When choosing a TV, you need to consider your individual needs and how you plan to use it. Of course, you will choose which TV brand to buy, what display technology it uses, and the size of the TV.
How to choose a TV with good image quality
Image quality is very important when evaluating a TV, and one of the key factors determining it is the type of display.
OLED displays provide the highest standard of image quality. Their distinctive feature is their ability to reproduce deep blacks and high contrast, resulting in a bright and very realistic image.
QLED displays, based on Quantum Dot technology, are advanced LED screens that improve overall image quality. However, there are some nuances: not all advertised QLED TVs are the same. High-quality QLED displays have 10-bit color depth. At the same time, you may encounter QLED TVs with 8-bit panels that use FRC (Frame Rate Control). The standard frame rate is 60 or 120Hz, and since 2025, displays with a frequency of 144Hz have been produced. Of course, the higher the supported refresh rate, the better.
Ultimately, the choice between OLED, QLED, and LED comes down to a balance between image quality and cost: OLED provides the best visual experience, QLED offers good value for money, and LED provides acceptable performance at a lower price.
TV Brand Overview
Choosing the perfect TV brand is now very easy.
Samsung has long been known for its QLED technology, and in 2022 it also entered the OLED display market. Its TVs run on the Tizen operating system. Interestingly, in 2022 Samsung sold its LED and QLED display manufacturing plant to TCL. Overall, the TVs are not bad.
LG has been the leader in OLED since 2016 and also manufactures QLED and LED models. They run on WebOS. Along with Samsung, LG is often considered the top contender for those looking for cutting-edge technology and exceptional picture quality.
Sony TVs are good but expensive, so in 2025 they lost the battle for buyers. Sony announced that it would transfer control of its TV manufacturing division to the Chinese company TCL. Starting in 2026, Sony TVs will be manufactured by TCL. The TVs use Google TV and Android OS.
For budget-conscious buyers, attractive options are offered by brands such as Vizio, Hisense, Skyworth, and TCL. Vizio is affordable, and all TVs are manufactured by OEMs. Hisense, Skyworth, and TCL have recently been buying up brands en masse and are gradually becoming notable players in the TV market.
Panasonic lost its presence in North America, exiting the US market in 2014 and the Canadian market in 2020. In early 2026, the company announced the transfer of its TV manufacturing business to the Chinese company Skyworth.
As a result, the choice is now between Korean or Chinese brands.
What TV size do you need?
The trend in home entertainment is shifting toward larger televisions, with most modern TVs ranging from 32 to 85 inches diagonally. When selecting the right size for your space, the viewing distance in your room plays an important role. If you want a better understanding of how a TV’s physical height and width correspond to its diagonal measurement, resources like “TV Size by Diagonal” can be especially useful.
A simple guideline when choosing a TV is to select the largest screen that fits comfortably in your room without overwhelming the space. Today, a 65-inch TV has become one of the most popular choices. It offers an impressive, immersive viewing experience while still being practical for the average living room.
For more personalized recommendations based on your specific room layout, the article “TV Viewing Distance Based on Screen Size” can provide helpful insights. It explains how to match screen size with viewing distance, ensuring you get the most comfortable and cinematic experience for your environment.
What to avoid when buying a TV
When buying a new TV, it is important to avoid several common mistakes.
One of the most frequent problems is ignoring the type of display. Choosing a TV with a lower resolution or outdated panel technology may save money initially, but will quickly lead to disappointment as more and more content is released in higher resolutions. An easy way to check the quality of the screen in the store is to stand in front of the TV and then step slightly to the side. If the image quickly loses brightness or colors fade, the TV is likely using a lower-quality panel.
It’s also important not to rely solely on marketing terms. Many TV brands use catchy names that sound impressive but don’t improve the viewing experience. It’s better to focus on features that actually affect image quality and performance.
Another key factor is the TV’s operating system. The OS determines which apps are available, how fast the interface is, and how easy the TV is to use. Platforms such as Android TV, WebOS, and Tizen differ in the apps they support.
For example, some 2023 TVs may still run Android TV OS 9, released in 2018, even though Android TV 13 was released in 2022. By 2025, Android TV 16 will already be available, which means that some budget models may lag behind by several generations. It is recommended to check the OS version before purchasing.
