How to Buy a TV

Shopping for a new TV is daunting. From screen size to color ratios and more, choosing a TV seems like a scientific endeavor, and it feels like only engineers can make sense of the numbers, phrases, and technology. In actuality, most of these claims and statistics are simply sales pitches. With some smart buying and insider knowledge, you can cut through the static and buy the perfect TV.

EditSteps

EditChoosing the Right TV for Your Room

1. Choose the TV's location before shopping. The room's lighting, the size of the wall, the distance to the couches: all of it will matter when choosing a new TV. To get the best bang for your buck, you want to know where the TV is going. That way you can maximize the picture quality and size now instead of scrambling to rearrange the room later. You should know:
   
   • How far most people will be from the screen.
   • How/when sunlight in the room will hit the screen.
   • How big the wall for the TV is.
2. For the best results, get the biggest TV you can fit comfortably in the room. Think about how far away people will be from the TV. As a rule of thumb, you should be sitting 1 ½ - 2 ½ times the screen size away from the TV. So, if you want a 70” TV, you should account for at least 9–15ft of room between the TV and your couch. At the end of the day, the size of the TV is the most important factor to consider.
   
   • As a baseline, think of a 30" minimum for bedroom TVs and 50-70" for living room TVs.
   • TV sizes are measured diagonally, from the top left corner of the screen to the bottom right corner of the screen.^[1]
3. Pick the right type of TV for your room’s lighting. One of the biggest considerations when buying a TV is the type of lighting in the room around it. When properly matched, the right lighting will lower the strain on your eyes as you watch TV and make your picture quality even better. OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs, while the most expensive, have the best picture quality in every scenario. That said, you have some options:
   
   • Dark or Dim Rooms: Plasma and OLED screens are best for dark rooms.
   • Bight, highly lit rooms: LED or LCD screens show off the clearest picture in bright light.
   • Normal lighting: LED or OLED generally work best in a variety of situations.^[2]
4. Don't neglect the thickness of the TV when shopping. TV is furniture, and is often the centerpiece of the room. So you need to make sure it will fit seamlessly into your living room without overcrowding or becoming unwieldy. Of course, thin TVs are easier to work with, but there are several other features that can make the difference:
   • Will you be buying a new TV stand, or using an old one? Ensure that the base of your TV fits securely on the stand and does not just out or balance precariously.
   • Can you mount the TV to a wall? This often saves the most space and eliminates the need for a bulky stand. You may, however, need an installation team if you are uncomfortable with carpentry.
5. Use resolution guidelines to determine picture quality. Resolution is how precise your image looks.The more pixels, the higher the resolution. This is why 2160p, also known as “4K Ultra HD,” is more expensive than 1080p, “Full HD,” or 720p. The "p" stands for how many pixels run up and down the screen in one row. More pixels give the picture better clarity and color.
   
   • As of 2016, 4K (4,000 pixels) is the current resolution champion, and prices are rapidly falling. By 2020, these TVs will be standard, and will thus last the longest. That said, 90% of consumers cannot tell the difference between 4K and 1080p -- the pixels are just too small for your eyes.
   • Don't buy a TV less than 1080p, since 720p is already dated and is not getting any younger.
   • Some systems are labeled with an “i.” such as 1080i. Just know that the picture quality is roughly the same as 1080p. 1080p has simply “won” the war over consumers.^[3]
6. Know what inputs you need, specifically any device that can't use HDMI. Luckily, this has only gotten easier, since almost everything uses HDMI cables these days. However, there are some devices, like a Nintendo Wii or the old VCR you can't part with, that will need older inputs. If this is a necessity for you, make sure you have a list of all your essential ports and inputs while shopping.
   • In general, 3-4 HDMI ports will cover all of your entertainment needs.
   • If you're confused about inputs and names, simply take a picture of the inputs and bring it with you to the store. Someone there will be able to give you specific advice.^[4]

