Everything you need to know about buying a TV
Everything you demand to know most buying a TV
When you lot're looking at new TVs, there's so much jargon and marketing to sift through that it can be hard to know what'southward important and what isn't. From the bare minimum nuts to the advanced features you ought to know, we put together this condensed collection of buying communication and glossary of TV technology.
We have lots of detailed and technical communication on our site, digging into the specifics of various features and technologies bachelor on today'south TVs. From comparisons of specific display technologies to in-depth explanations of thee latest features, we're happy to share our skillful information day later day. Merely when you're shopping for a new TV, yous might not want a lengthy guide to every feature and selection under the sun, and fifty-fifty our robust collection of TV reviews can't embrace every model from every TV manufacturer.
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Rather than rehash what you would find in our TV ownership guide or our guide to smart TVs, or any of our other more than detailed articles, we've boiled down our shopping advice to key suggestions and specific terms you need to know to give you lot a full-bodied dose of knowledge to make a great Television ownership decision. It's one function vocabulary lesson, one part abridged collection of the nigh of import takeaways from our many helpful articles.
Here's our Television receiver shopping cheatsheet.
Resolution
When it comes to TV shopping the near basic element is the screen, and the get-go big factor is resolution. With multiple resolution options on the marketplace, these are the specifics you lot need to know.
720p or HD: Display resolution measuring 1280 x 720 pixels, frequently used in HDTV broadcasts, DVD media and the most common resolution used for streaming video with express bandwidth.
1080 or Full HD: Display resolution measuring 1920 x 1080 pixels, used in modern television broadcasts, cable and satellite Television receiver, Blu-ray media and available broadly in free and paid streaming services.
4K or Ultra HD: Brandish resolution measuring 3840 x 2160 pixels, usually referred to as Ultra HD or UHD. Potentially supported by the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, and available as a college-end offer in cable and satellite, on UHD Blu-ray discs and higher-tier subscription streaming. (Meet the best 4K TVs we've reviewed.)
8K (also called Ultra HD): Display resolution measuring 7680 x 4320 pixels, unremarkably chosen 8K, and (confusingly) too chosen Ultra HD. Despite the growing number of 8K TVs on the market, in that location are no pregnant sources of 8K media. (Run across the all-time 8K TVs for recommendations and more detailed shopping advice.)
Screen size
The next meaning consequence is screen size. Television set displays are measured diagonally from corner to corner, and the larger the Idiot box screen, the larger the Television, and the more altitude you'll need to comfortably view it. And so consider the space the TV is going in before you jump at buying a larger Goggle box.
Standard screen sizes: For virtually households a 55 or 65-inch TV will be plenty big, while however fitting nicely in your den or living room.
Larger screens: Bigger screen sizes of 75 and 85 inches are bachelor, simply are big enough that yous'll need to call back through whether y'all have the physical space for the TV itself, and for comfortable viewing.
Smaller screens: Smaller TVs of fifty inches or less tin exist a nifty fit in smaller apartments, dorm rooms, or as secondary TVs in the kitchen, kids bedrooms, and anywhere else you might want to put a little Idiot box. Small TVs are also the one time you should consider anything less than 4K resolution. Anything nether 43 inches is likewise pocket-sized to properly display 4K in a way that the eye can process, making total Hard disk resolution a good choice for smaller sets.
For more discussion of screen size, check out our guide What size TV should you buy?
If yous already know what size you desire your next Goggle box to exist, we've gathered our favorites in every major class of screen size:
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best l-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs
Brandish tech
Going beyond the basics of resolution and size, y'all'll want to know most brandish technologies. What's the difference between QLED and OLED? (Read our article QLED vs. OLED TVs: Who wins? to learn more.)
There are three primary categories to know in the Telly earth – LCD, QLED and OLED. While manufacturers might try to confuse the issue with different acronyms and branded names for certain technologies, it all boils downwards to these three options. (For now, anyway – new technologies are on the horizon.)
LCD (aka LED): The most basic form of modern TV display technology is LCD (sometimes chosen LED) displays, which use a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to produce picture and colour, combined with an LED backlighting to provide effulgence. Some refer to these TVs every bit LED TVs to distinguish them from older versions that used compact fluorescent lights instead, but LED has become the basic standard now.
QLED: QLED or quantum dot displays use nanotechnology to boost color and brightness of an LCD display. Quantum dot displays use microscopic nanocrystals, which accept the unique property of glowing at a particular wavelength when exposed to calorie-free or electricity. This lets manufacturers employ quantum dots with LCD panels for better colour and brightness. QLED TVs take gotten quite common, and information technology'south a characteristic worth looking for, since they offering noticeably better picture show quality than traditional LCD TVs.
