TV Buying Tips - Sizes, Prices and When to Buy to Get the Best Deal

**Streaming TV Features: What to Expect and Look For**

Streaming TV features are built right into the television itself, so you don't need to connect anything to stream popular streaming platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV. Additionally, proprietary platforms from LG and Samsung offer their own unique streaming experiences. However, if you're buying a budget TV, it's not necessary to have one of these smart TV systems. Instead, consider connecting an external device, which can be purchased for $25 up to $50 and is often inexpensive.

Connecting an external device allows you to change the smart TV system and access a wider range of streaming apps. Roku is my favorite option due to its simplicity and ease of use, providing all the necessary streaming apps without the complexity of other systems. If you're spending more on a mid-range or higher-end model, it's generally worth connecting another smart TV streaming stick or box to improve the overall smart TV experience and your streaming capabilities.

Another factor to consider when shopping for TVs is gaming capability. While every TV can be connected to any gaming console, there are some mid-range and higher-end models that can fully take advantage of the features available on current game consoles, such as PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X. These consoles can connect to these TVs and get improvements in image quality, including features like 4K at 120 frames per second (FPS) and variable refresh rate (VRR), also known as motion blur reduction. While games do look great on lower-end TVs without these features, the additional capabilities of 4K at 120 FPS and VRR can significantly improve the gaming experience.

**Gaming Features to Look For**

When shopping for a TV with gaming in mind, there are several features to consider beyond 4K resolution. Gaming modes that reduce or eliminate input lag (the delay between your controller and the screen) are also essential for a smooth gaming experience. Some TVs even have specific menus and picture modes designed specifically for gaming, which can enhance performance.

In terms of resolution, most modern TVs are 4K-capable, so this is no longer a major consideration. However, it's worth noting that there are some cheaper options available in smaller sizes that may not be 4K-resolution, such as 720p or 1080p televisions. These are generally not recommended, but if you're on a tight budget, they may be a viable option.

**Image Quality: Full Array Local Dimming and Mini LED**

When it comes to picture quality, two features that can significantly improve the image experience are full array local dimming (FALD) and mini LED. FALD is a feature that uses local dimming to adjust the brightness of different areas of the screen, creating deeper blacks and improved contrast. This technology can be found in some mid-range TVs, but it's also available in higher-end models.

Mini LED is another technology that's worth considering. It's a type of backlighting system that provides brighter images with more precise local dimming. Mini LED is often used in higher-end TVs and can be found in some mid-range models as well. Both FALD and mini LED can significantly improve the image quality, making it pop and creating a more immersive viewing experience.

**OLED Technology: The Gold Standard**

Finally, if you're shopping for a high-end TV, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology is worth considering. OLED TVs offer exceptional picture quality, with deeper blacks, improved contrast, and wider color gamuts. In my tests, I've found that OLED TVs outperform non-OLED TVs in terms of image quality, making them the best option for those who want the absolute best viewing experience.

**Choosing the Right TV: Tips and Considerations**

When shopping for a TV, there are several factors to consider beyond streaming features and gaming capabilities. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

* Resolution: Most modern TVs are 4K-capable, so this is no longer a major consideration.

* Smart TV System: If you're buying a budget TV, it's not necessary to have one of these systems. Consider connecting an external device instead.

* Gaming Features: Look for features like 4K at 120 FPS and VRR, as well as gaming modes that reduce input lag.

* Picture Quality: Full array local dimming (FALD) and mini LED can significantly improve image quality.

