Smart TV: how to choose a TV with Smart TV and which TV to buy with smart TV

1. Evaluate what screen size you really need (even if you want to take the largest one!)

This indicator significantly affects the price of the TV, so it will be important to find a compromise for a bargain. Estimate how far you will sit from the device while browsing. It is desirable that between the screen and your place was distanceTV viewing distance: how far away should you sit? /Techradar in 1.5–2.5 diagonals. Let's say for a TV with a screen diagonal of 43 inches it will be 1.6–2.7 meters.

In the budget segment, models with a diagonal of up to 55 inches are most often found - this is almost 140 cm. If you find devices that have this indicator higher, then it’s not a fact that the picture will be of sufficient quality.

Keep in mind that TVs with the same diagonal may have different widths and heights. It is better to pay attention to these parameters before buying. The most common aspect ratio is 16:9. That is, with a diagonal of 55 inches, the screen will be approximately 121 cm wide and 68 cm high. Add a few centimeters to the frames and you will understand what size the TV will be.

2. Choose the right screen resolution

This is a parameter that affects the level of detail in the image. The larger the screen, the higher the resolution should be. For example, Full HD supports video up to 1920 × 1080 pixels. This resolution is worth considering if you plan to buy a model with a diagonal of up to 32-43 inches. 4K has four times as many pixels as Full HD and is suitable for devices with a diagonal of 50 inches.

Sometimes you can find 8K on sale - it is four times the 4K resolution in terms of the number of pixels. But as of 2022, content with a resolution that will allow you to see the difference and evaluate the quality of the image is not yet much.

3. Find out what features of the TV OS will be useful to you

The operating system transforms the TV from a viewing device into a multimedia center with many functions. The difference between gadgets is about the same as between a push-button phone and a modern smartphone. An ordinary TV can be made smart if you purchase a separate set-top box or adapter. You will need to spend money on an additional device and figure out how to “make friends” with your TV.

You don't have to buy anything for smart TV. It will immediately perform the functions of several gadgets - a good option if you want to buy a modern device, and not just upgrade an old device. To understand how to choose a smart TV, make a list of features that may be useful to you. For example, devices based on Salyut TV OS are capable of operating as a game console, playing music, radio or audio books, and providing Internet access. For children, they have a separate mode that will protect them from 18+ films and clips with obscene language.

And smart TVs are often equipped with voice control or even full-fledged assistants. They will launch the desired application or turn on the video by voice request, and if necessary, they will order food delivery or find out the weather forecast.

4. Find out what type of matrix your TV has

The matrix is ​​responsible for the quality of color reproduction. Budget models, as a rule, use a liquid crystal LED matrix with LED backlighting.

She has two types, which differ in the location of the crystals.

• IN IPS the crystals are parallel to the display. This gives a wide viewing angle and high-quality color reproduction, but worsens the contrast. In the semi-darkness, the black color may look faded.
• IN VA crystals are perpendicular to the screen. The image is more contrast, and the black color is deep. But when you change the viewing angle, the picture may lose clarity. When choosing a matrix, be guided by the environment in which you turn on the TV more often.

It turns out that IPS is suitable for those who like to watch video in a lit room, VA - in the twilight.

In addition to LED, there are two other technologies: QLED and OLED.

QLED - an improved version of the LED matrix, which added a layer of quantum dots. These tiny crystals make for a brighter, more saturated picture.

OLED - a fundamentally different technology that uses organic light emitting diodes. Pixels are lit with a certain color under the influence of current. Such a matrix allows you to achieve high contrast and deep blacks, but sometimes burns out - permanent contours appear in place of static images (for example, a TV channel logo).

TVs with QLED and OLED matrices are more expensive, and you are unlikely to find them in the budget segment.

5. Check for connectors

Older TVs only had an RF port for connecting the antenna cable. Modern models boast a large number of connectors, but it is easy to get confused in them. Here is the minimum required set:

• HDMI - universal connector for audio and video transmission. It is desirable that there are two or more such ports. Then you can connect a game console, soundbar and other devices to the TV.
• USB - needed to connect flash drives, gamepad and other devices. It's also better to have several.
• Digital Optical Out - port for connecting digital audio devices, such as a home theater receiver.
• ethernet - allows you to connect to the Internet via cable. This option provides a faster and more stable connection than Wi‑Fi.

6. Pay attention to the type of module for receiving a TV signal

This is an important condition if you plan to use the device to watch not only movies in online cinemas, but also broadcasts. For example, the DVB‑T/DVB‑T2 module indicates the possibility of receiving digital television, and DVB‑C/DVB‑C2 allows you to tune in cable channels.

To connect a satellite dish, you need a DVB‑S / DVB‑S2 module. DVB‑S/DVB‑S2 signal processing is not provided in all modern devices. If the TV does not support S standards, you will have to buy an additional receiver to watch satellite channels.

7. Find out what else the TV can do

For example, Bluetooth technology makes it easy to connect speakers and wireless headphones to the device or broadcast videos directly from your mobile phone. And Wi-Fi is useful for those who do not want to mess around with cables to access the Internet.

HDR image enhancement technology provides a high level of detail in the darkest and brightest areas of the picture. There are different HDR formats - HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR 10+ and HLG (Hybrid Log‑Gamma), but the differences between them are minimal. You will need CI+ support if you plan to watch TV channels with a paid subscription. An external set-top box is not needed - you just need to get an access card from the cable operator.