The complete guide to buying a TV – flat or curved, HDR or 4K, for streaming films or gaming, or just for its looks
There are so many types of TV on the market that it’s difficult to know where to start. Thankfully our guide will clear up the jargon and let you know whether you want OLED, Ultra HD, 4K or a curved screen
Buying a TV these days can be a nightmare. From 4K and HDR to LED and OLED, the jargon involved is horrific. However, if you know what you want to watch, and where you’re going to put it, buying a new TV need not be complicated.
Mid-range flat TV
Your first decision is about the size of TV you’re after, but that’s inextricably tied to what resolution you want. Today, all TVs are at least Full HD resolution (1080 x 1920 pixels, about two megapixels), but more and more sets coming on the market are step-up 4K TVs.
Also called Ultra HD, 4K TVs have a pixel count of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which equates to just over eight megapixels. That may sound grand, but no broadcaster uses 4K just yet. Right now, you’ll find it only on new Ultra HD Blu-ray players, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon (if you pay extra), and on games consoles including the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One S. The same goes for HDR (High Dynamic Range), a colour-boosting technology.
What can be considered an advantage of 4K TVs – especially in Hong Kong where most flats are small – is that you can sit closer to one. For Full HD TVs the rule of thumb is to sit about 1.5 times the screen’s diagonal measurement, so if you buy a 55-inch Full HD TV, plan to have your sofa about 2m away. However, for a 55-inch 4K TV that figure is just one metre.