Adobe Stock
When buying a new TV, there’s a lot more to consider than budget. If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, you might have no clue where to begin. There are so many options to choose from, so let’s start narrowing them down.
The ideal screen size depends on two factors: the size of the room and how far away you’ll be sitting. With an HD screen, multiply the size of the TV (which is measured on the diagonal) by 1.5 to 2.5. That gives you a viewing distance range.
A 65″ TV requires 8 to 13 feet of distance between you and the screen for optimal viewing. A 40″ TV, on the other hand, needs just 5-8.5 feet.
4K Ultra HD TVs present less of a risk of eye strain because of the high resolution. You can sit closer to these TVs, with a viewing distance of 1 to 1.5 times the size of the TV. A 65″ screen needs 5-8.5 feet, while a 40″ screen can be comfortably viewed from just 3.5-5 feet away.
Experts recommend getting the biggest TV your space and budget will comfortably accommodate. If the room is primarily for watching TV, then don’t be afraid to buy a screen that dominates the wall.
But if this is a multi-use space or you simply prefer a less intense cinema experience, then go with a more conservative screen.
For better or worse, curved TVs are pretty much done. There was a brief moment when it looked like they might catch on, but these days flat screens are pretty much the only game in town.
But what about LED-LCD and OLED screens? These days, your best choice is an OLED screen. You’ll notice a distinct difference in quality and richness on an OLED screen compared to a standard LED-LCD screen. You should also opt for a screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, if possible. A high refresh rate makes the motion smoother on-screen.
As mentioned in the previous section, resolution determines how close you can comfortably sit in front of the TV. The higher the resolution, the more pixels there are per inch. More pixels equals smoother pictures.
A high-definition screen with a resolution of 1080 is the industry baseline standard now. However, 4K Ultra HD has taken over as the most desirable screen, and you’ll find more options in that resolution. Some manufacturers have started making 8K screens–although those are the most expensive currently on the market.
Most TVs are “smart” now. They come with a suite of apps built in, allowing you to easily browse with your remote control. Personally, we’re a FireStick family, but you can access common streaming apps from pretty much any smart TV.
Don’t sweat the brand and preferred platform too much; you can still access Netflix even if you buy an Insignia TV with Amazon Fire preinstalled.
One final note on sound. Because flatscreen TVs are so thin, there isn’t much room for decent speakers. Your TV’s built-in sound is probably going to sound subpar at best.
Plan on investing in a sound bar. A decent one will recreate the experience of surround sound without having to hide a bunch of speakers around your living room.
