Shopbot's Official 2020 Buying Guide for TVs

Viewing Distance

The recommended viewing distance is the distance you should set up your TV from your seating to get the best field of view. A field within 40-degrees directly in front of the television is normally recommended. To work out this distance, you need to take the screen size and multiply by 1.2 as this provides a suitable distance.

TV Dimensions

Also, note that you need to check the actual physical TV dimensions so that it fits where you want to place it, as this could cause issues when trying to correlate it to your furniture and room.

TV resolutions

The TV resolution is essential, as this plays a huge role when purchasing a big-screen TV. As screen size increases, so should the total pixel count or resolution. You want to see a clear image instead of just seeing pixels; this is where high resolution comes into accounts such as an HD, UHD, 4K or 8K resolution.

UHD stands for Ultra High Definition resolution. Different brands use various expressions to say the same thing, such as Ultra HD, 4K TV, Ultra High Definition TV and 4K UHD TV.

4K resolution (the K standing for Kilo) is a TV that has a horizontal resolution of about 4000 pixels, which means it has four times more pixels than the traditional Full HD (1920 x 1080) TV. 

8K resolution is a TV that has a horizontal resolution of about 8000 pixels, which means it has eight times more pixels than the traditional Full HD TV.

OLED or LED

OLED cost more but have a superior picture technology.  Whereas LED TVs cost less but suffer from loss of contrast and black levels. On the upside, a 4K LED TV can still offer an excellent viewing experience with the same smart features while costing less than an OLED TV, but OLED prices are becoming more reasonable.

Picture

LED TVs are backlit, which provides light that shines through a panel of crystals to create the image. OLED TVs are not backlit, but every pixel turns on and off and adjusts on its own, resulting in a far superior image.

Brightness

Both LED, and OLED TVs have excellent brightness, but each has an advantage when placed in either a well-lit room or a dim room. LED TVs are good in well-lit spaces, whereas OLED TVs are remarkable in dimmer rooms.

Contrast

LED TVs cannot go completely dark due to the backlit panel, which leads to a lack in contrast and dark details. OLED TVs have true blacks and vibrant colors due to their individual pixel lighting, giving remarkable contrast and detail.

Curved or flat

A curved TV doesn’t provide a better picture over a flat TV. The curved TV is a fad that costs more.

Cables and Ports

Better quality cables are a must with the new TV’s. They provide a broader signal at greater speed, and that allows for greater bandwidth necessary to get the real quality from source to the TV to ensure you're getting the full experience.

When it comes to the ports on your TV, look for 4 HDMI ports or more with HDMI 2.0 supported ports as this is needed for 4K and 8K resolution.

Sound Quality

Most TV manufacturers assume you’re going to provide your own sound upgrade as the ultra-thin TVs have no space for large speakers. Seriously consider upgrading your audio as this is half the viewing experience, such as a soundbar or a home theatre system that works for you and your room.

Smart TVs

Smart TVs are a must-have in today's age as it reduces the need for extra cables and offers more viewing options such as Netflix, Prime, Hulu, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. If you opt for a non-smart-tv, then you have to use additional devices like Xbox, Roku, Blu-ray player.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Bluetooth enabled TVs provide wireless options to ether your sound system or headphones.

TV Warranty

Make sure you purchase your TV from an authorized dealer and comes with the full manufacturer's warranty. Authorized dealers have nationwide service coverage and support from the manufacturer. So, if there are any issues, they come to your home, or you can contact them by phone or email.

To wrap it up, Shopbotters, you need to look at the dimensions of your room and where you place the TV and work out the size and viewing angle. Then decide on whether you want OLED or just LED and get the best resolution you can afford. Go for a smart TV, as this gives you a wide range of viewing and streaming options. And make sure you have a good sound system or have money set aside for a soundbar or sound system as TV’s today have low-quality sound.

Buy good quality brands you trust and make sure you are happy with the warranty options. Happy shopping on Shopbot!