Check out the best QLED TVs for our acme recommendations.
OLED: The all-time TV technology around today is OLED, which stands for organic light emitting diode. These displays utilise special compounds to create ultra sparse displays that can be manufactured by printing them direct onto drinking glass. With each private pixel capable of producing its own light, they eliminate the need for additional backlighting, making for extremely thin displays, and offering extremely loftier levels of dissimilarity. If y'all're in the market place for a premium Tv, OLED is the all-time you'll find.
Read our guide to the best OLED TVs to learn more.
Backlight and dimming
Color and contrast are but part of the display equation. In addition to panel types, You also need to look at backlighting and illumination.
What adds brightness to a TV screen is the backlight. Where the first apartment screen TVs used compact fluorescent bulbs, modern-mean solar day televisions use powerful LED lights, which allow for thinner calorie-free or televisions with brighter screens.
There's several forms of LED backlighting that are offered on a Idiot box, and some are better than others. The meliorate options likewise add some expense to the Tv, giving united states an opportunity to spend more money.
Edge lighting: The most affordable option for TV backlight is edge lighting, which uses rows of LEDs around the border of an LCD console to provide brightness to the pic. The consequence is sometimes a little inconsistent, with notable shadowy spots and unwanted bright portions of the screen, merely that may not be an result for casual Television set watching. If you want to save a buck, check out the picture show on an edge-lit Tv set and make up one's mind whether information technology offers acceptable quality to y'all.
Dual LED: A Samsung exclusive, Dual LED backlighting upgrades edge lighting with LEDs that produce absurd and warm tones of light, and will alternate those to offer slightly more dynamic lighting than traditional border lit displays. We're non a huge fan of the technology, only Samsung offers information technology on some of its mid-range QLED TVs.
Direct backlight: An array of LED backlights that embrace the backside of the LCD panel for brighter, more vibrant illumination. It's a great option for LCD TVs, but doesn't offer good loftier dynamic range.
Full array, local dimming (FALD): The best choice on any LCD/LED Television is total array backlight with local dimming, sometimes shortened to FALD. This backlight setup uses a directly backlight behind the entire LCD or QLED console, but brakes it upwards into several discrete zones that tin be brightened or dimmed individually. This allows the Television receiver to brighten one function of the display while darkening others, which translates into better contrast and college dynamic range.
Mini-LED: Mini-LED TVs are relatively new, and they improve on basic FALD backlight by shrinking the LEDs down to a merely a fraction of the regular size. Smaller LEDs allow for smaller, more tightly controlled backlight, with significantly more dimming zones – oftentimes offer hundreds of zones, instead of the dozen or and so offered on other TVs.
Per-pixel lighting: The simply option that'due south better than an LED backlight is when individual pixels produce their own light and can exist brightened and dimmed at the pixel level. For mainstream TVs, only OLED tin can offer this level of lighting control, just manufacturers are working on new technologies like micro-LED and QD-OLED to challenge OLED's current supremacy.
Brand names and manufacturers
TV brands give you a sort of shorthand for a broad range of technologies and features. Here'south a very high level wait at the major brands you might want to consider when you're shopping for your side by side TV.
For more than information, cheque out our guide to the all-time Tv set brands.
Elevation brands are names that you lot will definitely recognize – LG, Samsung and Sony. Pretty much any Telly from any of these three brands volition exist of decent quality, and offering a expert mix of functioning and features at any cost point.
Value brands include names like TCL, Hisense and Vizio. These brands offer better prices than the more recognizable brands, simply still deliver a nifty 4K picture show and decent smart TV functions, though you lot may give upward a few features. These brands offer amazing deals, and are frequently featured on our best Tv set pages, just check out the reviews first, because there are some clunkers out at that place. (Check out some of our picks for the best TVs under $1,000.)
Bargain brands are the cheapest of cheap TVs. Brands similar Toshiba, Westinghouse, Element, Sceptre, RCA and Polaroid – not to mention a dozen other brands you may not recognize – offer TVs priced so depression that you might think they're too good to be truthful. They ofttimes are. (Cheque out the best TVs nether $500 for some of our recommendations)
Smart Goggle box tech
A smart TV is whatsoever set that can both connect to the net and run apps, letting you savour streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus right on your Telly without requiring a split device. With most TVs today classified every bit smart TVs, it pays to know the departure betwixt the many types of smart Tv set software, and why you lot might want to choose i over another.
Proprietary platforms: webOS, Tizen and SmartCast
The different TV makers will rely on different smart TV platforms, and each is a little different. LG uses its own webOS and Samsung uses Tizen, both proprietary software that still offer a large number of apps and features.
