Some Practical Things to Consider When Buying Your Next Smart TV

Some Practical Things to Consider When Buying Your Next Smart TV

It seems like Americans, in particular, have a love of televisions and all things related to television programming. Maybe this is because Americans played a significant role in the evolution of what we know of as television today. Regardless of where the seeds of television originated, it’s undeniable that those rectangular devices have become incredibly popular. And with the advent of smart TVs, television can do more than ever before. So just how do you choose that perfect smart TV for yourself or your family?

What Is a Smart TV?

Basically speaking, a smart TV is one that allows you to access the internet through WiFi. Often smart TVs come with preinstalled streaming apps that allow you to access online content. For example, your TV might have apps such as Netflix or Hulu already installed.

According to researchers, nearly 60 percent of Americans have an internet-connected television, so the interest in smart TVs is definitely growing.

Pick Your Desired Screensize

There are a few things to consider when you’re purchasing a smart TV. First, and most important to some people, is the size of the television. When choosing the size, you’ll want to consider where the TV is going to be placed and how big your home is. If you live in a small house you probably don’t want to purchase an 85-inch TV that’s going to take up half the wall, unless you really, really like TV.

On the other hand, if you’ll be regularly watching TV with friends and family, you’ll want to make sure that the screen is big enough for everyone to enjoy it. If possible, do some legwork. If purchasing online, go to a store and size up the TV before actually buying it.

To Mount or Not to Mount

Another important aspect of buying a TV is to figure out if you want to mount it to a wall or have it rest on a stand. The bigger the TV the more likely you probably are to have it mounted to a wall. However, there are also stands available for larger TVs. If you do decide to mount your TV, you may want to choose a spot that’s not bathed in sunlight.

You’ll also want to consider whether you’re qualified to mount the TV or if you’d rather hire a professional. After all, mounting a TV that could weigh in the neighborhood of 50 pounds requires skill.

LCD, LED, or OLED?

These abbreviations can sometimes be confusing to those purchasing a smart TV. But they basically refer to the type of picture quality your television will display:

• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) These TVs have a panel of liquid crystals through which light from a backlight is shown
• LED (Light-Emitting Diodes) These actually provide the backlighting for an LCD panel, so an LED is basically an LCD TV
• OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) Light can be admitted on a pixel-by-pixel basis, so colors don’t bleed into each other. This results in high levels of contrast and an amazing picture

If you’re wondering which is best for you, the best way is to actually see the picture qualities that the different technologies produce and then decide what best suits your needs. You may want to keep in mind that OLED TVs are typically more expensive.

Connections and Ports

Connections may be the last thing that you think about when buying a smart TV, but they’re important nonetheless. Ports determine what types of devices you’ll be able to connect to your TV. For example, you may want to connect a streaming media device that allows you even more options in terms of sports programming.

Still, the main ports that you need to look out for are HDMIs, USB ports, and multimedia ports. With HDMIs, you’ll probably want at least three. Look for at least two USB ports.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying the popularity of smart TVs. The only question is what factors should you consider when deciding to take the plunge. Different things matter to different people, but nearly everyone is concerned about the size of the TV they purchase and the type of picture it will display. Some other things that you’ll want to consider are whether or not you want to mount your TV and the type of connections it has. Happy shopping.