How to choose a TV according to your use

Where and what will you use the TV for?

How big a TV should I choose?

The diagonal is measured in inches and is measured diagonally across the screen. However, the right size cannot be determined solely by how much space you have on your TV stand.

The viewing distance is especially important.

Observation distance

With 4K TVs, you can sit closer than with older Full HD models because the higher resolution reduces the visibility of individual pixels.

For example, for a 65-inch TV, 1.2 times the diagonal corresponds to approximately 2 meters.

However, this is not a fixed limit. It also depends on the quality of the content being watched, the size of the room, how it is used, and personal preferences.

Resolution: Full HD, 4K or 8K?

Full HD – 1920 × 1080

In new TVs, Full HD is mainly found on smaller diagonals and cheaper models. For general viewing on a smaller screen, it may still be sufficient.

4K UHD – 3840 × 2160

4K is the main standard for most medium and larger TVs today.

• offers a smoother image,
• makes better use of larger diagonals,
• There is a wide range of 4K content available today,
• works well with modern consoles and streaming services.

For most users, 4K is the most practical choice.

8K – 7680 × 4320

8K offers four times the number of pixels compared to 4K.

However, in practice it is necessary to consider:

• very limited availability of native 8K content,
• higher price,
• screen size,
• observation distance.

8K is becoming increasingly important, especially with very large diagonals. However, for the average user, 4K still covers most real-world needs.

LED, QLED, Mini LED or OLED?

Display technology is one of the most important parameters of a television . However, the marketing name alone does not tell everything about the resulting image quality.

LED / LCD

A classic LED TV is actually an LCD panel backlit by LEDs.

Advantages:

• affordable price,
• wide selection of sizes,
• good brightness,
• no typical risk of permanent image burn-in.

However, quality can vary significantly between models.

VA vs. IPS / ADS in LCD TVs

VA may be more suitable for evening viewing directly in front of the TV, for example, while IPS/ADS may be more practical in a room where multiple people are watching the TV from different angles.

QLED

QLED is an LCD technology that uses a layer of quantum dots to improve color and brightness.

Typically offers:

• high brightness,
• saturated colors,
• good usability in bright rooms.

However, it still uses an LCD panel and backlight, so the resulting contrast and black level depend on the type of panel and the quality of the local dimming, among other things.

Mini-LED

Mini LED uses significantly smaller LEDs in the backlight, allowing the TV to have more dimming zones and more precisely control the brightness of individual parts of the picture.

The result may be:

• higher brightness,
• better contrast,
• better HDR,
• less glare from bright objects into dark surroundings.

But it's still LCD technology.

OLED

OLED does not use a traditional backlight. Each pixel lights up independently and can be turned off completely.

Advantages:

• really black,
• very high contrast,
• very fast response,
• good viewing angles,
• very good picture in a dark room.

WOLED and QD-OLED

With current OLED TVs, you can come across multiple panel variants.

WOLED uses an OLED structure with color filters and a white subpixel. Some more modern variants use technologies to increase efficiency and maximum brightness.

QD-OLED combines an OLED layer with quantum dots. The advantage can be high color volume and very saturated colors even at higher brightness.

However, the differences between specific models are often more important than the name of the technology itself.

What is local dimming?

LCD TVs can't completely turn off individual pixels like OLEDs, so some models use local dimming.

The backlight is divided into zones and the TV can lighten or darken individual areas.

The more precise the backlight control, the better the TV can display the combination of light and dark parts of the picture.

In case of worse local dimming, so-called blooming may occur, when a brighter glow is visible around a bright object on a dark background.

Refresh rate: 50/60 Hz or 100/120 Hz?

Refresh rate indicates how many times per second the display can refresh the image.

A TV with a 100/120 Hz panel can offer a smoother image than a regular 50/60 Hz model.

For a gaming PC, some modern televisions can also support 144 Hz or higher frequencies with the appropriate resolution and connection.

HDR, brightness and contrast

HDR expands the range between very dark and very bright parts of an image.

High-quality HDR can offer:

• more prominent lights,
• more details in the shadows,
• wider color range,
• more realistic image.

But HDR support alone is not enough.

OLED can offer very impressive HDR even at lower maximum brightness than the brightest Mini LED TVs, thanks to its virtually zero black level.

The following are therefore very important:

• maximum brightness,
• contrast,
• panel type,
• local dimming,
• color range,
• HDR image processing.

HDR10

HDR10 is a very popular basic HDR format. It uses static metadata for all content.

HDR10+

HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata, allowing picture settings to change from scene to scene.

Some TVs also come with HDR10+ Adaptive , which takes into account the ambient lighting in the room when adjusting the image.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision also uses dynamic metadata and is widespread across a number of streaming services and film content.

Some models also support Dolby Vision IQ , which uses ambient light information to adjust the display of HDR content accordingly.

