Well and truly gone are the days of clunky tech, multiple remote controls and less-than-perfect display. If your TV feels like it’s stuck in a timewarp, it might be time for an upgrade.
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Indeed, the last few years have brought with them a slew of updated tech and televisions that are better than ever before, sporting features such as smart home connectivity, OLED technology, and most importantly, a crystal clear image.
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Questions to ask yourself before buying a smart TV
First and foremost, it’s as simple as asking yourself a few questions to help you determine the features that will be most important to you and your family. Consider;
- How will you and your family mostly use the TV? Will you be watching movies together, or is there a gamer in your household?
- Where will the TV be situated in your home? Will it be near a window or in bright light?
- What time of day do you tend to watch TV the most?
What’s the difference between OLED and QLED?
Now, it’s time to get into the tech lingo. The terms OLED and QLED are thrown around a lot, and you’ll see them attached to the names of many smart TVs these days; but what do they actually mean? While older flat screen televisions relied on either Plasma or LCD technology, today’s generation of Smart TVs are usually powered by a series of tiny light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Manufacturers continue to chase the dream of creating the clearest possible image by refining the technology to create realistic levels of contrast, deep blacks and vibrant colours.
QLED
QLED stands for (quantum dot light emitting diode), and essentially uses an LCD backlight that passes through a layer of quantum dots, resulting in bright colours and super clear images, even in well-lit rooms. Plus, there’s the added bonus of no screen burn (a type of discolouration on the electronic display).
OLED
OLED (organic light emitting diode), on the other hand, have very black blacks and high contrast. This is achieved by each pixel lighting up independently, which means brighter colours and a vibrant image that doesn’t look washed out in a brightly lit room.
How to choose the right size TV
While it may be tempting to go straight for the largest TV you can get your hands on, the size of your TV is something you should stop and think about before jumping straight in.
4K vs 8K
Time to dive back into the tech lingo! Another feature slapped onto the end of TV titles and names is ‘4k’ or ‘8k’, but which is best? Essentially, it comes down to picture quality and definition.
If you were to place these features on a scale, HD – the older-model “high definition” – would be at the bottom, with 4k next, and 8k to follow taking the crown. “8K television is four times better than 4K television; 4K television is four times better than High Definition (HD) television; and HD television is four times better than standard definition television,” Angus Jones the General Manager of Marketing at LG Electronics told Inside Out. “So if you do the maths, it’s a lot better in quality than the television most people are used to.”
Our top picks
1. Samsung 55″ QNU5A NEO QLED 4K Smart TV, $2695, The Good Guys
Shop now at The Good Guys
2. LG G1 55 inch with Gallery Design 4K smart self-lit OLED evo TV, $3376, LG
Shop now at LG
The OLED evo is LG’s best 4K TV to date. It features bright, sharp images and a wide viewing angle. This TV is super slim, and is especially suited to those who intend to mount the TV to the wall as it is designed to look like a work of art when it’s not in use.
3. Sony A80J Bravia 65″ XR OLED 4K ultra HD smart TV, $3795, Sony
Shop now at Sony
4. 65 inch The Frame QLED 4K smart TV, $2495 on sale for $1895, Bing Lee
Shop now at Bing Lee
The Frame is perhaps the most well-known ‘Lifestyle TV’, that is, a TV that complements rather than competes with your decor. Not only is it popular with interior designers, it’s also reportedly a favourite amongst celebrities including Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Oprah Winfrey.
5. Hisense 75 inch U80G 8K UHD Andriod TV, $3495, The Good Guys
Shop now at The Good Guys
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