9 Things to Consider when Buying a Smart TV

In this article, we will outline the top 9 things to consider when buying a smart TV. Most people watch Tv as a part of their everyday lives. A Tv is a must in most homes, offices, and many other locations, whether you love lounging or keeping up with current events or just watching when shopping for a new television, it is important to know what you want in order to spend your money wisely and get what suites you.

9 Things to Consider when Buying a Smart TV

You probably have heard about smart TVs which are new trends in the electronic market. It is advisable to do some research before buying a Smart Tv especially if you’re not tech-savvy.

What is a Smart TV?

A smart Tv also known as a connected TV is a type of television set equipped with internet and interactive features that allow users to stream videos and music, and browse the internet without plugging in an external device. Smart TVs are ideal for people who enjoy streaming the latest shows on Netflix, peacock, and other streaming platforms.

With a smart Tv, users can access, manage and view online and network-based content. Most Tvs sold today are smart TVs. Many manufacturers such as LG, Hisense, Samsung, and Vizio sell Smart TVs

Top 9 things to Consider when buying a Smart TV

There are plenty of things to consider when shopping for a new smart Tv. In this part of the article, we will list some factors to consider when buying a Smart Tv;

  • Budget
  • Size
  • Picture quality
  • Sound Quality
  • HDR
  • Refresh Rate
  • Apps Support
  • Connection Ports
  • Warranty

Budget

When shopping for a brand new smart TV, one of the most important factors you should consider is budget. The type of smart TV you want to buy depends on how much money you are willing to spend. You may understand the features and specifications of different smart TVs available, but this means nothing if you can’t afford them.

Before buying a smart TV, have an idea of how much you want to spend and look for the best option available for that price. With this, you will not only save a lot of money but also receive a good smart TV. There are different brands dominating the market, like Samsung and Sony, with high-priced models. You can try out newcomers brands like Vizio and Hisense.

Size

Finding a smart TV screen size that fits your living space and budget is the best choice for you. In order for you to decide which smart TV size matches your room space, you can measure the dimension of where you will place the TV and decide which size will provide a great viewing experience for you without having to overpower the room.

Smart TVs usually come in different sizes, such as 42 inches, 50 inches, 55 inches, 65 inches, and 75 inches. You can also find brands that cater to those who want 80- or 85-inch TVs. As the size increases, so too will the price increase.

If you want a big screen with nice picture quality, you can go for a 55-inch-sized TV. A huge TV is appropriate for a large room, while a smaller TV is preferable for a small room. The aim is that you should be able to view the TV from a distance.

Picture Quality

When it comes to the features of TVs, you probably might have heard about the terms QLED, LED, or OLED. What do these terms mean and which one is best for you?  LED is an acronym for Light-Emitting Diode. An LED Tv is made up of millions of tiny lights which can be turned on or off individually. This led to tiny lights creating pictures on your TV screen.

QLED stands for Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode. This technology is very similar to LED just because it makes use of quantum dots instead of the normal plain LEDs, resulting in producing brighter pictures compared to the picture quality produced by LEDs.

OLED stands for Organic Light-emitting Diode. The QLED technology is often compared to OLED. The OLED technology creates pictures using small tiny dots called sub-pixels. Each of these sub-pixel dots generates its own light without relying on other surrounding sub-pixels to help it shine brightly in order to be seen by the human eyes.

Since we have seen the meaning of these different terms, let’s see which one is best for you. Finding the best one depends on what you are looking for. The OLED display offers high contrast ratios that LED and QLED displays. they can be more expensive and less energy efficient. LEDs are less expensive when compared to OLED and QLED displays, but the picture quality is not as good compared to the ones produced by OLED and QLED. However, QLEDS is best for price and quality balance.

Sound Quality

The quality of the sound produced should be considered when shopping for Smart TV especially if you don’t want to make use of an external sound source. It can be worth spending your money on a TV with a strong sound which will improve your entertainment experience. the smartest TV is equipped with Dolby Atoms, which help produce surround sounds with several dimensions.

HDR Support

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It is a new standard that has become popular over the past years. HDR offers a better contrast between the bright and dark portions of an image. There are various HDR formats such as Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR 10+. You can purchase a smart Tv as long as its display supports HDR. The difference between the different formats is minimal.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is one of the most important elements of the visual quality of a smart TV. This refers to the rate at which the TV can refresh its image and present new information. The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate will improve the smoothness of pictures on your screen, which will help reduce eye strain and improve your viewing experience.

Most smart TV displays offer 60Hz, 120Hz, or even 240Hz refresh rates, so the display on this TV will be much better compared to TVs with 30Hz or 40Hz. You should choose a smart TV with a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz. If you intend to play games on a recent gaming console like the PS5 or Xbox Series X, you should consider buying a smart TV with a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz since most new games are made better for higher refresh rates.

Apps Support

The main purpose of purchasing a smart TV is for entertainment. It is best to consider your entertainment preferences when shopping for a smart TV. Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are supported across many platforms, but not all smart TVs support all apps. All smart TVs come with some apps preinstalled, and most of them have app stores where you can download additional apps. So when selecting a smart TV to buy, you should check for its installed and available apps to make sure you can use your favorites on it.

Connection Ports

When shopping for a new smart TV, it is advisable to check for the availability of ports. The TV should contain at least one HDMI port, which is usually found on the side or back of the TV. This can serve as a connector to other devices like game consoles and streaming boxes.

You should also check for an extra USB port to connect external devices like hard drives or flash drives. If your smart TV lacks this port, you can make use of an adaptor connected to the HDMI port to connect these external devices. You can also connect external speakers to some smart TVs through the available digital audio output connectors. However, not all smart TVs come with these ports. So keep this in mind when selecting smart TVs to buy.

Warranty

Most Smart TVs come with a one-year warranty. It may sound foolish to pay in advance for a manufacturer’s warranty extension, but it will help you save money in case something goes wrong with your TV, including the cost of replacement. If you intend to buy a TV at a high price, it will make sense to pay more to extend the warranty. However, it may not be important if your TV price is in the middle or lower range. So, if you plan on buying a new smart TV, you should go for a model with an extended warranty that is already built in.

Conclusion

The truth about purchasing a smart TV is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. There are many brands available, and it is very difficult to find the best one. However, you can match your needs to the features offered by the available models to find the one that suits you most. Hopefully, this article will help you figure out which smart TV might be best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions?

When is the best time to buy a Smart Tv?

The best time to buy a smart TV is when retailers lower the price. Some online platforms and even in-store offer Black Friday deals whereby discounts are offered for some items. You can also buy a smart Tv during the Christmas period, cyber Monday is also another day to purchase a smart TV if you are from the US.

Can a smart TV be hacked?

Yes, just like many other internet-connected devices, a smart TV can be hacked. Webcams on some smart TVs can be hacked for spying, or malware can move from other connected devices into your smart TV through your router.

Are smart TVs expensive?

A smart TV is more expensive compared to a traditional TV set that lacks smart features and internet service. Though the price difference is evaporating quickly, soon most TV sets will be equipped with smart services. In 2023, it will be hard to find a TV that doesn’t have smart features and internet connectivity.

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