Televisions Buying Guide

Technological advances have vastly changed the television in recent years. Advancement in screen technology as well as the introduction of the internet has made the modern television a source of rich and diverse entertainment. Despite the technical words and jargon, choosing a television really isn’t that difficult; our key benefits and features below will help you understand the most important points, and ultimately help you to decide on the model right for you.

Screen Types

The main screen types available are LED, Plasma, and the new OLED. Standard LED televisions produce bright vivid images and come with various different frame processing rates (usually measured in Hz these relate to how many times per second the image on screen is redrawn and how well the set displays rapidly moving content). Plasma televisions whilst producing stunning images, are slowly falling out of favour largely due to production costs. The all new OLED screens as with their LED counterparts, produce high quality bright, vivid images, but as they do not use any form of back light, they produce the highest quality images. Curved screens are increasingly making an appearance on larger screen TVs giving a wider and more naturalistic viewing experience than flat screen models.

Picture Quality

Picture quality has never been as sharp as it is today, but as with everything, there is always good, better, and best, Modern televisions are either HD ready, Full HD, or Ultra HD (4K). HD ready televisions can produce high definition pictures if connected to a high definition source, such as a blu ray player or a high definition satellite box. Full HD televisions will produce high definition (1080p) pictures when receiving HD signals through a standard aerial as well as when connected to a high definition source. Ultra HD televisions, also called 4k televisions, are 4 times the resolution of full HD televisions. They use smaller pixels allowing 4 times the number to be displayed giving sharper, more colourful images.

Smart TV

Smart televisions connect to the internet either wirelessly or by a cable connected to your home broadband router, enabling you to access various online facilities. From internet browsing, to catch up television and on demand television, a smart TV will enhance your viewing possibilities. As you are connected to the online world, as with a PC or smart phone, you can access applications (apps) on your television and connect to social media sites as well as play online games.

3D TV

You can now watch the very latest blockbuster movies in stunning 3D TV in the comfort of your own home. Whether you have a 3D blu ray player or have access to 3D broadcasts (satellite and cable at present) 3D is no longer just something accessible at the cinema. There are two types of 3D: passive 3D and active 3D. Passive 3D is much like the cinema style 3D – it uses polarised non-powered glasses which give the 3D effect. Active 3D uses powered 3D glasses which synchronise perfectly with the screen giving you a higher resolution and a more intense 3D experience.