TV Buying Guide

You and your television have had some great times together, but you're ready to start a new chapter in your entertainment life and begin the search for a new TV. Browsing through your options may feel like getting buried in an avalanche of confusing capital-letter initials (LED, OLED, QLED, Mini-LED), but we've got a handy guide of today's most common TV options to take some pressure off. Once you've chosen a winner, count on P.C. Richard & Son to have the best TV for you at the guaranteed lowest price!

TV Size Guide

An important first step in choosing a television is selecting the proper screen dimensions. A good metric for television sizing is ten inches of screen for every foot of viewing distance. For example, if you'll be sitting five feet away from your TV, a 50" screen is roughly where you'd like to be; go much smaller, and you'll be squinting. Measure the distance between your television's future home and the spot from which you'll be viewing it most often, and use that to determine the optimal size of your new TV. If you've got a large living room, we've got good news: Large-screen televisions like a 75" TV, 85" TV and larger are now more accessible than ever, both in terms of selection as well as affordability. Even a 98" TV can be attainable if you shop during the right sale. Don't forget that a large screen will truly allow you to take in the superior detail that a high-resolution TV provides. If choosing a TV with a big screen is best for your needs, don't hesitate to peruse all the options. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Screen Resolution

4K Ultra HD TV - Boasting a screen with eight million pixels, a 4K television displays images at four times the resolution of a conventional HD television. As of this writing, 4K-resolution entertainment can be found on streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, and many 4K televisions can automatically upconvert lower-resolution content into a more highly-detailed picture. A 4K TV is much more mainstream than it was a few years ago, so don't hesitate to keep your sizing options open. You may be able to go larger than you think!

8K Ultra HD TV - These screens display four times the resolution of 4K and sixteen times the pixels of HD for a total of 33 million pixels. Modern gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are both capable of running your games at 8K. This means if you're a gamer who values visuals and you want to get the most out of your console, there's no beating an 8K TV. Just remember that you'll need an ultra-premium certified HDMI cable to connect your various devices to an 8K TV correctly and to have your content actually appear in 8K quality. It's not every day you buy a new TV, so going for the higher resolution will keep your technology more up to date for a longer time.

HDR TV (High Dynamic Range) - While we are including it under the "Resolution" heading, HDR is a feature that has more to do with contrast range than it does with resolution. These screens produce a wider color spectrum, enhancing the individual pixels to present a more dramatic range of color and a higher contrast between light and dark. The information to produce an HDR image is encoded directly in its video signal; while a regular TV simply ignores this metadata, HDR TVs have the capability to read it and give the image the high-contrast look its creators intended.

Gaming TV - Gaming TVs are designed to be able to handle the demands of your most powerful gaming system. While gaming TVs bring many amazing features to the table, they are mainly known for their high refresh rates. If your TV has a high refresh rate, it will be able to display more images per second on its screen. This means you'll experience less lag in your favorite video games, or even while you're watching your favorite sport. Most gaming TVs have anywhere between a 60Hz refresh rate and a 120Hz refresh rate which are both considered to be solid numbers when it comes to gaming.

LED and OLED

Types of OLED TVs

Standard OLED TV (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) - The screen of an OLED television is made up of millions of diodes in the form of pixels. What's unique about this type of television is that each individual pixel is self-lighting; in addition to dimming and brightening, the pixels can actually switch on and off. This produces the darkest black possible, creating superior contrast and colors that truly stand out.

QD-OLED TV - The QD in QD-OLED stands for quantum dot. The quantum dot layer inside this TV screen enhances images with greater brightness and a color spectrum of over a billion shades. This quantum dot layer works in tandem with the OLED self-illuminating pixels to create even brighter colors alongside true black, bringing you dazzling images every time you turn on your TV.

Types of LED TVs

Standard LED TV (Light-Emitting Diode) - LED actually refers to the screen's light source rather than the image itself; the LED is what provides the television's backlighting. There are different types of TV LED screens; an Edge Lit LED TV has its lights along the edge of the screen, while a Backlit LED obviously has the lights arranged behind the screen. Another style of backlit TV is a Full Array LED TV, available on select models of LED and QLED televisions. Instead of uniform illumination, a full array screen has hundreds of independently-operated LED lights spread throughout. This allows for pinpointed dimming and brightening on isolated parts of the screen, improving contrast and creating more lifelike images.

QLED TV (Quantum Dot LED) - The QLED TV is another kind of TV that makes use of a quantum dot layer. These TVs still rely on the LED backlight for a light source, but the quantum dot layer enhances the detail of the onscreen image itself. The QLED screen also allows clear visibility from every angle and is designed to keep glare to an absolute minimum.

Mini-LED TV - Mini LED TVs, as their name implies, make use of smaller LEDs to light up their screens which allows them to have more individual lights than a standard LED TV. This grants them both greater contrast and image quality as typically more LEDs means more brightness control. With all of these features, you'll notice greater contrast and exceptional brightness to better immerse you in your favorite movies and TV shows.

Smart TVs

Buying a new TV isn't something you do often, so why not bring your home entertainment experience to the next level with a Smart TV? Depending on brand and model, you'll enjoy extra features like built-in WiFi to allow integration with your Smart Home network. Many models directly connect to streaming services like Hulu, Netflix or Prime Video, and many also come with an internet browser for easy web surfing directly from your living room couch. The TV's operating system may also offer the ability to use voice commands with a built-in Google assistant or Amazon Alexa. Some smart TVs can also sync with your Ring doorbell or Nest cameras so you'll be able to see who's at the door directly on your TV. Some of the best smart TV models even offer a screen-mirroring feature that can work with your smartphone or tablet. With this feature, you can watch a show on your phone during your commute, then connect to your TV at home and pick up right where you left off. You can also use your mobile device as a second TV screen or even as a remote control.

Design-Focused TVs

Some TVs are designed to blend right into a room's decor. Design-focused TVs like the Samsung Frame TV and LG Gallery are known for their elegant style and unique presence. These televisions offer beautiful, sleek designs as well as high-end technology, with features like 4K displays, realistic color quality and smart technology being standard in many models. Select styles will also come with passive viewing modes that allow you to display a single image in high definition when the TV is not in use, effectively turning your TV into a high-definition art piece.

Outdoor TVs

If you've been dreaming of adding even more function to your outdoor space, why not look into an Outdoor TV? Between the Samsung Terrace series, Furrion and SunBrite TV brands, there are a variety of options available for screen sizes as well as brightness levels to suit any outdoor venue. Many outdoor TV models have also started to include smart functionality, making it easier than ever to stream your favorite movies and TV shows outdoors. There are three different types of outdoor televisions to consider, and the type that's best for you will depend on where you intend on putting the TV. A full sun outdoor TV offers the brightest possible display; designed to be anti-glare even on the sunniest days, these models are ideal for placement near a pool or other active outdoor area. A partial sun outdoor TV functions well in a spot with occasional shade that still gets sunlight at certain times of day, like a patio or veranda. Full shade outdoor TVs are made to be placed in areas with no direct sunlight; their brightness levels are still higher than your average indoor TV, but they're best suited for shady areas.

Ready to begin your search for a new TV? P.C. Richard & Son is the place to do it. Get started with your TV shopping now!