Samsung TVs peculiarly rely on the broader ecosystem of Samsung products to offer an integrated experience for mobile and smart home users. If you're already living the Samsung life, a Samsung TV will raise that experience.
Another proprietary smart Goggle box platform is Vizio's SmartCast, which doesn't offer the same breadth of apps and features, but has improved consistently from year to yr.
3rd political party software: Roku, Android, Google and Burn down
Other brands will rely on third party software. The about popular of these is Roku TV, which can be establish on a variety of TVs, from dirt cheap budget sets to premium models. We honey the Roku TV platform for its wide app option and easy-to-use interface, and information technology's available on some pretty high-quality TVs. (Check out the best Roku TVs for recommendations.)
Google TV and Android TV are another large proper noun, with Google Goggle box existence the contempo rebranded upgrade to Google'southward older Android Telly platform. All told, both Google options offer perhaps the best app pick and widest number of features. Built-in Chromecast for sharing content to and from other devices is a huge plus, and Google Assistant is baked in for excellent vox interaction.
Amazon is also in the smart TV game with Fire TV, which can be found on both Amazon-made TVs and a scattering of other manufacturer models sold through Amazon and All-time Purchase. Amazon Fire TVs offering plenty of apps and features, including built-in Alexa voice assistant, simply they tend to be on the cheaper end, and Amazon TVs can exist a footling heavy on the advertising.
Loftier dynamic range (HDR)
I of the biggest features to come up to TVs in recent years is high dynamic range, or HDR. Thanks to technologies like LED dimming zones and OLED'due south pixel-level effulgence command, modern TVs tin adjust the effulgence of different parts of the screen, assuasive it to display brighter brights and deeper darks for a much more realistic and immersive flick. Information technology also translates into more vibrant colour, which makes everything look meliorate.
Doing this requires media to include actress information about the brightness and colour of each scene, above and beyond what normal video signal includes. Called metadata, this extra data comes in a few unlike formats, and they differ a little according to which format or standard is being used. Here's a quick rundown of the main HDR formats, and the technologies that enable them.
Learn more about it in our article What is HDR Television receiver, and why does it matter?
HDR 10 and HLG: HDR10 is the industry standard for high dynamic range content, and will piece of work with any HDR content. Alongside it is HLG, which stands for hybrid log gamma, and allows HDR-like effulgence control for live broadcast content. Any HDR-capable TV will exist able to work with these basic standards.
Learn more than virtually HLG in our article What is HLG HDR?
Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ: The proprietary format Dolby Vision offers more specific instructions than basic HDR10, allowing for more flexibility and diverseness in how brightness and color are handled from scene to scene.
The resulting pic should evangelize an even better HDR experience, but it volition vary depending on the TV – mediocre functioning can blunt the effectiveness of even the best HDR content.
And at that place'southward i more twist. Dolby Vision IQ is a variation on the format that uses ambient light sensors to determine the lighting levels in the room where the TV sits, and volition conform HDR levels to provide an optimized version of the content. The characteristic tends to exist more than expensive, showing upwards simply on more than premium smart TVs. In our experience, Dolby Vision is great, but Dolby Vision IQ is more of a "nice to accept" choice.
Learn more than in our article What is Dolby Vision? (And how to go it).
HDR10 Plus: Samsung has its ain competitor to Dolby Vision, called HDR 10 Plus. While the 10 Plus format isn't as broadly supported in media and streaming as Dolby Vision, it does accept the distinction of being supported by Samsung TVs – Dolby Vision is non.
Ports and connectivity
Await on the dorsum of whatever Tv and y'all'll detect a handful of ports and connectors, along with labels that may or may not make any sense to y'all. Hither'southward a quick rundown of the ports that are well-nigh important, and what to look for to get a amend bargain.
HDMI: The standard for video and audio connectivity across TVs, media players and audio products, HDMI is a simple all-in-one solution for what used to require lots of divide cables. But it's not entirely straightforward, every bit new HDMI standards have added new features and functions to seemingly identical HDMI ports.
- HDMI 1.four - Supports 1080p and 720p video and sound, but generally isn't used on modern 4K TVs.
- HDMI 2.0 - Supports 4K picture and refresh rates upward to 60Hz. Unless specifically identified equally HDMI 2.1, this is the almost common HMDI version in use on today's TVs.
- HDMI 2.1 - used by the latest game consoles and found on higher-end TVs, HDMI 2.one offers more bandwidth for supporting higher frame rates, upwardly to 8K resolution, and a number of distinct features.
Find out more than nearly the latest HDMI offerings in our article What is HDMI 2.1? Here's everything y'all need to know.
