what i need to know to select a flat screen tv

CHOICE has been testing TVs for almost 50 years. In that fourth dimension we've learned a lot about what matters, and what'due south marketing speak. So what should you lot look for when ownership a Goggle box? And what are the common mistakes to avoid?

On this page:

What is a smart TV and what can it practise?
LCD vs OLED screens – which is improve?
Screen resolution: here are your options
TV screen size guide
How to get the best movie quality
How to go the best sound quality
Key features to look for
Australia'south all-time TV brand
How to clean a Telly screen

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Observe the best brands
Avoid poor performers
Get assistance when things go wrong

What is a smart TV and what can it exercise?

The word "smart" is getting a lot of use with TVs these days and it'southward constantly irresolute. This refers to whether information technology tin can connect to the internet and dwelling networks, like your reckoner or smartphone.

You should go for a smart TV from a elevation-tier brand, equally the smarts in cheaper TVs tend to be poorly implemented. The most important affair is to make sure the TV has the smart functionality that you demand.

A connected smart Tv set can:

Stream media from your computer to your Tv over your abode network.
Connect wirelessly using Wi-Fi Direct, where the device makes a one-to-i network connectedness so you tin can sentinel whatsoever is playing on your smartphone while it remains in your pocket.
Use apps like Netflix, Stan, ABC iView etc to download to your smart Boob tube, then you tin watch online content without purchasing an additional device such as Apple Telly, a games console or Blu-ray player.
If you're a Netflix watcher, check to encounter if there's a dedicated Netflix push button on the remote equally this will let you lot to jump straight to your saved shows.
Automatically utilise security and system updates to improve the Television'due south features and functioning.

LCD vs OLED screens – which is better?

Walk into a tech store, and you'll exist bombarded with a cornucopia of messages that decide the TV screen type.

If the TV is well made, the LCD or OLED credentials volition brand very little divergence to the quality of the image. There are differences only for the most part they're a adept deal less important than the quality of the manufacturer.

Screen resolution: here are your options

When you lot meet the term resolution when looking to buy a Tv, what does it all mean and why should y'all care?

A TV'south resolution is defined by the number of picture elements or pixels on the screen with a effigy to show how many pixels beyond the screen and from top to bottom. So 1920 x 1080 is an indication of resolution for a TV where there are 1920 horizontal pixels and 1080 vertical pixels. Basically, the higher the resolution, the less likely you will see whatsoever dots on the screen when watching a movie.

SD or standard definition resolution is what you would have watched in the 90s up until the early 2000s when HD started to appear.

HD or High Definition TVs

UHD (Ultra High Definition) and 4K TVs

4K TV has a resolution of 3840 10 2160 or four times the resolution of a full Hard disk drive television. Retailers likewise call information technology ultra-loftier definition or UHD for brusque but as far as you should be concerned, it'south the aforementioned thing.

Yous will benefit from 4K if yous:

Buy a large television.The full benefit of 4K isn't really axiomatic until y'all get a 55-inch screen or larger. On smaller TVs (under 50 inches) it's difficult to see the difference betwixt HD and 4K.
Subscribe to a streaming service(Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime etc.). Each has 4K content, with more than new shows and movies arriving every week.
Employ a 4K UHD player and uniform discs.These are unlike to DVD and Blu-ray discs. Check the packaging before y'all buy.
Own a PS4 Pro, Xbox 1 X or loftier-end PC.The Sony PS4 supports 4K gaming while the Microsoft Xbox One 10 likewise supports 4K HDR video on Blu-ray disc.

Extra pixels may not mean a better picture

Bear in mind that paying for more than pixels doesn't guarantee a better picture. More pixels may really make it harder for the TV'due south picture processor to deliver a good image.

Colour accuracy, shine transitions between colours, and blacks that don't look dirty or lose detail are far more of import (see our Picture Quality section below).

TV screen size guide

Personal preference aside, there are three important factors you need to consider for the best viewing experience:

Television receiver screen resolution (Hd or 4K)
Size of your room
How far you like to sit from the screen

All-time screen size for a high definition (HD) TV

A 127cm (50") loftier-definition (Hard disk) TV (1920 x 1080 pixels) will look fine at a viewing distance of two metres, for example.

