Are you considering purchasing a new Television? Chances are the last time you bought one, you only needed to decide on the size and whether to pick a regular or high definition one. However, things are pretty different nowadays. There is a huge array of screen options and features to choose from. In this read, we are going to give you a few tips on what you need to consider if you want to buy the best TV for your living room.
Screen Size
Given the fact that prices have dropped significantly on large screens, it is tempting to get the biggest screen that falls within your budget. However, an extremely large screen can overwhelm a living room and your eyeballs. It’s advisable to pick a screen size based on the distance you normally watch Television from. Experts suggest a 40’’ screen if you are viewing it from 4-6 feet away and 60’’ from a distance of 6-9 feet.
LCD, LED or OLED?
After deciding on the size, the next step is to decide on the type of screen. What a screen is made of can have a significant effect on your viewing experience. LCD TVs tend to be thicker because of the backlighting needed. LED screens have an LCD screen, but have light emitting diode lighting or edge lighting. However, the latter has a reputation for giving uneven blacks. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens, on the other hand, don’t require backlighting and that’s why they are extremely thin. They also give better color contrasts, making them the best choice if you’re looking for the best viewing experience.
Resolution
Nowadays, even the most basic Television delivers a great viewing experience, but the more the pixels, the better the picture quality. 720p is the most basic and delivers conventional picture quality. A high definition (HD) TV has a resolution of 1080p which is adequate for most households. However, more and more TVs are boasting Ultra HD which delivers 2160p or higher quality images. OLED screens are the bleeding edge of screen technology and provide the most accurate colors. However, they tend to be pricey and so, your budget will be the deciding factor here.
The Refresh Rate
If you play video games or watch a lot of sports, then this is a feature you’ll want to consider. The refresh rate is often described in hertz and represents how many times per second the image changes. So a 60Hz rate shows 60 images per second and 120Hz 120 images per second respectively. The higher the refresh rate, the sharper the images will be when playing fast-paced footage.
Smart TVs
Not all Smart Televisions are designed equal. Just because a Smart TV can connect to the internet, it does not mean it will be able to run the application you want. If you want to use Skype, watch Netflix, or HBO on Demand, you should check to ensure there’s an app for that TV before buying. Chances are you will be using the internet more on your TV in the future, and so, ensure that your new Television has WiFi support.