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If the last time you considered purchasing a television and plasma was an important technology and TVs were dumb instead of smart, you really need a TV buying guide to help you through the process. You want to get the best TV for the money when you buy.
That said, there’s never been a better time to be shopping for a large-screen television. Technology is at its peak. Screens keep getting larger, while prices go in the opposite direction.
Televisions have changed quite a bit in the past few years. And whether you’re cutting the cord or just signed up for a new deal with a satellite TV or cable TV company, having the latest technology available in a TV can greatly enhance your enjoyment of the big screen. If you need a quick guide to help you find the best product, check out our review of the best TVs.
The two primary display technologies for flat-screen televisions are LED-LCD and OLED. Several years ago, plasma display technology was one of the options in the flat-screen TV market, but it has faded away. No major manufacturer makes plasma display TVs anymore.
Price Range: $250 to $3,000 (all prices listed here are for common screen sizes)Editor’s Choice: Sony XBR-65X930CAimed at: AnyoneKey Features: Good display technology, various screen sizes available, may suffer from motion blur, may have poor wide angle viewing
You’ll hear LED-LCD televisions called LED TVs and LCD TVs, which can cause some confusion. LCD (liquid crystal display) is the technology used in the display, while LED (light emitting diode) refers to the backlight for the screen. The LED backlight will either occupy the edges of the screen only (a less expensive option) or the entire length of the screen (provides a brighter display). If you know what to look for in a TV, but you need some help choosing the best accessories, check out our guide to the best TV antenna.
Price Range: $1,500 to $4,500Editor’s Choice: LG 65EF9500Aimed at: Those seeking top-end image quality and larger screensKey Features: High-end image quality, deepest blacks, no motion blur, good wide angle viewing, technology is new, and screen burn-in factor is unknown, very expensive
OLED, short for organic LED, is a newer type of display technology. It produces deeper blacks than LCD, and its pixels change fast, so it doesn’t suffer from motion blur issues like an LCD. With OLED, the organic substance in the display produces its own light; no backlight is needed. OLED is more expensive than LED-LCD and is far rarer, as only LG is currently making OLED TVs, although Samsung did offer a few OLED models a few years ago. OLED is still so new that some questions exist about whether it will suffer from screen burn-in and have the longevity of an LCD screen.
You’ll find either HD or Ultra HD resolution available in the best flat-screen TVs. Most programming is offered in HD resolution now, but Ultra HD (or 4K) is the future of programming. You’ll end up paying about 25% to 40% more for a 4K TV than an HDTV.
Price Range: $250 to $2,500Editor’s Choice: Sharp Aquos LC-70LE660UAimed at: Those seeking any screen size and looking to save a bit of money versus 4KKey Features: Lower price, good image quality, meets resolution of most programming options
An HDTV features a 16:9 aspect ratio display that contains 1920×1080 pixels, resulting in about 2 million pixels total. (The pixels are individual tiny dots that, when combined, create the picture.) Most television programming is available in HD resolution, so there’s still some longevity in an HDTV bought today, at least until 4K programming becomes more prevalent. HDTVs are available in almost any screen size. And most HDTVs use LED-LCD display technology, although LG makes a few HD models using OLED technology. For more great televisions with excellent features at quality prices, then you need to start with our best TV prices guide.
Price Range: $750 to $4,500Editor’s Choice: Samsung UN55JS9000Aimed at: Those seeking 40-plus-inch screen sizes and the highest image resolutionKey Features: Highest resolution currently available, only available in larger screen sizes, more expensive than HDTV
Read: Best 55-Inch TV
4K TV resolution represents the future of television display technology, offering 3840×2160 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio, which results in nearly 8 million total pixels. A limited amount of programming is available in native 4K resolution now, but it’s expected programming will slowly migrate to 4K over the next few years, meaning an Ultra HD TV you purchase now will have some longevity. And nearly all 4K TVs have the ability to upscale HD programming to fill the entire resolution of the 4K TV, so they work well even with HD programming. The smallest 4K TVs are at least 40 inches in screen size and are available in either LED-LCD or OLED display technology.
