Which TV is better to buy in 2020 according to experts

For many users, the choice of a TV depends on many parameters, but not everyone can instantly figure out exactly what they want to buy. Any advice on how to choose the right TV for your home will definitely not be superfluous, especially when it comes to modern TVs, the range of which is so large that even the most sophisticated customer can be confused when they come to the store for a new purchase. Most buyers want to pick up a device that can please them with its functionality for many years, but at the same time not become morally obsolete. What to look for when choosing a TV? To answer this question, we offer an overview of the key criteria.

Diagonal

To choose the right TV, first of all, you should calculate the diagonal that fits the size of the room. Today, a 65-inch screen can be bought for 25-30 thousand, which is very cheap. This forces buyers to chase after the big screen regardless of the size of the room, but this should not be done. The reason is that looking at a large TV from a short distance is inconvenient and unsafe for the eyes.

Experts recommend choosing a diagonal that is 2.5-3 times smaller than the distance to the eyes. That is, a TV with a screen of 40 inches (102 cm) is optimal to watch from 2.5-3 meters. However, the resolution of the video content should also be taken into account. If you don’t want to do the calculations yourself, then below is a table of the correspondence of the diagonals and the recommended viewing distance.

Permission

In 2020, you can find TVs with a screen resolution of:

• HD — 1280*720;
• Full HD — 1920 * 1080;
• Ultra HD (4K) — 3840 * 2160;
• 8K — 7680*4320.

When choosing a TV in terms of parameters and characteristics, it is worth evaluating everything in the aggregate. So, for TVs with a diagonal of up to 32 inches, it is better to choose HD resolution, for TVs from 32 to 40 inches, FullHD is optimal, and for displays from 43 inches, the best option is 4K.

Today’s content providers offer many series, movies and shows in 4K, and the number is only growing. Therefore, it is not worth doubting that such a TV is needed, there is a lot of high-quality video.

Most UHD TVs support Upscaling, which upscales any incoming signal and pushes it up to 4K. Of course, the original video in 4K and the improved video differ in quality, but the difference for the better is noticeable.

But buying 8K TV is not advisable. Such devices were presented in 2013 as a concept, and models for sale appeared only in 2019. Such TVs are in the Samsung catalog, but today their cost is huge, and there is very little content, so experts recommend waiting, because the emergence of competition will invariably lead to a price reduction, as happened with UHD TV earlier.

Matrix type

Modern devices use matrices of the following types.

1. TN is the rarest and least expensive type. Such TVs have small viewing angles, but high response times, so they are better for those who buy TV as monitor for PC or game console.
2. IPS is the most popular type among inexpensive TVs, characterized by large viewing angles and good color reproduction.
3. OLED — screens with organic light-emitting diode technology. Unlike the previous types, there is no backlight here, the pixels glow on their own. Thanks to this, colors are most realistically transmitted, for such TVs infinite contrast and true blacks. At the moment, such TVs start at 55 inches, this is an expensive technique, and it has received the greatest distribution from LG.
4. AMOLED is a technology from Samsung, in many ways similar to OLED, but with the difference that it is based on quantum particles, which, although they glow independently under the influence of current, are not able to convey the same black color. However, the flagship QLED TVs are competitive in terms of picture quality, and the technology is also not that expensive, and the diagonals start from 49 inches.

See also: What is the difference between LED and OLED.

Smart TV

Smart TV is to some extent a separate segment of TVs, which implies the presence of an operating system in the device. Thanks to her, TV is quite capable of replacing a PC in performing multimedia tasks. By connecting Smart TV to the Internet, the user gets the opportunity to watch online movies and programs through numerous Internet cinemas, go online through a browser, listen to music and install various utilities or widgets.

Today, the most common operating systems for TV are.