ARC: Built into the HDMI standards presently used is a feature chosen Audio Return Channel, or ARC. It lets you use a single HDMI cable to connect a TV and soundbar, offering two-way communication between devices over a single HDMI connection. Substantially, the HDMI ARC port lets you utilise HDMI as both an input and an audio output.
A newer version of ARC, chosen enhanced audio return channel (eARC). The biggest comeback eARC offers is back up for full-resolution audio signal, significant that it supports Dolby Atmos and other uncompressed sound formats.
Read our guide What is HDMI ARC? to learn more.
USB: Today'due south smart TVs volition also include at least one USB port. These ports tin be used for connecting a flash bulldoze for viewing media on the TV, or to power devices over USB, such equally a streaming stick or amplified antenna. We recommend opting for more ports when y'all can.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi: With today's smart TVs requiring internet connectivity for so many features, TVs come up with built in connectivity. All back up Wi-Fi, but Ethernet is the improve option – it may not have the convenience of wireless, but an Ethernet cable volition offering a faster, more stable connectedness. Nigh TVs offer both options, just some budget models save a buck by going Wi-Fi only.
Bluetooth: Whether yous want to wirelessly connect a set up of surround sound speakers for room-filling audio, or a pair of wireless headphones for unimposing listening that won't wake your family at nighttime, Bluetooth can brand it happen. Almost TVs are equipped with Bluetooth these days, merely cheque the specifications for any TV you lot're considering, as some TVs use Bluetooth exclusively for pairing the remote control, or volition let you connect audio devices, but not peripherals like a keyboard.
Gaming features
If yous savor console gaming of any type, you'll want to know the cardinal features that make a good gaming Goggle box. With mod game consoles offering avant-garde features and higher resolution and frame rates, you want to make certain your Television has the feature support it needs.
Check out our guide to the best 4K gaming TVs for all of our current recommendations and more detailed shopping advice.
Connectivity: HDMI ii.0 is fine for most 4K gaming, merely if you lot desire to game in 4K at higher frame rates or have advantage of features like variable refresh rates or automatic low-latency modes, you lot'll need a TV that supports HDMI 2.1. (See our discussion of HDMI above.)
Refresh rate: The higher a TV's refresh charge per unit, the ameliorate it will be able to handle fast motility, peculiarly for gaming. Most 4K TVs are capped at 60Hz, but more than premium sets tin handle upwardly to 120Hz, which matches the performance of newer consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Lag time: The interval between an epitome or button press registering on the console and the resulting alter displaying on screen. Measured in milliseconds, nosotros recommend gamers expect for TVs with a lag time of 20ms or less.
Refresh rate
The refresh rate describes how many times per second a motion-picture show is refreshed on the screen. Expressed in Hertz (Hz) it translates to what frame charge per unit the TV can handle, with a 60Hz brandish capable of displaying 60 frames per 2d. Higher refresh rates become more of import when dealing with fast-paced content, such every bit live sports and gaming.
I affair to note is that Tv manufacturers will often quote an "effective" refresh rate. These numbers are ever higher than the bodily panel refresh charge per unit, and reflect the apply of techniques like backlight flicker and video processing, and don't describe the actual refresh rate of the display panel.
30Hz: The refresh rate used by older HDMI standards and media, including some 4K-capable game consoles. Well-nigh movies and shows are in this range, but the majority of TVs sold now tin handle college refresh rates.
60Hz: The most common refresh rate for older 4K TVs. Virtually gaming consoles top out at 60 frames per second, but newer consoles can go college. For TV shoppers, 60Hz is what we recommend as the minimum acceptable refresh rate, fifty-fifty on budget models.
120Hz: The most common refresh rate on current 4K TVs, 120Hz exceeds the needs of nearly media. Gamers will get the most out of this higher refresh rate, which requires a newer panel and HDMI ii.i connectivity.
240Hz: Some TVs will tout an effective refresh rate of 240Hz, but the actual charge per unit, as a dominion, is really 120Hz.
High-Frame Rate (HFR): Loftier Frame Rate support refers to anything over 30 frames per second, whether information technology's movies, sports broadcasts or gaming. Higher frame rates offer smoother motion, and normally are paired with improve video processing for a clearer image.
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): A new gaming characteristic offered in the HDMI two.1 spec that lets a Boob tube and game console synchronize the output frame charge per unit with the console refresh rate to eliminate judder and trigger-happy for smoother gameplay.
Larn more in our articles nearly the best refresh rates for TVs, and A gamer's guide to refresh rates and response times.
