The Only TV Buying Guide You’ll Ever Need: Tech, Features, and Top Brands
 

If you’re looking to choose a TV, you might find yourself confused by the different technologies and terminology. Which one is right for you? Don’t worry—we’re here to break it down for you. In this guide, we’ll explore every aspect of selecting a TV step-by-step, helping you navigate through the complexities to find the perfect TV and brand that suits your needs.
 

Understanding TV Technologies: LED, OLED, and Beyond

It's necessary to know about the two main types of technologies: LED and OLED. Understanding these can make a big difference in your viewing experience. Let’s dive into the subtypes of these technologies to help you find the best fit for your needs.
LED TVs use a backlight to light up the whole screen. This makes them very bright, ideal for bright rooms. However, this backlight can make it harder to achieve deep blacks since even dark parts of the picture still get some light from behind. Within LED technology, you’ll find a couple of standout subtypes:

• QLED (Quantum Dot LED): QLED TVs add a special layer of quantum dots that enhance color accuracy and brightness. These tiny particles produce more vibrant colors, making them fantastic for bright rooms where you want rich, vivid visuals. But since QLED still relies on LED backlighting, it can’t match the perfect black levels that OLED offers.

• Mini LED: Mini LED goes a step further by employing significantly smaller LEDs—about 1/40th the size of a regular LED—for backlighting. This allows for more precise control over brightness and contrast. Mini LED TVs have thousands of tiny LEDs and can control the brightness and dark areas more effectively, which results in deeper blacks and sharper contrasts. Samsung’s Neo QLED and LG’s QNED are examples of brands that utilize this Mini LED technology. It’s a great option if you enjoy HDR content and want the best of both high brightness and high contrast.

OLED TVs are different because each pixel is self-emitting, meaning that it can turn on and off independently. This means that when an OLED TV shows a black area, those pixels turn off completely, giving you perfect black levels and amazing contrast. Plus, without a separate backlight, OLED TVs offer excellent viewing angles, so the picture quality remains consistent from any spot in the room. This makes OLEDs especially good for watching in darker rooms or movies with lots of shadows. There’s also a notable subtype of OLED technology:

• QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED): QD-OLED is a technology that integrates OLED’s self-emitting technology with the color-improving features of quantum dots. This means you get the perfect blacks and incredible contrast of OLED with the bright, vibrant colors and high brightness of QLED.

In summary, while LED-based TVs are bright and often more affordable, OLED offers superior contrast and color accuracy.

Essential TV Features You Should Know

Now, let's head towards understanding the key features that can raid up or degrade your viewing experience. Given below is an elaboration on the most important aspects that you will consider in selecting a television.
 

Resolution

Resolution determines the sharpness and the quality of the image displayed on your screen. The most frequent resolutions are 1080p, 4K (Ultra High Definition) and 8K. Full HD is still good enough for smaller screens, but 4K has become the new norm for most new TVs, offering better and clearer images. If you want more details and you have a bigger screen, 8K is even higher in resolution, but there are not many 8K contents yet.

Screen Refresh Rate

The screen refresh rate, measured in Hz, indicates how many times per second the image on the screen is refreshed. A 60Hz refresh rate, for instance, means that the screen displays 60 images per second. If you go to a higher refresh rate, say 120Hz, then the resulting motion will be much smoother for when you want to watch sports or play video games. Lower refresh rates might tend to cause motion blur during fast scenes, so the higher refresh rate will provide a smoother visual experience.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR enhances the contrast and color range of your TV, making the whites brighter and blacks darker for a more distinct and vivid picture. Popular HDR formats include HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Each format offers different levels of color accuracy and brightness. Make sure the TV you choose supports the HDR formats compatible with the streaming services you use.

HDMI Ports

For connecting a variety of devices, including streaming devices, Blu-ray players, and game consoles, HDMI ports are essential. Higher resolutions and refresh rates are supported by the most recent HDMI standard, HDMI 2.1, which is especially helpful for 4K and next-generation gaming. Check the number of HDMI ports your TV has and ensure they support HDMI 2.1 to future-proof your setup for new devices and technologies.

Gaming Features

For gamers, specific TV features can greatly enhance the gaming experience. Look for TVs with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). ALLM reduces the latency between your controller inputs and on-screen action, while the VRR works by changing the refresh rate to correspond to a game's frame rate to make gameplay even smoother.

Audio

While all modern TVs include built-in speakers, they may not always provide the best audio experience. Good sound quality can make a big difference, so consider purchasing a separate soundbar or home theater system for a more immersive and enjoyable audio experience. If you prefer to use built-in speakers, choose a TV with a high output wattage (40 watts or more) and multiple channels, such as a 2.1 built-in speaker system, for better sound quality.

By understanding these features and their impact on your TV experience, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your needs and preferences.

