5 Factors You Need to Consider When Buying a New TV

Buying a new TV for your home can be an exciting experience. However, there are a lot of factors you need to consider and the spec list can be pretty confusing.

With a little research, this TV-buying experience can be hassle-free. Once you’ve set your budget, you need to weigh some factors and find the perfect TV that suits your needs. Whether it’s gaming, watching live sports, movies, or TV shows, there is a TV out there that’s perfect for you.

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the factors you need to keep in mind when choosing a TV.

Screen Size & Resolution

Refresh Rates & HDR

Display Panel Technology

Smart TV

Ports & Connections

Buy the Perfect TV at the Right Price

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  Screen Size & Resolution

The resolution and screen size of your TV is arguably one of the biggest factors you need to consider when buying one.

The size of the TV depends a lot on the room. For living rooms, you generally should consider getting a TV between 55 and 75 inches. Bedrooms are usually smaller, so consider getting a 32 to 50-inch TV. Home theaters are bigger than the average room so you should go for 85 inches and above.

The screen resolution you get depends on your distance from the TV. If you’re close to the TV, the resolution should be higher. 

Most TVs above 50 inches today have a 4K resolution. Try to avoid getting a 1080p TV now since 4K content has become a lot more common. However, you don’t need to get an 8K TV just yet since they can be expensive and there isn’t a lot of content for them right now.

• Refresh Rates & HDR

The refresh rate you opt for depends entirely on the content you plan to watch. If you’re planning to watch content such as movies and TV shows, then a 60 Hz TV should be enough for you.

However, you should opt for a higher refresh rate if you’re planning to watch sports. Sports are usually fast-paced meaning that a 90 Hz TV should allow for a smoother motion which can be easier to watch.

If you plan to play video games, you should aim to get a TV with a 120 Hz or above refresh rate. This also means that you’ll need a gaming machine that can handle rendering games at 120 Hz. 

Thankfully, most modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X support some games at 120 Hz. For PC gamers, you should be able to get more than 120 FPS in most games as long as you have sufficiently powerful hardware.

Most TVs sold today already have HDR built-in. This can help you get images with better contrast, higher brightness, and vivid colors.

• Display Panel Technology

For an average Joe, an LCD TV with LED backlighting should be more than enough. You’ll get excellent picture quality with balanced colors. While the contrast isn’t as high as some other TVs, this should be good enough for watching TV shows and movies.

OLED TVs can cost a bit more than LCD TVs. However, they offer better color accuracy and contrast. The pixels in OLED TVs can turn off and on individually, which can help you get a true black color. 

They can suffer from burn-in issues in the long term. This occurs when a bright image is displayed on the screen for long periods. If you plan to keep your TV on for a long time, it’s a better idea to get an LCD TV.

• Smart TV

These days, it’s hard to find a TV that doesn’t have smart features built-in. Most TVs come with an operating system like Android TV, allowing you to install your own apps and use virtual assistants. These connect to the internet in order to play content from various streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and more.

When getting a smart TV, it’s better to get one that has a built-in Ethernet port that you can use to connect your TV to your router. To make sure you don’t have any disruptions while watching content in 4K, we recommend using a reliable provider like Xfinity. 

They offer plans for everyone, whether you love streaming movies, playing games, or watching live sports. You can contact Xfinity customer service, and a representative can help you find an internet plan that’s perfect for your needs.

• Ports & Connections

This might sound like an afterthought, but it’s important to check the ports a TV has. Some manufacturers often add fewer ports at the back of the TV in order to save costs.

Check the number of ports you’re already using on your current TV. If you’re using all of them, aim to get a TV that offers at least two more HDMI ports. To get the best image possible, make sure the TV supports the HDMI 2.1 standard or above.

Your new TV should also have at least one: 

• USB port
• LAN or Ethernet port
• SPDIF or audio out port
• 3.5mm audio jack 

Also, make sure that your TV supports Wi-Fi for wireless internet connectivity as well as Bluetooth for connecting accessories like remotes and headphones.

Buy the Perfect TV at the Right Price

While you can spend a pretty penny to buy a Smart TV that has all the features you’ll ever need, you should focus only on the features you need. We recommend avoiding extended warranties which are rarely needed and can cost you a considerable amount of money.

This will help you save money while getting a TV that fulfills your needs. You might also be able to buy a TV through a sale, which can often save you a lot of money.