1. Tizen OS — operating system from Samsung, used in branded brand TVs, has a clear interface and is ready to work out of the box.
2. webOS — a system from LG, in many ways similar to Tizen, the main differences are in the interface. The number of applications available for installation is the same.
3. Android TV — the well-known OS from Google, adapted for large screens. Good with a large selection of applications and a single account for any Android device. Unlike previous systems, it requires some customization, but at the same time it opens up more opportunities for customization. This OS is installed in TVs of all manufacturers except Samsung and LG.

It should be understood: the Android OS may differ in shell from a particular company and is adapted in different ways, which sometimes makes use uncomfortable. Android TV is best implemented by Sony, Philips and Panasonic.

Additional options

Modern TVs offer a number of useful features in addition to Smart TV.

1. HDR — extended dynamic range, thanks to which the picture is more contrast, and the transition between colors is more pronounced, but at the same time more natural.
2. TimeShift – a function for broadcast control. You can pause a program or movie or watch it after it has been broadcast live.
3. Picture in Picture helps, without interrupting the viewing of one TV channel, to find out what is shown on others.
4. 24p True Cinema — broadcasting content at a speed of 24 frames per second, that is, the way it is filmed. Thanks to this, the picture feels better, and the eyes are not so tired.
5. Upscaling — The resolution “upscaling” function mentioned above is relevant for 4K TV.
6. Support tuners DVB T2/С2/S allows you to connect any type of television without additional receivers.

Interfaces

When buying a TV for the home, it is worth considering that some devices will have to be connected to it. All this should be considered before buying a TV in order to choose a device with the number of connectors that will be required.

1. USB used to connect external drives, mice and keyboards.
2. HDMI. It is extremely important to clarify not just the presence of HDMI, but its generation (from HDMI1, a full transfer of UHD content begins), as well as the number of such connectors. Ideally, there should be 3 or more of them, but for TVs up to 40-43 inches, this number is rare. HDMI allows you to connect almost everything — from external speakers and game consoles to PCs and receivers.
3. tulips may be required to connect some older devices. If the TV has a resolution of 4K, then such a connection should be abandoned, since it is not designed to transmit an ultra-high definition signal.
4. CI connector to connect smart cards. Thanks to it and DVB TV support, you can refuse to connect external receivers.
5. optical audio. True connoisseurs of sound will certainly remain dissatisfied with the quality of the built-in speakers and will want to connect an external audio device. This connector is required for a lossless connection.
6. 3.5 — headphone jack, rare in modern devices.

See also: advantages of a CAM module for a TV.

Optional connectors, but still found in TVs, include Scart and DVI. They may be required to connect very old equipment.

The wireless interfaces that are needed in the TV include:

• wifi, it is desirable to consider with support for 5 GHz networks and Miracast / WiDi (required for broadcasting from a smartphone to TV), DLNA (provides connection to a local home network)
• Bluetooth — an alternative to a 3.5 jack for connecting headphones or a soundbar.

See also: choosing and configuring a Wi-Fi adapter for TV.

Remote controller

There are no specific requirements for the remote control, but it must be ergonomic and not too heavy. It is also worth evaluating the ease of operation: if the TV is bought for an elderly person, then the fewer buttons, the easier it will be to figure it out.

For Smart TV useful options on the remote control will be:

• gyroscope — allows you to use the remote control instead of a mouse;
• voice input — it is more convenient to enter queries with your voice than typing text on the on-screen keyboard.

See also: how to choose a remote control for a TV.

Also, some remotes are equipped with a light sensor, thanks to which the TV can independently adjust the brightness.

Manufacturers

There are many manufacturers on the market today. The top three include Sony, Samsung, LG. At the same time, from the point of view of the ratio of price and quality, the devices from Sony look less attractive, since with an excellent assembly, their price is much higher.

See also: comparison of LG and Samdung TVs.

For those who are considering not the most famous companies and want to save money, good options may be:

• Philips;
• Panasonic;
• Toshiba;
• Sharp.

Of the new brands, TCL and Xiaomi have proven themselves better than others.