If you want to sit closer, go a smaller TV to avert seeing the pixels (dots) that make up the screen. A bigger TV ways you lot'll take to sit further away.

Television set resolutions compared. 8K isn't actually in the consumer infinite right now, but information technology will get more than common in time to come years.

Hard disk drive Telly watching guide

Best screen size for an ultra-high definition (UHD) or 4K Goggle box

4K TVs have a much higher resolution (i.due east. more pixels on the screen) than HD. This means you can have a large TV in a small room and sit closer to the screen before seeing the private pixels.

Mostly, sitting effectually 2 metres abroad from the screen will give you the all-time viewing experience.

Want a big screen larger than 100-inches? Y'all might consider a projector. See our projector reviews.

Optimal 4K viewing distance

How to get the all-time picture quality

Here's our tips for judging picture quality in-store:

Viewing bending: Equally you motion sideways from the centre of the screen, some TVs volition lose color and contrast. If the motion-picture show degrades besides much when you move away from the centre of the screen, look for some other model.
Natural skin tones: Notice textures on a person in a studio setting, such every bit a news presenter. Picket out for overall colour contamination such equally a greenish or yellowish tint that can't be removed by adjusting the controls.
Cycle through picture mode settings:Check outdynamic, standard, normal or brilliant in the shop, as this may change the picture quality markedly.

Call up, almost stores accept the TVs at their brightest and about saturated colour settings to become your attending. When the TV is delivered information technology'll exist in standard or normal setting and won't be as bright.

High-dynamic range (aka HDR)

According to the TV companies, this technology expands the TVs color palette, by displaying high levels of contrast betwixt bright and dark colour. Almost all 4K TVs support HDR, and you'll find enough of HDR uniform movies and TV shows on disc and via streaming services.

Getting the best out of dark scenes on a regular TV

While we can't all go out and buy a 65-inch OLED Telly, in that location are a few things you can do with your Television receiver to meet enough detail in shows that take a lot of dark scenes (thinkGame of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Stranger Thingsand basically any similar genre series).

Use the Idiot box menu to take your picture settings back to defaults

First endeavor out some of the TV maker'south suggestions –Cinema,Flick – and see if this does the trick.
Some of the latest TVs likewise have a 'HDR event' way where it attempts to enhance the dynamic range of the motion-picture show to reveal more detail in dark areas of a scene.
So cheque on a challenging scene on the testify and pause it so you can run into the changes in action.

When you buy your TV, ask the sales person if HDR is on by default, or whether y'all need to actuate it. Some brands require you to plough it on for each HDMI port. One time activated, information technology should automatically switch on and off when you lot switch betwixt HDR and not-HDR video and games.

Effort adjusting the settings yourself

You'll probably demand to try a few times to become the picture right.
Once you change these settings you'll still need to change them back to picket other styles of Television set show.
Play with theBrightness setting and raise the brightness level to run across if yous can get more detail in the scene without washing out the balance of the movie.
Heighten the settings in small increments and keep an eye on the whole scene.
Next try theBacklightsetting, and finallyContrast to aid bring out the subject more than.
It will probably yet be hard to see a difference on an episode likeThe Long Night, more on a show with more areas of dark and shade.
The last resort is to accommodateColororColour Temperature settings. You may find this doesn't help much on an episode likeThe Long Night because the color range available to help bring out the subjects is limited.

What nigh plasma screens?

Manufacturers have stopped making plasma TVs and we don't recommend you invest in 1 even if you find it for a bargain. They're large, heavy, bulky and can suffer from burning (when an prototype becomes permanently imprinted on the screen).

How to get the best audio quality

TV speakers have improved over the years, but they rarely sound as practiced as a soundbar or annihilation similar a home cinema. So if you lot want to stick with the speakers in your next Idiot box, listen out for these indicators when when yous become shopping in store:

Expert sound

Balance: you don't want certain elements of the mix, such a bass, to be too prominent.
Clear dialogue
Warm, resonant, total-sounding bass.
Clear and punchy details for brusk and high-frequency sounds similar gunshots.
A sense of separation between the left and correct speakers.
Presence, which is the feeling that you're in the aforementioned room every bit the activeness you're seeing on screen cheers to audio. This can too make the audio feel heady.
Expert dynamics. This is the difference between soft and loud sounds. It helps keep audio frequencies split up and then it sounds more exciting and less like a brick wall. E.g. footsteps shouldn't be the aforementioned volume as an explosion.