HLG

HLG is an HDR format designed specifically for television broadcasting. It can be used for some sports or live TV content, for example.

Brightness and contrast

Higher maximum brightness is especially important:

• in a bright room,
• for HDR content,
• during daytime monitoring.

Contrast, on the other hand, is important for the difference between light and dark parts of an image.

In a dark room, high contrast may be more important than extreme maximum brightness.

Colors and picture modes

Modern TVs offer a variety of preset modes, including Standard, Cinema, Filmmaker Mode, Dynamic, and Game.

Image processor and upscaling

Often, a TV does not only display native 4K content. It can receive Full HD TV broadcasts, older movies, lower quality streaming content, or videos from the internet.

The image processor attempts to convert the lower resolution to the resolution of the panel. This process is called upscaling.

Quality workmanship can improve:

• sharpness,
• noise reduction,
• detail,
• fluidity of movement.

But it cannot create real details that are not in the source material at all.

Gaming: HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM and input lag

If you use your TV for gaming, there are a few specific features worth looking into.

HDMI 2.1

HDMI 2.1 can enable, for example:

• 4K at 120Hz,
• 144 Hz or more on some TVs and gaming PCs,
• VRR,
• ALLM,
• higher transmission capacity.

The maximum transmission capacity of the HDMI 2.1 specification is up to 48 Gbps, but a specific television may not use this capacity on all HDMI inputs.

On some models, full gaming features may only be available on some of the HDMI ports.

Therefore, the HDMI 2.1 specification itself does not automatically mean that all HDMI inputs support all the features of the specification.

VRR

Variable Refresh Rate synchronizes the refresh rate of the TV with the output of the console or graphics card.

It helps reduce, for example, tearing and some manifestations of image blurring.

ALLM

Auto Low Latency Mode allows the TV to automatically switch to low latency mode when it detects a compatible gaming device.

Input lag

Input lag is the delay between user input and the result being displayed on the screen. Low input lag is especially important when gaming.

Connectivity

HDMI

Before purchasing, check not only the number of HDMI inputs, but also their features.

For example, if you use:

• console,
• soundbar ,
• set top box,
• Blu-ray player,

the number of ports can fill up quickly.

eARC and audio format support

HDMI eARC allows you to transmit audio from your TV to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver.

But when planning a home theater, it's not enough to just check for the presence of eARC.

Support for specific audio formats varies by TV manufacturer and model . For example, some TVs may not support passing all variants of DTS or DTS:X to an external audio system.

If you use a Blu-ray player, console, or your own media library, it's a good idea to check:

• Dolby Atmos support,
• DTS/DTS:X support,
• passthrough options,
• supported formats via eARC.

USB

USB ports can be used for media playback, external storage, or some accessories, for example. Specific functions depend on the model.

Ethernet

A wired connection can offer a more stable network connection than Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi

It's practically standard for streaming services these days, but the quality of the connection also depends on your home network and the location of your router.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth can be used for, for example,:

• wireless headphones,
• speakers,
• controllers,
• other accessories.

Smart TV system

The television's operating system affects the range of applications, speed of operation, updates, integration of other devices and the overall user experience.

When choosing, it is not necessary to look for a universally “best” system.

It is more important to verify:

• availability of used applications,
• system speed,
• control method,
• support for updates.

TV and soundbar sound

Modern TVs are very thin, which limits the space for speakers.

Built-in sound may be sufficient for:

• regular television broadcast,
• news,
• easy to follow.

For movies, music, or home theater, sound can be one of the first reasons for an external solution.

When does a soundbar make sense?

The soundbar can offer:

• more expressive dialogues,
• better dynamics,
• stronger bass,
• wider sound space.

For a regular living room, it is usually easier to install than a full-fledged AV system.

TV tuner: DVB-T2, DVB-S2 and DVB-C

If you only use streaming services or an external set-top box, the tuner may not be as important in your decision.

Television location

Television on a stand

Before buying, check:

• width of the TV furniture,
• distance between the legs,
• the depth of the stand,
• space for a soundbar .

On some large TVs, the feet may be placed very far apart.

Wall mounting

Most televisions support the VESA standard.

It is necessary to verify:

• VESA size,
• weight of the television ,
• load capacity of the holder,
• wall type,
• access to connectors.

Also consider cable routing during installation.

How high to place the TV?

The ideal position depends on seat height, viewing distance, and screen size.

In general, the TV should not be placed unnecessarily high. For normal viewing, the center of the screen should be approximately in the natural line of sight or just slightly above it.

Consumption and energy class

The size of the TV , panel type, brightness and usage pattern all affect energy consumption.

The energy label can be useful when comparing similar TVs.

However, real consumption also depends on:

• the set brightness,
• HDR content,
• duration of use,
• image mode.

Which TV to use?

Frequently asked questions

JIRNO – a technique that makes sense in practice.