There are three constants in life: death, taxes, and the fact that your TV could always be better.
You can always trade up if you need an upgrade or if you got a fancy new game console. Give it a few months if you are on the bleeding edge of technological advancement. You can't win the race against obsolescence.
There are so many new things to worry about when shopping for a new TV. It can get confusing if you're not aware. Before you spend a lot of money, allow me to show you some of the biggest bullet points to look for.
Don't think about less than 4K.
The 4K TVs are fairly affordable. Get one. Credit: Kiyoshi Ota
When I recommend a new TV to someone, I always give them one piece of advice: Don't buy a TV that can't display 4K or high definition.
4K is a misleading marketing term for a super-sharp 2160p resolution that new video game consoles, like the PS5, and streaming hardware alike have begun to universally support. A high dynamic range of colors that dramatically widens the gap between lights and darks is called a high dynamic range of colors.
The good news for people who want a new TV is that it's possible to get one that does both 4k and hi-def, but the bad news is that opting out of sets with 4k or hi-def will leave them with a lot of anxiety as more and more The good news is that it is hard to find a TV larger than 40 inches that doesn't support 4K and HDR, and they keep getting cheaper. I play video games and watch movies on a 43-inch set that costs less than $300 and does both very well.
There are multiple types of HDR, which is boring technical reasons. Most normal people wouldn't notice the difference in the processing of colors. The two most common standards are HDR10 and Dolby Vision, with the former being the more widespread of the two. If you really want to know more about this, our friends at PCMag have you covered. You should be fine if you have either of the two.
The display vs the display.
The TVs look great, but they're expensive. Robyn Beck is a photographer for the Associated Press.
There is a display difference to consider when buying a new TV.
Liquid crystal display technology has been used in most devices for the past 15 to 20 years. If you have extra money to spend, you should look for a TV with an organic light-emitting diode display.
This is another thing that will be heavily advertised on the box, so don't worry about any confusion here. The only thing you need to know is that the screen is lit by a backlight and not by an individual light source. The result is that the TVs look better than the ones on the market, but they are usually a good deal more expensive. The Sony 55-inchOLED TV will probably give you a stunning picture, but it will cost more than $2,000.
If you have to get an set to save money, don't feel bad. It will still look great, but not as great as something that costs a lot more.
It's a must for gaming.
You need to have a compatible TV to get the most out of these consoles. Phil Barker is the author of Future Publishing.
Normal people can stop reading now if this last bit applies to them.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X have high frame rate options for certain games, meaning you can play at a smooth 120 frames per second with the right hardware. Most TVs now have a 120Hz refresh rate, but you will need a TV with a 60Hz refresh rate.
You can find the TV refresh rate on the box or the manufacturer's website in seconds. If you want to enjoy 120 frames per second gaming with something in the neighborhood of a 4K resolution, you need to make sure the TV has an HDMI 2.1 port. You will need a special cable.
Without getting too technical with tech jargon, HDMI 2.1 provides enough power for a TV and a connected device to display high frame rates and high resolutions at the same time. This isn't very common in cheap TVs. If you want the best gaming experience possible, you can get a 4K, 120Hz, and anOLED display for around $1,300.
See? Buying a new TV isn't hard. All you need to do is learn a few new tech terms and learn something that does everything you want without bankrupting you. Whether you want to play Curb Your Enthusiasm for 16 hours a day, or play a game for 16 hours a day, there is something for you.
