Smart TV screens
The screen is obviously the most important part of any TV, and smart TVs are no exception. There are three aspects of your TV screen you should consider in particular.
Screen size
How big do you need your TV to be? Keep in mind bigger isn’t always better—if you’re in a bedroom or smaller living room, a more compact TV may actually be better.
That’s because every TV has an optimal viewing distance based on screen size, angle, and room size. For the average living room, we’d say 55″–65″ is ideal.
Screen type
There are two basic types of smart TV displays: LED, QLED, and QLED.
LED (light-emitting diode) is your standard LCD display illuminated by LED lights, either from behind or the sides.
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) is a newer display type where each pixel lights up individually rather than using a backlight.
Generally, OLED TVs produce a better picture than LED TVs. Because each individual pixel can turn on and off, there’s a better contrast ratio, which gives the picture a stunning depth. Newer LED technology is catching up, though.
QLED (“quantum dot LED TV” or quantum light-emitting diode”) uses nanoparticles to boost brightness, color, and contrast. QLED is most common with Samsung TVs, but the manufacturer does license the technology to other TV makers. QLED (“quantum dot LED TV” or quantum light-emitting diode”) uses nanoparticles to boost brightness, color, and contrast. QLED is most common with Samsung TVs, but the manufacturer does license the technology to other TV makers.
Screen resolution
These days, most TVs come in 4K Ultra HD. And really, unless you’re shopping under about $500, you should look only for 4K.
The amount of 4K content will continue to increase over the next few years, and we think most users would regret not getting the more future-proof option.
Refresh rate
Refresh rate is how quickly the picture on your screen updates, measured in Hertz (HZ). Look for a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz (one refresh per second), and preferably 120 or 240 HZ.
Higher refresh rates are better for displaying quick action like sports. Above 240 Hz, there’s little noticeable improvement, though—at least with current technology.