Buying a TV is harder than ever. There are new techniques, formats and dictionaries that you need to master. Moreover, prices are everywhere as cheaper companies try to get rid of brands like LG and Samsung.
The stores now offer a wide variety of HD (high definition), 4K Ultra HD and even 8K TVs, from the big budget screens to the best TVs. The technology and features are great, but it can be hard to keep up with everything, let alone what is important. We have a TV shopping guide to help you decide.
A few features are even more important, especially if you’re looking for a gaming TV. We’ve put together all you need to know for smart shopping!
Every store have a TV brand guide to narrow down your options if you need more help. Take a look at the new TVs released this year in our guide to all the new models announced in 2020. The guides are available for all major brands and models, so check out the latest data from LG, Samsung, Sony and TCL. Vigio, Phillips and Hisens.
The quick tips overview
If you are in a hurry, here are the most important things to consider before buying your TV: Details of each TV purchase guide below:
- Don’t buy a TV with a resolution lower than 4K. Avoid full HD or 1080p sets.
- You can skip 8K TV (for now). 8K TVs are very expensive and 8K movies and shows are not yet available.
- Expect about 500 500 for a 55-inch 4K TV on a budget. Minimum $ 900 for 65 inch model. Models with better pictures, speakers and features are more expensive.
- A refresh rate of 60Hz or 120Hz.60Hz is good for a refresh rate, but 120Hz is good. Higher refresh rates suggest smoother movement from movies to shows, games and games.
- Find an HDR compatible kit. It provides more realistic color and better contrast.
- LED TVs look much better than most LCD TVs but QLED TVs from Samsung, VGO and TCL are reasonably priced.
- Look for 4 or more HDMI ports. If possible, select the latest HDMI 2.1 format.
- I’m thinking of buying a sound bar. TV speakers are getting weaker nowadays as the screen is thinner.
- Avoid extended warranties. Your credit card company can now provide purchase protection.
OLED, QLED, and More
There are currently two major display technologies on the market: LED-LCD (including QLED) and OLED. Understanding the difference will help you make the right decision. A simple rule of thumb is to choose the type of screen based on your image preferences.
Most TVs on the market are LED backlit LCD panels. These include LG’s Nanocell line from brands like TCL and Hisense, and Samsung’s new premium QLED set of low-priced TVs.
However, not all LED lighting panels are made equally. The panels presented as QLEDs use a quantum dot layer which increases the range and clarity of colors on the screen. QLED is one of the best LCD panels on the market.
Disadvantages of panel backlighting using conventional LED lighting. This means that the bright LEDs to illuminate the image from the different layers that make up the panel. This can cause poor black reproduction and small bleeding at the edges of the screen.
The latest (best) LED screen darkens the highlighted areas and uses full local dimming (fold) to improve black reproduction. This brings the LCD panel very close to the “real” blacks. The shaded area can be quite large, so the technique is not ideal. This process often creates a “hall” effect at the edge of the shaded area.
OLED is a completely different technology from QLED. These panels are self-illuminating, so each pixel creates its own light. No LCD film or backlight goes through the “stacks” of layers that make up the screen. In fact, the OELD stack is very thin.
In other words, an OELD screen has “perfect” black because it can completely block pixels. The result is an impressive figure in great contrast. OELD screens can be almost black. Some models are prone to “black anchor” where the details of the gray shades are lost.
OLED technology is a new technology with high production costs, so it can be a bit more expensive than traditional LED backlight. With that in mind, LG’s advanced screens, such as the C9 and CX, typically fall into the same category as Samsung’s advanced QLED screens.
But there is something strange. This is a mini LED. These panels still use conventional LCD technology but use smaller LEDs. This means you can keep more shaded areas. The results will see the Hello effect and the same deep blacks on the OLED screen.
MiniLED TVs offer a great balance of price and picture quality but are currently weak. TCL is currently the only company selling mini-LED models in the US market, but new products from Samsung and other companies are expected in the near future.
Brightness and Viewing Angles
It is important that the screen technology is suitable for your spectacular environment and habit. LCD (including QLED) LED backlights can be brighter than the OLED model because they use it. This is because OLEDs use organic compounds with limited brightness due to heat production.
QLEDs can be twice as bright as OLEDs, making them ideal for tracking in very bright environments. Conversely, if you watch movies in a dark place or most of the night, the higher black layer of the OELD screen gives the best viewing opportunity. If you don’t like pale blacks, OLED is for you.
The OLED screen has a good viewing angle which is ideal for group viewing. When you see something outside the axis, there may be a small color change, but even at large angles the image will not be significantly darker. This makes OLED a great choice when not everyone in the room looks directly at the screen.
Different LCD models use different types of coatings and panels to solve this problem. For example, the LG Nanosell uses an IPS panel with a good viewing angle but low contrast ratio.
On the other hand, the VA panel has the best off-axis viewing view as the Samsung QLED, but has better contrast and color production than that.
If you have a large family or enjoy playing sports or watching movies with your friends, consider the viewing angles of your home and surrounding lights before choosing a TV.
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High Dynamic Range (HDR)
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a breakthrough in display technology. The dynamic range is the spectrum visible in the darkest and brightest light and is usually measured in feet. Conventional Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) TVs have 6 stops but modern HDR screens can have more than 20.
This means you can get more information and get more rich images in shades and highlighted areas. Show more shades, shorten lines, or group similar colors. You’ll also see the brightness of objects like solar vibrations that make your presentation more realistic.
HDR is important because it is mostly used in new movies and TV shows. Newer generation gaming consoles (such as the Xbox series X and S, PlayStation 5) are also focusing on HDR, but the latest generation systems have been using HDR for years. If you watch a lot of movies or games, you need HDR support.
First, it helps you understand the differences between the major HDR formats. Here are the most important features to consider.
- HDR10: This is the standard HDR. Almost all televisions in the market support it. If you purchased a movie with “High Dynamic Range” written on the package, it must include HDR10 support.
- Dolby Vision – a great HDR application that helps televisions create the most accurate HDR photos using dynamic metadata.
- HDR10+: This is an open evolution of HDR10, including dynamic metadata. Most of these formats can be seen on Samsung TVs.
- HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma): An HDR broadcast program that allows SDR and HDR screens to share the same source. Additional information is provided for HDR display to help you get the best picture.
Outside of HDR10 (local HDR application) Dolby Vision provides better support than HDR10 +. Broadcasting services like Netflix use the service in almost all new content, and Microsoft is committed to bringing Dolby Vision to the Xbox Series X and S games in 2021.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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