The Best TV

With television technology improving so rapidly, sets are replaced much more often these days. They certainly are more affordable than they used to be, and they come with features unimaginable even just a few years ago.

The first step in buying a new television is establishing a budget and sticking to it. Otherwise, you could end up with features you may not need at a price you’re not comfortable with.

Then, you will need to decide if you want the TV to be wall-mounted or tabletop. This choice can lead you to your ideal screen size, which can range from 14 to 100 inches. A tape measure will be handy in this case.

The next decision is whether to get an LCD or OLED TV. LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs have edge-mounted lights, or lights mounted right behind the screen. The latter is preferred because of better contrast, but these models are not as sleek and slim and can be more costly to buy and operate.

LCD and LED TVs have panels that use liquid crystal pixels, which may have more limited viewing angles; higher-end models may have Quantum Dot technology, which offers a better viewing experience.

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs work with organic phosphors, and their self-emitting pixels each generate individual light. This results in better contrast and light for viewers. They may be more expensive and not work as well with HDR content, though.

Resolution is another factor to consider. Ultra HD (4K) and HD are the two big choices on the market today. Here is a comparison in terms of pixels:

• HD TV = 1920 by 1080 pixels
• Ultra HD =  3840 by 2160 pixels

That’s a big difference. Since more and more services like Amazon and Netflix are using 4K, your decision may be influenced by how often you stream content. 4k also looks better on larger screens of 50 inches and more.

• You may want to get an Ultra HD TV for your main viewing room and a smaller HD to use in the bedroom, office or kitchen.
• Some TV screens are curved, although these are not as popular as they once were. Some people prefer them, but they can distort on-screen reflections. You also have to be sitting in just the right spot to avoid distortions.
• With so many multimedia options, you also need to know what kind of connections you will need for your new television. The most important ones are USB ports, multimedia support, and HDMIs. The TV’s product description should contain useful information about this.
• Take some time to research the TV’s speakers, too. Sound quality can make or break your TV purchase.