Ultimately, choosing the right TV depends on your specific needs and budget. By considering these factors and features, you can find a TV that meets your requirements and provides an excellent viewing experience.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enforeign hey guys if you're buying a new TV you've come to the right place in this guide I'll tell you everything you need to know about TV shopping today including when's the best time to get a really good price what size TV you want and even what features and picture quality enhancements are worth the extra money now I've been reviewing TVs for a long time more than 20 years and I use cnet's state-of-the-art TV lab to compare screens side by side to figure out the best TV for you over that time I've learned a lot about TV shopping in general and I've gotten a lot of questions from readers about what they really should be looking for when they're out there TV shopping it's a lot of jargon a lot of Technology a lot of terms you might not understand we'll go through all of that and I'll tell you what terms to ignore one of the first things people ask me is when's the right time to buy a TV Believe It or Not There is a specific TV buying cycle throughout the year the beginning of the year is when new TVs are announced spring and summer is when prices are at their highest and then in the fall and winter prices start to drop as those models go on sale for events like Black Friday the holiday shopping season and even the Super Bowl now knowing that price cycle yes the best time to get the best price on a TV is later in the year starting around September but especially into November and throughout the holiday season now with cheaper televisions that aren't maybe the top of the line they're also going to be reduced in price but there's a lot less price for them to fall so you can actually be a little bit safer buying any of those cheaper TVs throughout the year now of course the caveat here is maybe you need a new TV right now you can take a bath and maybe a couple hundred dollars on a new television but I would also encourage you to look at a TV that was on sale last year if they're still on sale that's going to be a lot less expensive as people try to liquidate those older TVs off the store shelves and vendors are looking to get those things out to make room for the new models now once you've figured out that it's time to buy the next step is how big of a TV you want spoiler I think you should get the biggest TV you can that's what I recommend one of the things that people tell me after they bought a TV is they regret going maybe a little bit too small the bottom line is bigger TVs are even cheaper than they've been in the past to give you a sense TV sizes range for about 24 all the way up to 98 inches those huge TVs especially 98 are really really expensive but 75 65 and 55 those are the sweet spot for TV sizes it also depends on your room in general for a larger living room I'd like to see at least a 65 inch TV for smaller ones maybe a 55 inch in there but the larger screen is really good for a living room when you're sitting around the couch around 9 to 10 feet from the screen in a bedroom if you get a 55 inch TV that'd be great as well again going smaller than that especially if you're looking down across the bed that TV can feel a little cramped I'd recommend trying to get a TV that might be one size up from the size that you're currently looking at especially if you're replacing an older television if you have a piece of furniture you want to fit that TV into you might be restricted in terms of size but hey maybe you can kick that old piece of furniture to the curb and get a bigger screen now let's talk a little bit about features one of the things that most TVs have today is a smart TV system that means that it has a streaming features built right into the television itself so you don't need to connect anything to stream the most popular streaming TV platforms are Roku Amazon Fire TV and Google TV as well as proprietary platforms from LG and Samsung now you might not have a choice in what streaming platform you have on the television maybe you got a really good price on a particular Smart TV you like that's really not the end of the world because you can always connect an external device and they're really inexpensive these little streaming devices are 25 up to fifty dollars sometimes they're really nice ones but long story short you can always change the smart TV system by buying one of those extra devices and connecting it now if you're buying a budget TV I'd suggest getting the smart TV system you like my favorite is Roku it's really simple it gives you all the streaming apps you need but if you're spending more for a mid-range or higher end model it's generally worth it to connect another Smart TV streaming stick or box to improve that smart TV experience and your streaming now another thing to look for when you're shopping for TVs is the gaming capability now let's just set the stage here every TV can be connected to any of the gaming consoles out there right now and get a really good experience but there are some mid-range and higher end TVs that can fully take advantage of the features available on current game consoles I'm talking about PlayStation 5 or an Xbox series X so those consoles can connect to these TVs and get improvements in image quality in particular something called 4K 120 hertz and variable refresh rate known as vrr these two features will improve smoothness and eliminate tearing and artifacts respectively so they're worth getting if you're looking at a high-end TV especially if you have one of those consoles and you want to take