Time for a new TV? Before buying, consider these tips of things you should know and what to look for. When you’re ready to buy, check out the recommended TV in the comparison grid below.
PLAN - PRICE Description Samsung 65" QLED 4k UHD Smart TV Q contrast & 4k HDR for stunning high dynamic range and sharpness of colors; built-in WiFi and Smart TV with Bixby Voice Assistance; Ambient Mode elevates your living room with your own decorative content, photos or music; 4 HDMI ports; 240 Hz refresh rate; measures 11.2"D x 56.9"W x 35.8"H TCL 55" 4k Ultra HD ROKU Smart LED TV Smart ROKU functionality offers more than 450,000 movies & TV shows; 3840 x 2160 resolution (4k); 120 Hz refresh rate; 3 HDMI 2.0 ports with HDCP 2.2 (one with HDMI ARC), 1 USB, RF, Composite, Headphone Jack, Ethernet, Optical Audio Out; wireless connectivity; measures 8.7"D x 49.1"W x 30.8"H LG 55" OLED (2018 Model) 4k Cinema HDR with AI ThinQ features for superior depth, sharpness and remarkably accurate color; Google Assistant built in so you can create a central unit for your smart home; built-in WiFi; 4 HDMI ports, 3 USB, 1 RF, 1 Composit in, 1 Ethernet, 1 Optical, 1 Mini Jack and Audio Return Channel Suport; measures 8.7"D x 48.3"W x 29.6"H; 60 Hz refresh rate. Sony 65" 4k UHD Smart LED TV Pairs 4k Ultra HD picture clarity with details of HDR for the most contrast, color and lifelike picture; voice-control with Amazon Alexa; Android TV with Google Assistant technology gives you the smart TV; 120 Hz refresh rate; 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB2.0, 1 USB3.0, 1 Composite; voice remote control; measures 7.9"D x 61.6"W x 33.4"H
Our review process:
TVs Considered
Hours Researched
Experts & Consumers Surveyed
Different Types of TV:
In today’s modern world, TVs have wide flat screens with 16:9 aspect ratio. There are essentially 3 distinct types of flat screen TVs currently being manufactured today: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD); Light Emitting Diode (LED); and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED). Here’s a more detailed explanation of these distinct types of TVs.
- LCD. An LCD screen will have millions of liquid crystals sandwiched between two glass panels (called LCD panels) and are used to produce the images on the LCD screen. Behind the LCD screen are backlights that help produce the images by using fluorescent lights. LCD are in the lower price range.
- LED. An LED TV has the same LCD panel to produce the images on the LED screen. It also has backlights that help produce the images. However, instead of the fluorescent lights used in LCD TVs, light emitting diode bulbs are used for LED TVs. LED TVs tend to have better color accuracy and are slightly higher in the price range than LCD TVs.
- OLED. This is a newer type of TV technology. The OLED TVs have pixels that are made up of gas filled cells and can produce their own light and colors without depending on any backlight source. Because of this, the picture of an OLED TV is of a better quality with higher contrast ratio than an LCD/LED TV. Other advantages are better viewing angle and no blurring of fast moving objects than an LCD/LED TV. OLED TVs are also very bright and can be viewed in brightly lit rooms and are less likely to suffer from the problem of “burn-in” screens. OLED TVs will be on the higher end of the price range.
TV Buying Guide:
There are a wide variety of TVs today and it can be confusing to choose which one to buy. Syncroreviews is here to help and have provided you these guidelines on what to look for.
- Screen Size. The first factor in your purchasing decision will most likely be the screen size. Consider how many people will most likely to watch at once and where you’re going to put your new TV. Then pick the largest screen size that will fit comfortably in that space and your budget. Considering price, performance and the average space in today’s living rooms, the most common screen size is between 55” and 65” inches. A good rule of thumb is that you should choose a screen size depending on how close you sit to the TV – sit at a distance from the TV that is 3x more than the height of the screen for HD and 1.5x the screen height for 4k Ultra HD.
Tip: TVs are measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
- Screen Resolution. Next, you must consider the resolution of the TV. Resolution describes the number of pixels (horizontal rows and vertical columns) that make up the picture on the display. More pixels mean sharper pictures and finer details. In other words, the higher the resolution the better. Let’s look at the 3 most common TV resolutions:
- Full HD. For the past several years, full HD with 1920 x 1080 resolution has been the standard.
- 4k Ultra HD. The world is now changing, and the standard is becoming more of a 4k Ultra HD or 3840 x 2160 resolution.
- HDR. A High Dynamic Range is a new feature of the 4k Ultra HD and it delivers more colors, more contrast levels and increased brightness. HDR is essentially an upgrade of the 4k.
Just like computers, TVs are being updated every few years and if you want to future-proof your investment, you should consider buying a TV with at least 4k Ultra HD resolution. You don’t have to buy a TV with HDR since that feature is still being tested for becoming a standard.
- Refresh Rate. The refresh rate for TVs are expressed in Hertz (Hz) and describes how many times per second a picture is refreshed on the screen. The standard refresh rate is 60 times per second, or 60 Hz. However, if you are watching a movie or a sporting event that has rapidly moving objects, a 60 Hz refresh rate could make the picture look blurry or jumpy especially on an LCD TV. Therefore, manufacturers doubled the refresh rate to 120 Hz and in some cases up to 240 Hz to create a more solid picture. So, the faster the refresh rate the better and we recommend buying a TV with at least 120 Hz.
- Connections & Input. When buying a TV, you should also pay attention to the number of HDMI input ports a TV has. Input ports are very useful and can be used up quickly for a game console, streaming devices, adding a sound bar and other devices. The more input ports the better and we highly recommend looking for a TV with at least 4 HDMI input ports to accommodate your future needs.
- Types of TV. As described in the earlier section, there are essentially 3 different types of TVs – LCD; LED; OLED. In the earlier section, we explained what those 3 distinct types of TVs are. Let us now tell you the pros and cons for each of them:
- LCD & LED. Pros: you can find a wide variety of sizes, features and prices. The image quality for both LCD & LED TVs are steadily improving with full-array backlighting and quantum-dot technology that enhances the color. There are bright screens that are visible even in a sunny room and there are some affordable Ultra HD 4k models.
Cons: images on the LCD and LED TVs will fade when viewing from the side and it will lose some shadow detail because the pixels does not have the capability to go completely black. There are also imperfections when watching something with rapid motion, such as a sporting event. - OLED. Pros: these TVs have the best picture with sharp color contrasts and shadowing details than the LCD TVs. OLED TVs also retains the image quality when viewed from the side.
Cons: currently OLED TVs are the most expensive out there because of its newer technology. It also has some disadvantages such as, lower peak brightness than some LCD TVs and the uncertainty about how the screens will look over time (“burn-in” images from displaying a static picture for too long).
- LCD & LED. Pros: you can find a wide variety of sizes, features and prices. The image quality for both LCD & LED TVs are steadily improving with full-array backlighting and quantum-dot technology that enhances the color. There are bright screens that are visible even in a sunny room and there are some affordable Ultra HD 4k models.
- Price Range. Today, TVs are not only getting better but they are also getting much more affordable. The price range will depend on the brand, features and screen size. There are premium models with all the latest features and capabilities that can cost you $2,000+. But there are also bargains out there, complete with 4k resolution, HDR support and smart features all under $500 for a 50”-55” TV or under $1,000 for a 65” TV. The best times to buy a TV for a bargain is during Black Friday, Cyber Week or end of year sales at your local retailer(s). We’ve researched and evaluated the best deals out there to help you save so check out the TVs we have recommended in the comparison table above.