Considering Your Space & Situation

You will want to take your room's size, the lighting conditions, viewing angle, and budget into consideration. Here's how to ensure your TV fits into your space perfectly and is ideal for enhanced viewing:
 

TV Size Based on Couch Distance

One of the first things to consider is how far you'll be sitting from your television. The optimal TV size largely depends on this distance. A good rule of thumb is to choose a TV size that allows you to sit comfortably and see clearly without straining your eyes, using our recommended formula:

For example, if you sit about 8 feet away, a TV size of 55 to 60 inches would be a good fit.

Lighting Conditions

The lighting in your room can greatly affect how your TV’s picture looks. If your room is very bright, you’ll want a TV with high brightness and anti-glare features to keep the picture clear. LED TVs, especially those with QLED or Mini LED technology, are excellent for bright environments. If, on the other hand, your room is dim or used primarily as a movie theater, then an OLED will be the better view thanks to superior black levels and contrast.

Viewing Angle

The angle you view the TV from affects your viewing experience. Most TVs are designed to look their best when you're sitting directly in front of them. If you'll be watching the TV from the side often, or if family and friends will be gathering around the set, take wide-angle viewing into consideration. For those who want the best wide angles, OLED TVs maintain picture quality even when viewed from the side. The angle in LED TVs with IPS panels is also good, though not as strong as in OLEDs.

Budget

Of course, your budget will be one of the biggest factors in the type and size of TV you decide upon. Higher-end technologies like Mini LED and OLED have exceptional picture quality but at a higher price. If you’re looking within a more modest budget, LED TVs, particularly those with QLED, provide great value and performance without stretching your wallet.

In consideration of these, you will be able to pick the perfect TV, which would suit your space and provide you with better entertainment.

How We Help You Choose the Best Option

By now, you know how to choose the right size and technology for your TV. But with so many brands and models out there, narrowing down the perfect choice can still be a bit confusing. That’s where Brandchoose.com comes in—we make the decision-making process easier by offering in-depth reviews and ratings of all the major TV brands.

We go beyond just the technical specs. Our reviews assess each brand on crucial aspects like picture quality, smart features, design, sound, and much more. This allows you to see how different models perform in the areas that matter most to you. Whether you prioritize affordability, cutting-edge features, or trusted brand reputation, our insights will help you make an informed decision.

We rate each brand across multiple criteria to give you a well-rounded perspective. But instead of just looking at the overall score, it’s important to consider what’s most relevant to your needs. For example, if you’re a movie lover, you might want to focus on picture quality and sound, while a gamer may care more about refresh rates and gaming features. Our site lets you sort brands by these specific aspects so you can easily find what works best for you.
 

How We Rate and Review TV Brands

Our reviews are designed to help you find the best TV brand based on the features that matter most to you. We evaluate brands across several key factors, making it easier to compare and decide which models align with your preferences. We assess TV brands based on the following criteria:

• Smart Features: Evaluate how user-friendly and feature-rich the smart platforms are, including app support and voice assistant integration.

• Affordability: Assess the brand’s ability to offer TVs that provide excellent value for the price, balancing cost with features and performance.

• Picture Quality: Covers the brand’s overall ability to deliver vibrant colors, sharp contrasts, and smooth motion across their models.

• Design: Looking at the aesthetic appeal, build quality, and how well the design fits into modern home environments.

• Sound: Examining the built-in speaker performance, noting whether you’ll need external audio equipment for the best experience.

• Quality & Performance: How reliable and durable are the brand’s TVs? We assess long-term performance and common issues like screen longevity.

• Smart TV & Connectivity: How well does the brand support connectivity options like HDMI ports and Wi-Fi, and how reliable are the smart TV features?

• Brand Reputation: considering customer feedback and industry recognition to understand how trustworthy and reliable the brand is.

• Brightness: how well the brand’s TVs perform in bright environments and their handling of HDR content.

• Remote Control: A good remote can improve the user experience, so we evaluate the ease of use, button layout, and special features like voice control.

Choose a TV Based on You Watch The Most

Your TV usage significantly influences the best model for you. Each type of content has specific features that enhance the experience, so aligning your TV with your viewing habits can make a big difference.

• For movie lovers: if you appreciate cinematic experiences, look for a TV with outstanding contrast, deep blacks, and support for HDR formats like Dolby Vision. OLED or high-end LED TVs with excellent color accuracy and superior contrast will provide an immersive viewing experience.

• For sports enthusiasts, fast-paced action requires a high refresh rate and smooth motion handling. TVs with a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz ensure you catch every moment, while good brightness keeps the picture clear even in well-lit rooms.

• For Gamers: If gaming is your passion, features like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) are essential for seamless gameplay. HDMI 2.1 support is also crucial for next-gen consoles, offering faster refresh rates and improved performance.

By understanding how you use your TV most, you can prioritize features that will give you the best experience tailored to your preferences.

So, what are you waiting for? Armed with all this knowledge, you’re ready to find the perfect TV that suits your needs and transforms your entertainment experience. Dive into our reviews, compare the top brands, and bring home the ultimate screen that will elevate your viewing pleasure!