The 7 Most Important Specs to Check Before Buying a Smart TV
Most of the TV options available right now are smart models. Because of this, you may be tempted to buy the cheapest unit you can find at the appliance store (or on Amazon). However, you should be aware that not all smart TVs are created equal. So, these are some of the most important specifications you should check before spending your hard-earned money.
Screen size and dimensions
This is often the first specification any TV buyer looks at, and while you may want to buy as big as you can, we don’t recommend it.
You should first consider the space where you’ll place the TV – after all, you don’t want to unpack your recently purchased entertainment screen only to find that it doesn’t fit in your room. So, measure the rack or stand where you’ll place it and double-check the specifications to make sure it will fit.
On the other end of the spectrum, you don’t want to go too small because you’re making your TV setup less immersive. So, it’s best to find the right space according to your available space and viewing distance. According to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the most ideal screen size is when it fills at least 30 degrees of your field of view.
To make things easier to calculate, most publications recommend multiplying your viewing distance (i.e., the distance between where you’ll place your TV and where you’ll sit) by 0.625. For example, I have a television at the foot of my bed.
Since I watch and play games on TV while leaning over the headboard of my bed, that gives me a viewing distance of about 7.5 feet, or about 90 inches. If you multiply that distance by 0.625, you get 56.25 inches. That makes a 55-inch TV the closest to ideal TV size, which is what I currently have.
Resolution
Most TVs now start at 1080p (for 40 inches and under) or 4K resolution. Some options offer 8K resolution, but you probably don’t need that kind of quality unless you have an extra-large TV and like to get up close and personal with it.
If you can’t decide, RTINGs has published a chart that shows the optimal resolution based on your TV’s screen size and optimal viewing distance. The general rule is that you shouldn’t go below 1080p or Full HD when choosing a TV. And if you’re going for a screen size over 40 inches, choosing a 4K resolution won’t hurt.
If money is no object, you might want to buy an 8K smart TV. However, that’ll probably cost you, as the 75-inch Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV is already coming in at around $2,300 on Amazon.
Plus, there isn’t a lot of content optimized for this resolution, so you won’t be able to make the most of it right now. If you’re confused about whether to spend the extra money you have on a higher resolution TV or a better set of speakers.
Screen type Back in the days, your only option when buying a TV was a CRT. However, with the introduction of plasma and LCD TVs, consumers have many options to choose from, and things have gotten confusing.
Today, there are three primary screen types in TVs – LED, QLED, and OLED. LED TVs are simply LCD TVs that use LED lights instead of fluorescent for their backlight. This makes them the oldest screen type that’s widely available and usually the cheapest option as well. If you’re not a visual connoisseur, an LED TV will meet most of your needs.
OLED TVs, on the other hand, are known for their excellent color accuracy and inky blacks. Because of this, they’re often the most expensive TVs on the market. However, they also have one major drawback—OLED TVs aren’t as bright as LED and QLED TVs, so you’ll want to place them in a room where you can control the light levels.
QLED is a great option between OLED and LED TVs. These TVs offer better brightness than OLED TVs, but they may not be as vibrant. On the other hand, they have better color quality than LED TVs, but they are also more expensive. This makes QLED TVs a great choice for TVs placed in areas with many windows, like your living room.
Other technologies like QNED and QD-OLED TVs offer the brightness of QLED TVs and the color accuracy of OLED TVs. However, these tend to be the most expensive options as they often have the best image quality money can buy.