full advantage but I'll reiterate that games do look really good from those consoles even on mid-range and budget TVs that don't support those features so you don't actually need 4K 120 or vrr to get a really good gaming experience it just helps and of course there's other modes that are available for gaming too some of the television manufacturers have implemented menus that are specifically developed just for gaming which allow you to display whether you're actually getting those extra features for example shows up right on the screen there's different picture modes just for gaming too and there are specific game modes that reduce or eliminate input lag which is the delay between your controller and the screen so those are all features worth looking for for gamers so I mentioned jargon at the top all those other things that get thrown to people when they're shopping for a television one thing you want to ignore is resolution pretty much every TV today is a 4K TV so you can throw that out the window 4K is the standard now there are some TVs at the cheap end that are smaller that aren't 4K like 720p or 1080p televisions and there's also 8K TDS at the very high end of the price Spectrum you could probably ignore those because they're really not worth the extra money now in terms of features to pay attention to the main thing you're going to be looking for is a feature called full array local dimming it costs a little bit more money but I found in my side-by-side comparisons that it really helps improve the image quality and improves contrast which is the depth of blacks and the brightness of whites it also makes the image pop a lot better there's another feature called mini LED available in some higher end TVs and even some mid-range models now which makes it even brighter and gives you more precise local dimming finally if you want one feature that's really going to set the TV apart it's an OLED screen organic light emitting diode technology really improves the image quality the downside is it's only available in the most expensive televisions but if you're shopping for a high-end TV anyway I'd certainly steer you toward an OLED TV in my tests they really look better than any TV that doesn't use OLED technology so you might be asking what are the best TVs right now there's a full listed CNET that goes through the available models now that I think are the best I encourage you to go and check it out in general if you look for those features that are recommended for picture quality and take into account when to buy the TV and what features to look for from a smart TV perspective you'll have a really good idea of what to get when you go shopping and you won't be overwhelmed all that extra jargon and technology that TV manufactures and the salesmen like to throw at you so those are some quick tips on how when and what size of TV to buy I'm David katzmeyer for CNET be sure to check out the site and if you like what you see here like And subscribeforeign hey guys if you're buying a new TV you've come to the right place in this guide I'll tell you everything you need to know about TV shopping today including when's the best time to get a really good price what size TV you want and even what features and picture quality enhancements are worth the extra money now I've been reviewing TVs for a long time more than 20 years and I use cnet's state-of-the-art TV lab to compare screens side by side to figure out the best TV for you over that time I've learned a lot about TV shopping in general and I've gotten a lot of questions from readers about what they really should be looking for when they're out there TV shopping it's a lot of jargon a lot of Technology a lot of terms you might not understand we'll go through all of that and I'll tell you what terms to ignore one of the first things people ask me is when's the right time to buy a TV Believe It or Not There is a specific TV buying cycle throughout the year the beginning of the year is when new TVs are announced spring and summer is when prices are at their highest and then in the fall and winter prices start to drop as those models go on sale for events like Black Friday the holiday shopping season and even the Super Bowl now knowing that price cycle yes the best time to get the best price on a TV is later in the year starting around September but especially into November and throughout the holiday season now with cheaper televisions that aren't maybe the top of the line they're also going to be reduced in price but there's a lot less price for them to fall so you can actually be a little bit safer buying any of those cheaper TVs throughout the year now of course the caveat here is maybe you need a new TV right now you can take a bath and maybe a couple hundred dollars on a new television but I would also encourage you to look at a TV that was on sale last year if they're still on sale that's going to be a lot less expensive as people try to liquidate those older TVs off the store shelves and vendors are looking to get those things out to make room for the new models now once you've figured out that it's time to buy the next step is how big of a TV you want spoiler I think you should get the biggest TV you can that's what I recommend one of the things that people tell me after they bought a TV is they regret going maybe a little bit too small the bottom line is bigger TVs are even cheaper than they've been in the past to give you a sense TV sizes range for about 24 all the way up to 98 inches those huge TVs especially 98 are really really expensive but 75 65 and 55 those are the sweet spot for TV sizes it also depends on your room in general for a larger living room I'd like to