Bad sound

Unbalanced (see good point)
Overly boomy bass. Too much low-finish can conceal or muddied up the mix.
Tinny, hollow, harsh or retrenched sounds. The feeling that something is missing, lacks body or sounds similar it's coming down a phone line.
Brick-walling, where the audio sounds like it's at the same volume so it seems flat, lacking detail and nuance.
Hiss and distortion.
Case rumble. This occurs when the example shakes because of the speaker's bass. It's distracting and changes the tone of the audio and likewise the area nosotros really penalize the Goggle box in our listening test as it's not something you tin set in the TV settings.

Keep an ear out for brick-walling when you lot're shopping for a TV. Retailers beloved to put on loud, punchy audio because it has an immediate impact that sounds impressive. Only loud doesn't always mean practiced and after a while, you'll find that movies and shows sound rather dull due to the flat sound.

Using soundbars or external speakers

Soundbars are a popular choice for consumers that want to get amend sound from their Television receiver simply don't have the interest, budget or time to build a full-blown home cinema. They're designed to simulate the effects of surroundings sound setups in a much smaller package that'due south mostly cheaper equally well. Just like the move from TVs to soundbars, with few exceptions an external speaker setup and a reasonable amplifier will near e'er sound amend.

Configurations for both options include:

ii.0: Stereo environs or left and right channel.
2.1: Stereo surround plus a subwoofer.
five.ane: Five speakers and one subwoofer to create the environs sound outcome.
Dolby Atmos/DTS-X: Object-based environment sound which is designed to make you lot experience like you're in the location that's on screen. It can specifically identify the objects in reference to their position on screen, which is a stride up from the general surround sound in a 5.1 setup.

How to ameliorate sound and salvage money

A domicile cinema tin be expensive, merely it doesn't have to break the bank. Engineering and codecs (e.g. Dolby and DTS) don't change all that often, and much of the aforementioned tech that was around a decade or more agone is all the same in use today.

Say you only want to gear up a 5.ane surround sound system. In this instance you won't need a loftier-end Atmos/DTS-X enabled amplifier. A second-manus unit from five or even x years ago will work and audio just equally good unless you're a hardcore audiophile.

Just bear in mind that you won't exist able to play 4K video through the amplifier unless it'southward a contempo model. Nevertheless, you lot can run one cablevision into your Television and some other into your receiver to split the betoken and send 4K video directly to the Idiot box.

Key features to look for

Connecting devices

Blu-ray/DVD players, media players (east.k. Apple TV) and AV receivers or computers all need to be connected in one way or another. Y'all'll need to decide the connection type (usually HDMI, an all-digital connection for both audio and video in the ane cable) and count the number of connections you lot'll need.

New TVs typically but use HDMI. If yous desire to connect older equipment, you'll need to buy converters that back up classic connectors such as component and S-video (the kind of ports you tin find on your VHS player). Converters are available in most electronics stores and online. Simply search for, or ask virtually, the conversion you require (e.thousand. component to HDMI converter).

Recording shows and movies

Many TVs will now record shows. However, virtually TVs will merely practise it for the program they're tuned to. Very few TVs have two tuners, assuasive you to record i channel while you lot watch some other. If you think one tuner is going to be enough for you lot information technology could aid reduce the number of boxes (and remote controls) in your Tv room.

Audio quality

Speaker performance is frequently disregarded when buying a television. While sound from the latest thin TVs is improving, you'll generally go a better sound past adding a soundbar. We've introduced a listening panel to our testing to get a better idea of the overall audio quality a Idiot box can evangelize.

Wall-mountain or table top: which is all-time?

Sitting the Tv on a table top is easier, but make sure it's stable and preferably secured to the base, so pocket-size children tin't pull it over.
Accessing connections and keeping cords hidden tin can exist a headache if you're wall-mounting.
Often viewers are sitting below the fix when information technology's wall-mounted, which can be an uncomfortable and inferior viewing experience.

Remote control

Make sure the more than commonly used buttons (volume, channel selector, standby and mute) tin exist located at a glance. If you take young children or an absentminded partner and your remote is likely to go missing, choose a Television with easily accessible controls on the TV itself.