Price Range: $250 to $4,500Editor’s Choice: Vizio D55U-D1Aimed at: AnyoneKey Features: Streaming services through a Wi-Fi connection, different manufacturers offer different apps and features, although nearly all Smart TV interfaces offer the most popular services
Each TV manufacturer offers a different Smart TV interface that’s built into the TV, and that will offer different apps and features. Some are easier to use than others, so you may want to try a manufacturer’s Smart TV interface before you purchase it. Smart TV interfaces appear on nearly every flat screen television sold today, regardless of display technology, resolution, or screen size, because nearly all modern large screen TVs have Wi-Fi connectivity and an Ethernet port.
In this Smart TV buying guide, you’ll see that nearly all new televisions are Smart TVs because they have Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing them to stream content. You can rely on the Smart TV features built into your large-screen television, or you can purchase a streaming media player that can give you streaming services beyond what’s built into the TV.
Price Range: $35 to $200Aimed at: AnyoneKey Features: Dedicated streaming media player that usually offers more features than the Smart TV interface built into the television
The best streaming media players include those from providers like Roku, Amazon, Google, and Apple. You’ll either use a streaming stick or a set-top box that’s connected to the Internet and to your TV to access the streaming services.
Set a Budget: Large screen TV manufacturers do a very good job of providing units at a variety of price points, which depend primarily on the screen size. Prices range from about $200 to several thousand dollars. So before you begin shopping for a TV, set a budget, so you only look at models you can afford, and you’re not tempted to overspend.
Pick a Screen Size: Some people will want their new television to fit into a cabinet, or mount to a certain segment of the wall space. In this case, you may be limited in the screen size you can pick. As a rough guide to finding the right screen size, measure how far in inches your primary sitting area will be from the television. For an HD resolution TV, divide that distance by 1.6; for a 4K resolution TV, divide by 1.1. This should give you a rough idea of the optimal viewing screen size, although you can go a little larger or smaller.
Watch the Viewing Angle: If you’re placing your best new flat-screen TV in a wide room, you’re going to want to pay close attention to the viewing angle of the screen. Some units allow for sitting at a wider angle to the screen, while still being able to see the picture clearly. OLED screens offer a wider angle than LED-LCD TVs. But each TV offers a slightly different viewing angle.
Over Reliance on Smart TV: While the Smart TV interface should play a small role in your pick, it shouldn’t be the deciding factor. After all, if you don’t like your TV’s interface, you always can go with a streaming media player instead. Pay more attention to finding the best screen size, image quality, and screen resolution. Besides, you might not need a smart TV if you’re looking for a great TV for seniors, like grandparents. If they do want to watch streaming content, they can always get a streaming device, like Apple TV or Blu-Ray player.
Not Understanding Refresh Rate: The screen’s refresh rate is important, but this measurement has become more of a marketing gimmick than a helpful specification for consumers. Look for the actual refresh rate of a TV, not the slick-sounding marketing brand name a manufacturer has given a particular unit. And keep in mind that 120Hz is usually good enough, especially if you’re shopping for a high-end outdoor TV for your patio.
Purchasing Off Brands: Perhaps the most important piece of advice a flat-screen TV buying guide can provide is to stick with the major brands of televisions. A cheap or knock-off brand is only going to cause you headaches. Now that doesn’t mean that a brand-name TV can’t fail at some point. That said, the best place to buy a TV is your trusted retailer, as long as you’ve read through plenty of TV reviews first.
Screen Size
Resolution
Display Technology
Smart TV
Audio Quality
Ports
Ultra HD and OLED televisions represent the newest levels of technology on the market, but you’ll also pay extra for both of them.
Knowing how much you have to spend on a television and figuring out what screen size you want are two of the most important factors when shopping for a TV. Stick to only the models that fit your needs, and you’ll save yourself time and money researching models you can’t afford.
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