Contrast
Contrast describes the difference between the brightest and darkest shades that the display can produce. This is expressed every bit a numeric ratio, such every bit 2,000:1. TV manufacturers place a lot of emphasis on dissimilarity numbers, only luckily, this is one area where yous don't demand to worry that much.
In general, the contrast numbers quoted by manufacturers and retailers mean very little. Contrast numbers are highly inflated, and measurement standards are so varied that the numbers wouldn't mean much anyway.
What does thing is how the set actually looks, and this is where bodily contrast – not the quoted contrast rating – comes into play. This tin can be adapted in the TV settings under "brightness" and "contrast" settings.
Audio
There'southward more to TVs than merely the visual, and audio is an important slice of what makes a great TV. From clear dialogue to booming sound effects and floor rumbling bass, audio quality is half the movie or show.
The problem is that TV audio is a challenge. Fitting big, room-filling audio inside the increasingly thin chassis of well-nigh mod TVs is a feat that requires a lot of technology and advisedly tuned audio, and that means that meliorate audio is expensive. Most TV manufacturers settle for skillful-enough audio on all but their most premium TVs.
In general, nosotros recommend pairing a TV with a soundbar to skip the audio effect entirely. That said, there are a few specifics yous should keep an eye out for.
Soundbar: A split up device that combines center, correct and left channel audio (and sometimes boosted channels) into a single unit that sits below a TV. The design and size of a soundbar allows it to produce big, better audio than most TVs can match, and they can exist paired with a subwoofer or additional speakers to create a total surround sound system.
Check out the best soundbars we've reviewed for our recommendations and shopping advice.
Multi-channel sound: There are several options for multichannel audio, merely the nuts are all the same – instead of pumping all of a Telly's audio out of two stereo speakers, multichannel sound uses multiple speakers, adjusted for specific speaker positions, to create a rich and immersive audio experience.
With formats from Dolby Digital and DTS, multichannel audio is also expressed equally a serial of numbers, such as the standard 5.1 (five speakers, 1 subwoofer) or vii.1 (7 speakers, one subwoofer), 5.1.ii (the standard v.1 system with an additional two up-firing speakers for vertical sound), and upward to 9.one.two and higher.
Dolby Atmos: Dolby Atmos is a proprietary audio format that combines surround sound multichannel sound with top channels, specifically used with ceiling-mounted speakers or upward-firing speakers that reflect sound off of the ceiling, to offer more than vertical and immersive sound. Several TVs offering Dolby Atmos back up for an Atmos-enabled soundbar or speaker organization, and a very few offer Atmos in the TV itself, with upfiring speakers built in.
Learn more in our article Dolby Atmos explained: What it is, how it works and where to get information technology.
Cost
Final, but far from least, is price. Practiced 4K TVs tin can be had at all dissimilar price levels, only you lot tin generally expect a few differences depending on how much you pay.
Premium TVs: More often than not priced at $ane,000 or more, with the best TVs exceeding $2,000. These are the all-time of the best, with excellent picture quality, audio that may non require adding a soundbar, and smart TV functions that exercise everything from asking Alexa or Google Home for motion-picture show recommendations to checking your doorbell camera or letting you spring on a video call with friends and family.
Several of the acme models on our list of the all-time TVs fall into this price range, merely because the best features and performance are reserved for more expensive models.
Mid-range TVs: Priced betwixt $500 and $1,000, you can observe a nifty 4K smart Tv set for under a grand, but that may require giving upwards some of the nicer features. Yous can discover these TVs with features like 120Hz panels, Dolby Vision HDR and lots of HDMI ports, only you may not find all of those things in the same TV. You too won't detect larger screen sizes, top brandish technologies similar OLED or higher 8K resolution displays.
Check out the best TVs under $ane,000 for our favorites in this price range.
Upkeep-friendly TVs: Priced at $500 or less, you tin can get a decent sized 4K TV and features, but yous'll accept to hunt for the right combination of what yous want and the price you're later on. Getting a better TV at these lower prices will often hateful settling for a smaller screen size, skipping avant-garde video processing, and giving up on the more advanced smart features. And audio quality isn't peachy in this cost range, so you'll definitely want to pair your Tv set with a soundbar.
Cheque out the all-time TVs under $500 for our budget-friendly recommendations, which includes picks for the best TV under $400 and under $300.
Ready to narrow down your search? Check out the best TVs by make, price range or screen size, cheque out our picks for the top models in each.
All-time TVs | Best 4K TVs | All-time smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming
The all-time TVs under $grand | The best TVs under $500
Best Tv brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best OLED TVs | All-time QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs
The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | All-time 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs
And don't forget to watch out for the latest Television receiver reviews.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/everything-you-need-to-know-about-buying-a-tv
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