Buying Guide
TV Buying Guide
How to Choose the Right TV for Your Room and Viewing Style
Compare screen sizes, display technologies, refresh rates and connectivity so you can choose a TV that suits your room, viewing habits and entertainment setup.
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Start With Your Viewing Space
Plan the room before choosing screen size. A TV needs to suit the viewing distance, furniture layout, available wall or stand width, room brightness and the devices you plan to connect.
Viewing distance – measure from the main seating position to the screen.
Wall or stand width – check the TV and stand dimensions, not screen size alone.
Room brightness – consider windows, glare and daytime viewing.
Mounting height – aim for a comfortable viewing angle from your usual seat.
Connections – plan power, antenna, HDMI, soundbar and gaming-console access.
Wall or stand width – check the TV and stand dimensions, not screen size alone.
Room brightness – consider windows, glare and daytime viewing.
Mounting height – aim for a comfortable viewing angle from your usual seat.
Connections – plan power, antenna, HDMI, soundbar and gaming-console access.
Smart Tip
Do not choose screen size from the carton dimensions or diagonal measurement alone. Check the TV's full width, stand footprint and how far you actually sit from the screen.
Bigger is not automatically better.
Screen size should feel comfortable at your normal viewing distance and still fit the wall, stand and room proportions.
What Screen Size Suits Your Room?
Use the room and viewing distance as your starting point, then decide how immersive you want movies, sport and gaming to feel.
Room / Use Screen Size Worth Considering
Bedroom or compact room 43–50 inch Balanced size for closer seating
Everyday living room 55–65 inch Versatile size for TV, streaming and sport
Larger lounge 75–85 inch More immersive viewing for movies and events
Cinema-style setup 98 inch+ Best considered with longer viewing distance and suitable wall space
Choose Your Display Technology
Display technology affects brightness, contrast, black levels, motion and price. The best choice depends on your room and what you watch most.
LED / LCD
A broad-value category covering many everyday 4K TVs, with options across a wide range of screen sizes and budgets.
Best for: everyday streaming, TV, secondary rooms and value-focused setups.
QLED
Quantum-dot LCD TVs are designed to deliver strong colour volume and are commonly available in bright, large-screen models.
Best for: bright rooms, sport, streaming and buyers wanting vivid colour.
Mini LED / QNED
Selected premium LCD models use smaller backlight zones and advanced colour technologies to improve brightness and local contrast.
Best for: HDR, sport, larger screens and mixed day/night viewing.
OLED
Self-emissive pixels can switch off individually, giving OLED TVs very deep blacks and strong contrast without a conventional backlight.
Best for: movies, dark-room viewing, premium gaming and contrast-focused buyers.
Laser TV
Ultra-short-throw laser systems create very large images from a projector positioned close to a compatible screen or wall.
Best for: 100-inch-class viewing and cinema-style spaces where a huge image is the priority.
TV Display Types at a Glance
Use this as a starting point, then compare the individual model's brightness, refresh rate, HDR support and connectivity.
| Display Type | Main Strength | Bright Room | Dark-Room Contrast | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED / LCD | Broad choice and value | Good to very good | Varies by backlight | Everyday TV and streaming |
| QLED | Colour and brightness | Very good | Model dependent | Sport, streaming and bright rooms |
| Mini LED / QNED | Brightness + local contrast | Excellent on many models | Very good | HDR, sport and large screens |
| OLED | Black levels and contrast | Good to very good | Excellent | Movies and premium gaming |
| Laser TV | Very large image size | Depends on screen and room | Cinema-oriented | 100-inch-class viewing |
Features Worth Comparing
Once screen size and display type are narrowed down, these specifications have a much bigger impact on day-to-day use than a long list of marketing features.
4K Resolution & HDR
Most current TVs are 4K. HDR capability can improve highlights, colour and contrast when the TV and content support compatible formats.
Refresh Rate
Higher native refresh rates can benefit fast sport and gaming. Compare the actual panel specification rather than motion-marketing numbers alone.
HDMI & eARC
Count the ports you need for consoles, soundbars, streaming devices and other equipment, then check which ports support the features you need.
VRR & ALLM
Gaming-focused TVs may support variable refresh rate and automatic low-latency modes for compatible consoles and PCs.
Smart TV Platform
Compare the apps, interface, voice controls and software ecosystem you actually use rather than treating every Smart TV platform as identical.
Audio & Soundbar Setup
Slim TVs have limited speaker space. If audio matters, check eARC compatibility, soundbar clearance and your preferred audio format support.
Gaming, Sport & Fast Motion
Refresh rate matters most when the content and connected device can take advantage of it. Use the TV's real panel and HDMI specifications rather than marketing labels alone.
Everyday Viewing
60Hz Class
Suitable for normal TV, streaming and general entertainment where high-frame-rate gaming is not a priority.
Fast Motion
120Hz+ Panels
Useful for fast sport and compatible high-frame-rate gaming, with some current TVs supporting 144Hz or 165Hz modes.
Console & PC Features
HDMI 2.1, VRR & ALLM
Check which HDMI inputs support the gaming features you need. Not every HDMI port on a TV necessarily has the same capabilities.
Buying for a console?
Match the TV to the output capabilities of your console or gaming PC. Paying for a feature your source device cannot use may not improve your experience.
FAQs
What TV size is right for my room?
Start with your viewing distance and the available wall or stand width. A 43–50 inch TV can suit a compact room, while 55–65 inch models are common all-round living-room sizes. Larger 75–85 inch and 98 inch+ TVs can feel more immersive when the room and viewing distance suit them.
What is the difference between LED, QLED, Mini LED and OLED?
LED and QLED TVs use LCD panels with a backlight. QLED adds quantum-dot colour technology, while Mini LED uses much smaller backlight zones on compatible models for more precise brightness control. OLED pixels emit their own light and can switch off individually for very deep blacks. Performance still varies significantly between individual models.
Do I need an 8K TV or is 4K enough?
4K remains the practical standard for most current streaming, television and gaming use. 8K can be relevant for selected very large premium TVs, but the value depends on screen size, viewing distance, available 8K content and your budget.
Is a 120Hz or higher refresh rate worth it?
A higher native refresh rate can be worthwhile for fast sport and compatible console or PC gaming. If you mainly watch normal broadcast TV and streaming content, refresh rate may be less important than picture quality, brightness and contrast.
What should gamers check before buying a TV?
Check the native refresh rate, HDMI capabilities, VRR and ALLM support, input options and the resolution and frame-rate output of your console or gaming PC. Also confirm which HDMI ports support the gaming features you need.
How important is the Smart TV platform?
The Smart TV platform affects the interface, app availability, voice controls and software experience. If you already use an external streaming device, the built-in platform may matter less than picture quality and connectivity.
How do I compare TV energy efficiency?
Choose the screen size you need first, then compare the Energy Rating stars and estimated annual energy consumption between TVs of a similar size and feature set. Larger TVs generally use more energy than smaller TVs.
What should I inspect on a factory second or carton-damaged TV?
Inspect the entire screen for marks, lines or discolouration, check the frame and stand, confirm the remote and accessories are included, test the HDMI and smart-TV functions where possible, and review the individual product condition and warranty information.
Ready to Watch?
Find the Right TV for Your Space
Compare current TVs by screen size, display technology, refresh rate, smart features and available stock online or visit your nearest Smart Electrical store.
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