Model number

The TV'south model number tells you lot what year information technology was made – if you know how to decipher each brand's product lawmaking. Having this information up your sleeve means you tin can look for the latest model, or bulldoze a difficult bargain on an older model. Read more than in our article How to bag a bargain TV.

Passing fads and marketing gimmicks

Is it worth getting a 3D TV?

No, 3D is as dead every bit disco. 3D seemed similar the next big affair followingAvatar'due south release in the cinemas over a decade ago. However despite Boob tube companies trying to make information technology a big deal, Tv viewers weren't taking the bait and no new models support 3D.

Most 2016 and some 2017 TV models are 3D-uniform. If y'all're looking for a 3D Television we suggest you expect for a passive system (rather than active) considering the spectacles are lighter, cheaper and they work just also. Nonetheless, we don't recollect you should exist making a buying conclusion based on 3D; rather, await for the best picture for normal Hd video.

Does refresh rate (Hz) matter?

Non so much a passing fad equally a marketing gimmick, the refresher charge per unit (Hz) is the number of times in a second that the screen is refreshed. Supposedly the higher the number (frequently expressed in Hz) the smoother the image, particularly with sports.

Unfortunately, this is not entirely true and manufacturers have taken to making up new ways to measure Hz, which simply gives them big numbers to put on the box. Ignore the Hz figures and look at the image on the screen.

Is a curved Boob tube screen better?

Some manufacturers claim a curved TV screen correlates to the shape of the homo centre, while others simply acknowledge it looks impressive.

What are Freeview and Freeview Plus?

Freeview is only the brand behind complimentary-to-air TV (i.e. ABC, SBS, Network 9, Aqueduct ten and then on). Information technology integrates the EPG (electronic program guide), or onscreen program guide, which should be piece of cake to navigate and read.

Most TVs also back up Freeview Plus. This adds support for catch-up TV apps such every bit iView and 7plus, then you lot watch what you want when you want.

Withal, for all this to work y'all need your smart TV connected to the internet through your home network, as the catch-up TV is delivered to you via streaming video.

Commonwealth of australia'due south best Boob tube brand

Then which TV brand should you purchase? We've identified the best of the agglomeration based on our examination results as well equally feedback from our members on satisfaction and reliability.With years of testing experience backside us, we can confidently tell you lot about video and audio operation, besides as ease of employ, and we commonly test about lxxx Television set models each year in our labs, roofing more than than 90% of the market.

With the latest COVID-xix restrictions, we haven't been able to test as many TVs equally nosotros'd accept liked in the past 12 months, so we've likewise included exam results for TVs tested in 2020.

Best TV brand for 2021: LG

LG is the best TV make for the by 12 months. LG TVs accept performed well in our labs over this period, and LG Television set owners are very satisfied according to our Choice Appliance Reliability Survey.

This is the 6th year running that LG has scored the CHOICE Best Make for TVs championship.

Best Tv set brand 2021 scores

1. LG – 87%

2. Samsung – 78%

3. Sony – 77%

4. Hisense – 72%

It's of import to notation that the functioning of specific production models may vary quite significantly, so don't assume that one brand'south products are the all-time across the many different features, functions and price points.

For comprehensive details on every TV nosotros've tested, see our Tv set reviews.

How to clean a TV screen

If y'all don't bear upon the screen and leave fingerprints behind, there's really no need for anything only the occasional dusting. But there are a few tips to keep your Television receiver in good condition.

Firstly, don't make clean the TV while it'southward on. Turn it off and let information technology cool down, otherwise you'll accept evaporation bug that will go out more streaks than you're removing.

Each week:

Wipe dust off the bezel and surrounds with a dry microfibre cloth.
Gently buff fingerprints and dust off the screen with a damp microfibre cloth (don't spray h2o directly on the screen) or an LCD screen cleaning solution.
Definitely don't utilize multipurpose cleaners or anything containing bleach or ammonia, and don't use anything precipitous or pointy

Also, check the settings to make sure your Idiot box is fix to download firmware updates automatically. If not, plow it on as this is an important security feature. It'southward worth wiping down the remote with a soft clammy textile once a month also.

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Source: https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/home-entertainment/tvs-and-projectors/buying-guides/tvs