see at least a 65 inch TV for smaller ones maybe a 55 inch in there but the larger screen is really good for a living room when you're sitting around the couch around 9 to 10 feet from the screen in a bedroom if you get a 55 inch TV that'd be great as well again going smaller than that especially if you're looking down across the bed that TV can feel a little cramped I'd recommend trying to get a TV that might be one size up from the size that you're currently looking at especially if you're replacing an older television if you have a piece of furniture you want to fit that TV into you might be restricted in terms of size but hey maybe you can kick that old piece of furniture to the curb and get a bigger screen now let's talk a little bit about features one of the things that most TVs have today is a smart TV system that means that it has a streaming features built right into the television itself so you don't need to connect anything to stream the most popular streaming TV platforms are Roku Amazon Fire TV and Google TV as well as proprietary platforms from LG and Samsung now you might not have a choice in what streaming platform you have on the television maybe you got a really good price on a particular Smart TV you like that's really not the end of the world because you can always connect an external device and they're really inexpensive these little streaming devices are 25 up to fifty dollars sometimes they're really nice ones but long story short you can always change the smart TV system by buying one of those extra devices and connecting it now if you're buying a budget TV I'd suggest getting the smart TV system you like my favorite is Roku it's really simple it gives you all the streaming apps you need but if you're spending more for a mid-range or higher end model it's generally worth it to connect another Smart TV streaming stick or box to improve that smart TV experience and your streaming now another thing to look for when you're shopping for TVs is the gaming capability now let's just set the stage here every TV can be connected to any of the gaming consoles out there right now and get a really good experience but there are some mid-range and higher end TVs that can fully take advantage of the features available on current game consoles I'm talking about PlayStation 5 or an Xbox series X so those consoles can connect to these TVs and get improvements in image quality in particular something called 4K 120 hertz and variable refresh rate known as vrr these two features will improve smoothness and eliminate tearing and artifacts respectively so they're worth getting if you're looking at a high-end TV especially if you have one of those consoles and you want to take full advantage but I'll reiterate that games do look really good from those consoles even on mid-range and budget TVs that don't support those features so you don't actually need 4K 120 or vrr to get a really good gaming experience it just helps and of course there's other modes that are available for gaming too some of the television manufacturers have implemented menus that are specifically developed just for gaming which allow you to display whether you're actually getting those extra features for example shows up right on the screen there's different picture modes just for gaming too and there are specific game modes that reduce or eliminate input lag which is the delay between your controller and the screen so those are all features worth looking for for gamers so I mentioned jargon at the top all those other things that get thrown to people when they're shopping for a television one thing you want to ignore is resolution pretty much every TV today is a 4K TV so you can throw that out the window 4K is the standard now there are some TVs at the cheap end that are smaller that aren't 4K like 720p or 1080p televisions and there's also 8K TDS at the very high end of the price Spectrum you could probably ignore those because they're really not worth the extra money now in terms of features to pay attention to the main thing you're going to be looking for is a feature called full array local dimming it costs a little bit more money but I found in my side-by-side comparisons that it really helps improve the image quality and improves contrast which is the depth of blacks and the brightness of whites it also makes the image pop a lot better there's another feature called mini LED available in some higher end TVs and even some mid-range models now which makes it even brighter and gives you more precise local dimming finally if you want one feature that's really going to set the TV apart it's an OLED screen organic light emitting diode technology really improves the image quality the downside is it's only available in the most expensive televisions but if you're shopping for a high-end TV anyway I'd certainly steer you toward an OLED TV in my tests they really look better than any TV that doesn't use OLED technology so you might be asking what are the best TVs right now there's a full listed CNET that goes through the available models now that I think are the best I encourage you to go and check it out in general if you look for those features that are recommended for picture quality and take into account when to buy the TV and what features to look for from a smart TV perspective you'll have a really good idea of what to get when you go shopping and you won't be overwhelmed all that extra jargon and technology that TV manufactures and the salesmen like to throw at you so those are some quick tips on how when and what size of TV to buy I'm David katzmeyer for CNET be sure to check out the site and if you like what you see here like And subscribe\n"