K TV.
If you stream a lot of online content, or have a Blu Ray player or high-end gaming console, you might see the sense in investing in a 4K TV. Furthermore, HDR compatibility will help you get the most out of your TV. In this case, you might also want to consider the newer but more expensive screen technologies, such as quantum dot or OLED. However, the higher prices of these TVs means that you would need a rather high budget, as well as the room space to fit in a large screen. Although you do get smaller screen 4K and HDR TVs, most full-fledged options come in 49-inch and above screen sizes.
If you’re buying a high-end TV, chances are it will come with smart connectivity as well. You could therefore directly connect your TV and use its smart interface to directly access online content, but we don’t consider smart connectivity to be an absolute necessity to be factored into your purchase. You can always add a streaming dongle or smart box later, which will add smart connectivity to an otherwise regular TV.
Finally, if you largely want to use your screen with a computer or for high-frame rate gaming, you would be better off buying a monitor. In most cases, a monitor and TV are interchangeable in function, but monitors do usually sport better colour calibration and higher refresh rates, which could matter for a lot of users.