Choosing a TV isn't all about choosing the screen size. There are several technologies available, and additional factors must be considered.. No worries, we will guide you to buy the television that best suits your needs.
What screen size?
Screen size is probably the number one criterion in buying a television. It is expressed in inches or in cm at the level of the diagonal. To determine the right size for your room, you need to estimate the setback distance, which is the distance between your sofa and the television. It is generally advised that you stand at a distance of two or three times the screen's diagonal.
Full HD, 4K ou 4K Ultra HD?
The definition of television indicates the number of pixels on the screen. The higher it is, the more detailed the images are. Today Full HD has become the standard with 1920 x 1080 pixels (1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically). The most advanced models now display 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels), four times the Full HD definition. To be completely precise, know that it is in fact a definition used in the cinema. In practice, televisions actually display 3840 x 2160 pixels. We are therefore talking about 4K Ultra HD (or UHD).
It then remains to find sources compatible with such a definition. 4K UHD Blu-rays are not yet numerous, and television channels generally broadcast in Full HD. However, with the massive adoption of 4K TV in 2016, there has been a marked improvement in the availability of 4K content, in particular through players such as Netflix, YouTube. But to take advantage of it, it is better to have a fiber connection at either. Beyond these natively UHD-4K content, televisions are also equipped with an upscale system to automatically convert any Full HD content to 4K UHD. If your budget allows it, therefore prefer a UHD 4K TV which is becoming the standard in a few years.
Flat or curved screen?
After the flat screen revolution, it's time for curved models. Beyond the aesthetics and the "wow" effect, the curvature of the screen is supposed to maximize immersion while reducing eye fatigue. Indeed, the entire surface of the television is at the same distance from the viewer who thus benefits from better viewing comfort. With the curvature of the screen, the TV offers a panoramic effect similar to cinema screens.
In theory, each viewer thus benefits from optimum image quality, whatever their position in relation to the television. Still, to benefit from these advantages, it is better to opt for a diagonal of at least 50 inches. The choice of a flat or curved screen once again depends on your budget and your tastes.
Smart TV, connect your TV to the Internet
With the integration of a Wi-Fi connection or an Ethernet socket, TCL TV India has earned the benefit to connect to the Internet. This gives access to new features, including replay and streaming with platforms such as Netflix, apple tv .. etc . Coupled with an “intelligent” operating system, such as Android TV at Sony and Philips, Tizen at Samsung, Firefox OS at Panasonic or WebOS at LG. All of them allow you to install applications, as you would on a smartphone, in order to add functionality to the TV. Skype, Facebook and other Deezer are thus accessible from the end of the remote control. The interface is also customizable even if most of the time there is a banner with the main functionalities in practically all manufacturers.
Wi-Fi or wired connection is also useful for streaming content available in your local network. Thanks to DLNA you will be able to play all media files that are stored on a computer directly on the TV. The latter is generally compatible with most video, audio and photo file formats.
In 3D or not?
After the cinema, 3D has become embedded in televisions for several years now. If it was all the rage a while ago, this technology is clearly losing ground. But it is still good to note that there are still very many 3D videos. To take advantage of it, you must have compatible glasses, which are usually provided. Two technologies coexist active 3D and passive 3D.
Active 3D requires powered glasses which are synchronized with the video projector and which successively block the right eye and the left eye to display a 3D image. The images are in Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), without loss of brightness. But glasses are heavy, expensive and tiring in the long run. With passive 3D, simple polarized glasses are enough to generate a 3D image. There is no synchronization with the TV, and the glasses are more affordable, lighter, and more comfortable without a battery. On the flip side, the definition is in HD 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) for each eye.
To enjoy 3D, it is obviously essential to have compatible content. However, many televisions are also able to convert a 2D source to 3D ... with varying degrees of success. Finally, know that Samsung and Philips have decided to abandon 3D on their televisions, while others like Sony only offer it on a small handful of models.