How to Choose a Smart TV
Anyone buying a television today should consider getting a smart TV. While standard televisions may be less costly, smart televisions are more affordable than ever and provide greater value. It may even be difficult to find a 4K television without “smart” qualities.
Smart TVs should be considered by anyone in the market for a new television due to their superior image resolution and expanded features, internet connectivity, apps, and smart home integrations.
What Size Smart TV Should You Buy?
When purchasing a new smart TV, size and resolution have a major effect on the price, so it’s necessary to carefully consider the size you desire. To determine the optimal smart TV size, measure the dimensions of the room where it’ll be placed, and then determine which display size provides the desired viewing experience without overwhelming the space.
In terms of size, a crisp smart TV with a 42-inch screen is often regarded as an ideal option for those who don’t want the very largest sets but still crave a larger display. For smaller rooms, a 40-inch model would suffice. Meanwhile, for a larger space, such as a living room or family room, an even bigger resolution (4K) of 55 inches or larger is recommended.
Even if you have measured your television room, it may be difficult to visualise how your smart TV will fit. You’re not alone. Samsung, Sony, LG, and TCL all offer augmented reality applications that allow buyers to visualise how a television will appear in a room.
Is There an Ideal Resolution for a Smart TV?
Currently, you can buy a device with a resolution of 1080p, 4K, or 8K. Although a TV with a lower resolution is fine for casual viewing, a 4K TV smart TV with a 42-inch screen is ideal for any serious viewing. Models with a 1080p resolution are serviceable, but they are now considered subpar because there is no longer a cost penalty for upgrading.
The price of an 8K TV is comparable to that of a 4K TV from a few years ago. Since there isn’t a significant amount of content (shows or movies) in high enough resolutions to see any distinction in picture quality, it’s probably not worth the investment at this time.
4K, also known as Ultra HD, is a great compromise because it offers a high-quality resolution at a variety of reasonable price points. In addition, you can take advantage of the many services and apps that provide 4K content.
How Important Is an HDR Support?
The high dynamic range (HDR) feature is becoming standard on the most cutting-edge smart TVs (high dynamic range). HDR enhances the dynamic range of colours and brings out fine details in the darkest and brightest areas of a photo.
HDR formats such as HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) are likely to be encountered; however, as long as the display supports HDR, you should be fine. Minimal distinctions exist between the two formats.
What Is the Ideal Refresh Rate for a Smart TV?
Displays on smart TVs can refresh at 60 or 120 Hz. The number of times the image refreshes itself per second is what this statistic measures. There will be less blurring and a steadier picture if it refreshes more frequently.
When watching sports, a high refresh rate is ideal, but it can be dangerous when watching movies. Movies shown in such a manner may have an appearance different from what you’d see in a theatre. In most cases, even when using a high-end television, you will keep the refresh rate at the default of 60 Hz.
What About Connecting Other Devices?
A smart TV’s ability to interact with other connected devices and respond to voice commands is a major selling point. Sony’s Android TVs, for instance, incorporate both Chromecast and Google Assistant. As a result, an Android TV would make it possible to manage your other Google-powered gadgets from the comfort of your couch.
For instance, purchasing a smart TV with Alexa built-in makes sense if you already have other Alexa-enabled devices in your homes, such as Echo Shows or Echo Dots. Think about the other electronics you already have and your personal tastes before committing to a specific smart TV platform.
Do All Smart TVs Offer the Same Apps?
A smart TV’s primary function is to entertain, and your entertainment preferences will be an important consideration when choosing a smart TV. Despite the widespread availability of services like YouTube Hulu, Netflix, Spotify or Amazon Prime, not all smart TVs will enable the use of these apps.
Some apps will be preinstalled on all smart TVs, and most will have app stores where you can browse, select, and download more. Smart TVs from LG and Samsung, for instance, provide access to the respective LG Content Store and Samsung App Store, respectively. Alternatively, Vizio smart TVs come with everything you need, including the apps, preloaded.
Prior to making a purchase, make sure your preferred apps are compatible with the smart TV you’re thinking about buying. If you need something more than just apps, though, you might want to look into something like a Roku stick.
