Welcome to the Consumer Reports TV buying guide.
Television technology is changing fast,
and this guide will help you make the best decision
when buying your next model.
If you're looking for a new TV, you'll
likely wind up with an LCD set.
Another option, OLED TVs, tend to do well in our ratings,
but also typically cost more.
All TV brands offer LCD models in screen sizes
ranging from about 20 inches to 90 inches.
These sets are often referred to as LED TVs because of their LED
backlights, which have replaced older fluorescent ones.
The LEDs also allow LCD TVs to be very thin
and energy efficient while still producing
bright vibrant images.
But many LCD TVs still have fairly narrow viewing angles,
which means you'll notice colors look washed out
and blacks look more like gray if you're not sitting directly
in front of the TV.
We score every TV's viewing angle
as part of our battery of tests.
LCD TVs also have a tendency to blur during fast-moving scenes,
known as motion blur, which is why
some manufacturers tout higher refresh
rates on certain models.
For example, a 120 hertz means the image is updated 120 times
a second.
But some TVs claim even higher numbers.
We found in our test that a higher number doesn't
guarantee better performance.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes.
Unlike LCD TVs that require a backlight,
OLED pixels give off their own light
when hit with an electric current.
OLED TV colors are vibrant, the picture is bright,
and the black levels are truly black.
That contrast allows images to really pop off the screen.
What we like about OLED is that it delivers
on the deep black levels and unlimited viewing angle
we've seen on the best plasma TVs.
At the same time, it delivers on the power efficiency,
super-thin profile, and the bright picture
we've come to expect from LCD TVs.
Right now, OLED TVs are still pricey, especially
larger-sized sets.
But we expect prices to fall as more manufacturers enter
the OLED market.
4K or UHD Ultra High Definition TVs
have made their way into more homes thanks to lower prices.
UHDTVs have higher resolutions, with four times the number
of pixels of regular high-definition TVs.
So they have the potential to deliver razor-sharp detail
with the right content.
That programming is known as 4K content,
and right now, there's not a lot of it out there.
But more 4K movies and TV shows are coming, especially
from streaming video services like Netflix.
In the meantime, you can still view regular HD programs
on your UHDTV.
You just won't get that extra detail
you'd see with 4K content.
HDR, or High Dynamic Range technology,
can boost TV's brightness, colors,
and contrast so that the images you see
are closer to like what you see in real life.
HDR does all that by increasing the contrast
between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks
a TV can produce.
Typically, HDR TVs also produce more vibrant,
varied colors than other sets.
That's because HDR is often paired with Wide Color
Gamut, or WCG, capability.
Standard HDTVs can display about 17 million colors.
But those with WCG can display up to a billion.
That's like giving your TV a larger
box of crayons to play with.
But you won't see all that fantastic contrast and color
every time you turn on the TV.
You have to be playing a movie or TV
show that has been made to take advantage of HDR and WCG.
Some TVs have curved screens, which
are marketed as providing a more immersive viewing experience.
But in our labs, we found that curved models don't really
offer much advantage over flat ones,
especially in the screen sizes most people would
have in their homes.
And if you're planning on mounting your set on the wall,
just remember, curved models won't sit flat.
Most people may think the size of their room
really determines what size television they should buy.
What's more important?
The distance you'll actually be sitting from the screen.
As a general rule of thumb, your closest seating distance
should be about 1.5 times the diagonal length of your screen.
So if your favorite spot is 8 feet away from your TV,
you can consider buying one as big as 60 inches.
But if you get an Ultra High Def TV,
the finer image detail means you can
get a bigger TV without moving further away from the set.
Display resolution is the total number of pixels in a screen.
TVs with more pixels have the potential
to display greater detail.
UHDTVs have 3,840 by 2,160 resolution screens, or just 4K
for short.
That means there are 3,840 pixels going
across the screen and 2,160 pixels from top to bottom.
Some TVs, especially smaller sets,
still have regular HD resolution, 1,920 by 1,080,
or just 1080p for short.
Some less-expensive models may have
720p resolution, which is fine for screens
smaller than 40 inches.
However, you'll probably want a 1080p set
if you plan to use it as a computer monitor.
But resolution is just one of a number of display attributes
that contribute to picture quality.
We also look at a TV'S brightness, color accuracy,
black level, and contrast.
These are some of the most important aspects
of picture quality.
As TVs get thinner, sound quality
can suffer because there's just not enough room
for decent speakers.
While many thin TVs can deliver sound
that's fine for most sitcoms and news shows,
fewer are able to deliver the sonic excitement of action
shows or movies.
If sound is important to you, check our ratings
to find a set with either very good or excellent sound,
or consider adding a soundbar speaker.
Do you want to also have access to online content directly
from your TV?
Then you'll want a smart TV.
These sets allow you to access the internet via your home's
Wi-Fi or direct broadband connection.
From there, you can usually access a wide variety of movies
and original shows from streaming content services
such as Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix,
as well as watch videos on YouTube
and listen to online music channels.
Some models let you download new apps, visit social media sites,
or browse the web.
On a budget and just looking for a basic TV?
You can always purchase a separate streaming media player
later, such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast,
or Roku, with many of the same features.
When it comes to the connections on your TV,
consider what devices you'll be hooking up
and make sure the TV has enough of the right type
of connections.
For example, your cable box, Blu-ray player,
or gaming console would all be connected with an HDMI cable.
But devices like older DVD players or even VCRs
use component or composite cables.
Those go in the red, green, and blue or yellow ports for video,
along with the red and white for audio in the back of your TV.
And don't waste your money buying expensive HDMI cables
when it comes time to hook up your gear.
We found that modestly-priced brands sold
at most consumer electronics stores
and online can do the trick.
It's not generally worth the money to buy
an extended warranty for a TV.
For most major brands, our surveys
have found that TVs have been fairly reliable.
Rather than paying for extended coverage,
use a credit card that doubles your warranty
or ask retailers if they supplement
a standard manufacturer's warranty.
To find the best model television for you,
check out our full ratings at consumerreports.org.
We purchase all products we test, are a nonprofit,
and accept no advertising.
Thanks for your support.
[MUSIC PLAYING]