EditUnderstanding TV Features

1. Understand which TV specifications don't mean anything at all. If it feels like there are eight billion TVs on the market, all with different stats and figures, you're not alone. These stats are meant to overwhelm you into buying something more expensive, but you don't have to fall for it. You can safely ignore the following terms and words when shopping -- they are just sales tactics:
   • Refresh rates (anything above 120Hz is fine)
   • Contrast Ratio
   • Motion Rate, ClearMotion, TruMotion, etc.
   • Viewing Angles
   • Premium HDMI ports (all HDMI will look the same, no matter the port).^[5]
2. Opt for the highest color range possible only if you're serious about perfect quality. HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a newer color format meant to capture the greatest array of colors possible. The problem is that most sources (cable, Netflix, etc.) don't even send HDR quality color yet, so you'll likely notice little difference. That said, to better "future-proof" your TV, it might be a good option.
   • Obviously, more color is better. That doesn't mean that this small uptick now, however, is necessarily worth the extra $2-300.
3. Only pay for 3D TVs if you're committed to the recurring extra costs. Unless you love watching 3D movies, skip this feature. Most companies have already passed over them, quietly shuffling 3D TVs out of their inventory because consumers were largely unimpressed. Why? Because you need expensive glasses for every viewer, a 3D compatible player, and extra-expensive movies that cannot be played on non-3D players. So, unless you really want to recreate the home theater experience at any cost, skip this feature.
   • All 3D TVs can play normal 2D movies. If you want the option, and money is no concern, you might as well go big for the 3D capabilities.
4. Purchase a Smart TV only if you don't have another streaming source. Smart TVs have apps built in to show Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and other popular internet videos. While this may seem appealing, there are so many other streaming devices you can get cheaply that Smart TVs are often redundant. If you already have a way to stream media, skip the extra cost of a Smart TV.^[6]
   • You can get a Google Chromecast, Roku, Amazon FireStick, Apple TV, or video game system with all the same features for $40-200.
5. Avoid paying extra for curved TVs. They are really just a fashion statement, with no real bearing on picture quality or enjoyment. Some people even lobby that they are worse, making it harder for a large group to all enjoy the screen from multiple angles.^[7]

EditGetting the Best Deal

1. Set your budget before you go shopping. TV's are sold more and more like cars, with gifted salespeople or advertisements attempting to up-sell you with fancy features and a load of techno-jumbled words. The best way to prevent spending more than you want is to come up with your maximum price before you enter the store or head online. When possible, be upfront about it -- tell the salesperson you will absolutely pay no more than this number, preventing them from showing you certain items. Basic pricing estimates, as of 2016, are:
   • 32-inch: $150 to $500
   • 39- to 43-inch: $250 to $1,100
   • 46-to-52-inch: $380 to $1,600
   • 55- to 59-inch: $450 to $2,500
   • 65-inch: $700 to $5,000^[8]
2. Shop during November or March for the best prices on new TVs. TVs are expensive investments, and should last you many years when bought correctly. Waiting a month or two for enormous Christmas and Black Friday sales can be worth it, helping you get potentially better TV for your budget than you expected.
   • November is overwhelmingly the best time to get a cheap TV. Prices are always lowest on and before Black Friday, and you can usually buy them online.^[9]
   • March, after the companies have debuted there new sets at the beginning of the year, is the next best chance at a cheap TV before the new models hit store.^[10]
3. Remember to save money for the sound system, which most TVs ignore. The slimmer TVs get, the worse they sound. Speakers need physical room to work, so ultra-thin sets often sound tinny. A basic sound bar is often your best bet if you don't already have a stereo system, and they are generally under $100. Still, remember to consider the sound when buying a TV -- it is worth accounting for when pricing.^[11]
4. Spend your money on size, not fancy buzzwords and features. There are some features that will matter -- if you want a Smart TV, built in DVR, etc. -- but at the end of the day the picture size is the most important consideration. If you want a TV that will last and satisfyingly display everything from sports to video games, then bigger is better.^[12]
   • Do not, however, just buy a big TV without accounting for the room size. Remember -- you want to sit roughly 1.5 to 2 times the size of the TV away for comfort, so a 60" TV should have at least 90" to 120" of space in front of it.
5. Never buy a TV purely based on its performance in a showroom. TVs in stores have artificially cranked up brightness and contrast meant to deceive you. They look great in a big row, with specially designed footage made to seem exciting, but they will under-perform when placed in your house and showing normal shows and movies. The bright, harsh florescent lighting in a store is leagues different from that in your home. This causes the picture to look far different than it will later.
   • Specially designed "theater rooms," with more natural lighting and a darker background, are much safer ways to test TVs in person.^[13]
6. Read reviews before making any purchases. Ultimately, TV quality is much more than the sum of a few spec sheets. If you want a top-notch TV, you'll need to do some digging. Make a list of potential TV's in your price range, then plug them into an internet search with the word "reviews." How people feel watching the actual TV is far more informative than any sales pitch.
   • If you just want the biggest TV for your dollar and don't care about the features, head to Amazon or Best Buy and simply purchase the cheapest on at your size -- the quality may not be perfect, but size is still the most important consideration when buying a TV.^[14]

EditTips

• You can buy an extended warranty through the manufacturer, retail location or third-party business. However most manufacturers offer a one-year parts, 90-day labor warranty on all new televisions.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Buy a TV Tuner Card
• Buy a Plasma TV
• Buy a TV Antenna
• Buy an LCD TV
• Buy a Good 3D TV

EditSources and Citations

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