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The Ultimate Buying Guide For Smart TVs
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Now, we have smart TVs that can connect to the internet and even give you access to streaming services, games, voice control, and so much more. There are so many choices of these TVs I the market and you’ll probably have a hard time making choice.
We have highlighted a few things you should consider before buying a smart TV.
Now, we have smart TVs that can connect to the internet and even give you access to streaming services, games, voice control, and so much more. There are so many choices of these TVs I the market and you’ll probably have a hard time making choice.
We have highlighted a few things you should consider before buying a smart TV.
HDR
This is a new feature of 4K Ultra HD sets and it stands for High Dynamic Range. It delivers more colors, more contrast levels and increased brightness.
The basic standard for high-dynamic range content is called HDR10, as set forth by the UHD Alliance, an industry trade group. Be on the lookout for “HDR10” or “Ultra HD Premium” pinned on the set.
There are quite a number of new movies in the new 4K Blu-ray disc format, with a growing number of HDR shows available via streaming services, like Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Don’t choose a set just for its HDR support because the standard has not yet been settled. However, if you want the best, buy an HDR set as that format seems to be gaining momentum.
Refresh Rate
This describes how many times per second a picture is refreshed on the screen. It is normally expressed in Hertz (Hz).
The standard refresh rate is 60 times per second, or 60 Hz. In scenes with rapidly moving objects, a low refresh rate can make things look blurry.
Some new models are boasting High-Frame Rate (HFR) support, which means that they have both a higher refresh rate and added support for content with higher than 60 Hz frame rates.
I advise you to beware of terms like “effective refresh rate,” which means the actual frame rate is half the stated rate. Look for a television that has a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz.
HDMI and Connections
Pay attention to the number of HDMI inputs a smart TV set has. The more the better! These ports can get used up quickly: Add speakers, a decoder and a game console, and you’ve used three ports already.
Also, make sure the set’s ports support HDMI 2.0 to accommodate future Ultra HD sources. Choose a television with at least 4 HDMI ports available.
Contrast Ratio
This describes the range of brightness levels a set can display. Better contrast ratios display more subtle shadows and hues, and thus better detail. However, the way manufacturers measure such ratios varies widely.
Nevertheless, it’s still best to see for yourself how a TV displays shadow detail by finding a movie with dark scenes and seeing how well it reveals detail in the shadows of, say, a Harry Potter movie.
Experiment with the TV’s brightness, sharpness and other picture settings before making a final judgment. It’s also advisable that while testing this feature, select “movie” or “cinema” mode on the TV.
Price
You should know this list cannot be complete without considering the state of your pocket. Budget a particular amount for your smart TV.
Search for TVs in that range then consider all the other factors. Remember, this is the most important or you’ll end up window shopping.
All these factors will guide your buying choice and help you make a smart decision about your choice of smart TV (see what we did there?!). Happy buying!
