Buying a new TV is exciting. But, let’s be honest, also kind of confusing. With so many features and buzzwords flying about, there’s a lot to consider. The most important factor though? How big it should be. If you go too small, your telly will look like a teeny postage stamp in the corner of the lounge. Pick something humongous, and you’ll be going square eyed in no time. So, grab the tape measure. We’ve got some work to do…
What’s the right distance from the TV?
The first step is to work how far you’re going to be sat from the screen. And no pressure - but that distance between your sofa and the telly is one of the most important things to get right. If you sit too close, the screen is going to feel pretty overwhelming. But, if it’s too far away, it’ll look like a distant speck. And you’re going to miss out on all those important tiny details.
A good rule of thumb is:
For 4K TVs, sit about 1 to 1.5 times the screen size away.
For 1080p TVs, sit around 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen size away.
So, if you’re looking at a 55-inch 4K TV, popping yourself 4.5 to 6.5 feet from it is ideal. Whatever you decide on, the picture should be clear and comfortable to watch without straining your eyes.
Room size and TV position
The size of your room – and where you plan to put your telly – will make a big difference to your screen search…
Small rooms (up to 150 square feet) – We’d go for a TV between 32 and 43 inches. This size is perfect for cosy spaces where you’ll be close to the screen.
Medium rooms (up to 300 square feet) – Get yourself a telly somewhere from 43 to 55 inches. That way, it won’t be stupidly massive or ridiculously tiny.
Large rooms (over 300 square feet) – Go big here. 55 inches or larger will do the trick. After all, you want something that’ll fill the space and give everyone who’s watching a good view.
When you’re positioning your TV, the layout of your room is really important. If it’s on a unit, place it at eye level to avoid hurting your neck. Too high or too low, and you’re going to end up with some serious strain. For wall mounting, it’ll need to be centred – and at a height that feels natural for where you’re sitting. If either are off, it’ll drive you doolally.
TV viewing angles
This’ll sound super obvious, but most TVs look their best when you’re sat right in front of them. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to cram everyone into that single central armchair when your mates are over for the big match. Which is why viewing angles are really important.
The viewing angle is the angle at which you can see the screen, without any distortion or a loss of colour. For those seats off to the side, it needs to be right. Otherwise, your guests are going to miss big parts of the action!
LED TVs – You’ll have a narrower viewing angle, meaning the picture quality can drop if you’re not sat smack bang in front of the screen.
OLED TVs – They’re known for their wide viewing angles. So, they’ll still have a great image even when you’re looking at it from the sides.
QLED TVs – These offer a better viewing angle than standard LED TVs, but might not match the performance of an OLED.
TV screen sizes and dimensions
We’ll talk about measuring the screen itself in just a sec. Before we get to that, here’s a glance at the most common TV screen sizes and how wide/tall they actually are. Fancy something that’ll rival your local cinema screen? Time to pick something big. Only got a little nook in the corner of the lounge? You’ll need to scale things back a bit…
32-inch – 27.9 inches wide by 15.7 inches tall.
43-inch – 37.5 inches wide by 21.1 inches tall.
55-inch – 47.9 inches wide by 26.9 inches tall.
65-inch – 56.5 inches wide by 31.8 inches tall.
75-inch – 65.3 inches wide by 36.9 inches tall.
How to measure the TV screen
To measure a TV screen properly, here’s what you’ll need to do…
Get your tape measure and start at the bottom-left corner of the screen (not the frame).
Measure diagonally to the top-right corner.
That number, in inches, is the screen size. Easy, right?
Remember, the frame (or bezel) adds some extra width and height. So, check the full dimensions too if space is going to be tight. Oh, and you also need to measure the spot where your new telly is going to go. It’ll be a right pain if you bring it home and it doesn’t actually fit.
TV screen resolutions and technologies
Now, let’s talk about what’s actually happening on the screen. The resolution – and the tech that’s packed into your telly – is going to make a big difference to your viewing experience. So, don’t forget to have a think about this lot too…
What is TV resolution?
TV resolution refers to the number of pixels that are on the screen. And the more pixels there are, the sharper and clearer your picture is going to be. Here’s a few of the most common…
1080p (Full HD) TVs, 1920 x 1080 pixels – If you’re planning on a smaller TV – or only watch the odd program here and there – this’ll be more than enough.
4K (Ultra HD) TVs, 3840 x 2160 pixels – With four times the resolution of 1080p, this is the sweet spot for most homes. Plus, it’s the most popular of the three here too. Your image will be crisp and blur-free, even on bigger screens.
8K TVs, 7680 x 4320 pixels – It’s super high resolution (and pricier), but not much content is available for it yet. So, you might not be able to get the most out of it at the moment. For now, it’s one for the serious film buffs among you.
Almost every streaming service and Blu-ray is 4K, so for the future-proof choice, that’s the one we’d suggest going for.
QLED or OLED?
You’ve got two main types of screen technology to choose from – OLED and QLED. And while yes, they’re still both TVs (and each comes with their own snappy acronym), they’re doing things differently…
QLED (Quantum Dot LED) – They’re bright, colourful and great for well-lit rooms. Oh, and they’re generally on the more affordable side too!
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) – You’ll get perfect blacks, wide viewing angles and amazing contrast. Because of that, they’re usually a bit more expensive - but are absolutely worth it if you want the best way to watch.
Smart TV features and considerations
We’ve come a long way since those boxy TVs we all used to have sat in our front rooms. Now, most TVs are ‘smart’. And everything you could ever need is built straight into them. They’ll connect to the internet, which lets you stream your favourite shows and content straight from Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. DVDs are so last decade.
Buying your first smart TV? Here’s a few features you should definitely look out for:
Voice control – It’s kind of like being in a sci-fi flick. With just a few words, you can change the channel, tweak your settings and search for something to watch. When you’ve lost the remote down the back of the sofa, it’s a lifesaver.
Apps and services – See which apps are actually available on the TV. You’ll have a few ready to go straight out of the box. And hopefully you’ll be able to download the rest through the TV’s app store. It’s worth double checking before you take the plunge though. There’ll be drama if you can’t get Netflix!
Connectivity – Multiple HDMI and USB ports (plus the Wi-Fi functions we’ve already mentioned) mean you can hook up your home cinema system, soundbar and other gadgets.
Operating system – Android TV, LG webOS and Samsung’s Tizen are solid interfaces. They’re all relatively easy to use – just check that they’re compatible with your go-to streaming services.
If you’re able to, it’s always good to try before you buy. Some budget models can be slow or laggy. And it’ll take you ages to load up the latest episode of that new scandi crime series.
Budgeting for your new TV
TV prices can vary quite widely. So, it’s important to set yourself a budget before you start shopping. Check out this rough guide for a quick breakdown…
1080p TVs – £200 to £500.
4K TVs – £300 to £1500.
8K TVs - £1500 to £5000+
It’s worth saying, a slightly more expensive TV is likely going to last longer. And everything from films to the footie is going to look better too. If you don’t fancy upgrading your telly soonish, it’s worth spending a bit of extra cash up front.
Don’t forget…
To get the most out of your new telly, accessories like a soundbar, cables and a wall mount are all pretty essential. These will quickly add up though – so, make sure you factor them into how much you’re willing to spend.
Need more advice?
The TV tips don’t stop there. If your picture’s looking a tad fuzzy, here’s how to clean a TV screen. And you’ve probably come across a lot of confusing terms while searching for your new telly. So, make sense of TV tech with our jargon buster. Hopefully it help to clear everything up.
