There are a lot of new options in TV buying these days and prices have become quite affordable, even for larger screen sizes. You’ve probably heard some of these terms before… Smart TV, HD, 4K, LCD, LED, OLED. Here are some basic guidelines in choosing the best TV for your viewing entertainment.

When choosing a new TV, the first consideration will probably be size. The size of a TV refers to the distance across the screen area diagonally. So a 55 inch TV is 55 inches diagonally, not 55 inches in width. Keep this in mind when choosing the placement of the TV. We recommend measuring the distance from the seating area to the TV to determine the right size for your room. For a typical living room in which the TV is 8 feet away from the sofa, a 60 inch screen would be ideal. Start with this as a basis for deciding what size would be best for your viewing needs.

 

Interested in Streaming Content to your new TV? 

The resolution of your TV refers to the number of pixels that make up a TV picture – the more pixels, the sharper the image. Keep in mind that the same resolution on a 32″ TV versus a 65″ TV may result in a better picture on the smaller TV since the physically size of the pixels are smaller. 

720p TVs are 1280×720 (1280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically). These days, 1080p is the standard. These “Full HD TVs” have a resolution of 1920×1080. More and more manufacturers are offering “Ultra HD” or “4K” models with a resolution of 3840×2160. That’s a big improvement! The truth is that there isn’t much 4K programming available just yet. TV networks and streaming video providers are just beginning to provide content at the higher resolution so until then, “Ultra HD” video may look somewhat more detailed than “Full HD” but it won’t be obvious except for when you’re watching true 4K content.

Just a few years ago, you would choose between LCD and plasma. These days, pretty much all TVs these days are LCD. LCD screens are backlit by LED lights. LEDs are very bright and can create a great quality picture. There’s one other option, OLED. These use organic molecules which light up when powered with electricity. This allows many more “lights” to be used to backlight the screen. In fact, each pixel lights up independently of the others. As expected, OLED TVs are considerably more expensive than LCDs, starting around $2500. But it’s worth noting that the picture quality is very good. If you have the means, OLED may be worth looking into.

A Smart TV is one that has built-in WiFi providing access to web content and streaming video services like Netflix. Most new TVs provide this feature so don’t get hung up on the term Smart TV. Just look for a TV with internet capability which these days, is pretty much the norm.

The refresh rate of a TV refers to the number of times per second that the screen is refreshed. At lower refresh rates, fast-moving objects may look blurry or jittery. This is particularly important for sporting events and action movies. Look for a refresh rate of 120Hz or better yet, 240Hz if you can afford the extra cost.

Depending on the number of devices you have, you’ll want to look for a TV that has enough HDMI inputs to connect all of your external devices. While you may still have some devices that you connect to your TV using other connection methods such as component, an HDMI connection is preferred. A TV with at least 4 HDMI inputs should work for the typical user. If you plan on swapping out devices from time to time, make sure there is an input that’s easily accessible after the TV is mounted to a wall. For instance, newer Samsung TV models provide a separate “HDMI hub” that connects to the TV which accommodates wall-mounted TVs quite nicely.

As TVs get thinner and thinner, there’s less space for manufacturers to place speakers. The smaller speakers built into today’s flat panels produce lower quality audio. If you have already have a home theater system with surround sound, you’re in good shape. If not, get a soundbar to fill the gap. You’ll experience much better audio quality for relatively little cost. 

Deciding which features matter most to you is your first step in selecting your next TV. There are many factors affected by personal preference so take some time to visit a local store and see the models that interest you in person. Be sure to view the TV at the distance you would in your home for the most accurate representation. When you’ve chosen just the right one, let HelloTech help you get it up and running. For a safe and secure wall-mounted TV, leave it to the pros.