Best TVs in 2023

What is a smart TV?

A smart TV is also known as a connected television because it connects to the internet. This eliminates the need for add-ons, like Rokus or other consoles to access online content on your TV. Initially, smart TVs incorporated basic streaming services, but have since evolved to now include other online services: 

• Web surfing
• Social networking
• Voice control
• Integration with home security systems

Smart Features

When choosing a TV, it’s important to prioritize the smart features available, like those found in a smart TV. While popular streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu are a given, there are additional capabilities that can enhance your viewing experience. Consider the compatibility of your smart TV with your smartphone for easy casting without needing an extra device. For those who value social media, take note of how well the television integrates with your preferred platforms. This can be especially helpful when multitasking, allowing you to keep an eye on local news, weather, school updates, etc. while getting ready for the day or cleaning your space.

Lastly, think about your household security devices, such as a doorbell camera. Check if your smart TV can integrate with these devices, providing you with the ability to identify suspicious activity without leaving the comfort of your bed. This extra layer of security can give you precious moments to call law enforcement in the event of a break-in. When it comes to choosing a TV for your bedroom, prioritizing a smart TV with these features can greatly enhance your viewing and overall living experience.

What is a 4K or 8k TV?

A 4K TV, also known as Ultra HD, UHD, or 2160p, is a television with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, which is four times the resolution of a full HD TV. This results in an impressive 8.3 million pixels, creating a higher pixel density that produces a clearer, more defined picture with greater detail and texture. To put it simply, a 4K TV has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, and this specification is typically listed on product specifications for 4K TVs. With its exceptional picture quality, a 4K TV is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a top-notch viewing experience.

Similarly, an 8K TV boasts significantly higher pixel density compared to regular TV sets. With a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, an 8K TV has 33 million pixels, which is quadruple that of a 4K TV and sixteen times that of a standard 1080p TV. This results in a more defined, vivid, and detailed picture. However, to fully utilize this technology, high-speed internet or cables are required. The HDMI 2.1 standard is essential for achieving these requirements, as it supports higher-quality video transmission and faster data transfer rates. As such, those seeking the best possible image quality for their home entertainment setup should consider an 8K TV with HDMI 2.1 compatibility.

Choosing your TV

Different environments and uses bring about different considerations. Some of the most sought-after applications are for the bedroom, your outdoor entertaining area, and for gaming. Consider what makes a good fit for each of these uses.

Best TVs for bedrooms

Having a television in the bedroom has become a mainstay in many homes around the world. Whether it’s for the master bedroom, or to give your kids their own place, having a TV in the bedroom can help to keep some visual and noise distraction out of your main living area. It’s important to find the best television for the price you’ll pay and make sure it’s well-suited for bedroom use. As you look at your options, consider size, available smart features, and how you plan to use the TV.

Many studies have shown that having a TV on while you’re trying to fall asleep decreases the quality of your sleep. Theories about the exact culprit for this include the overall amount of light from the TV, the blue light from the monitor interrupting your circadian rhythm, and the sound from the show you have on. Regardless, what we do know is that having a television on while you’re sleeping has consistently shown to prevent deep and restful sleep. In turn, this leaves you feeling groggy and tired when it’s time to wake up. Ideally, you’ll fall asleep in a dark and quiet room without any distractions. That’s not to say there’s no use for a TV in your bedroom at all. For adults, the bedroom can be a nice retreat for relaxing and watching a movie while snuggling under the blankets with your partner. It can also be a great way to catch the news or weather in the morning while getting ready to leave home. Let’s not forget about the security possibilities when it comes to smart units.

For the kids, installing a TV in their bedroom allows you to remove gaming consoles from the primary living space to a place where they can still enjoy it. They can watch some of their favorite movies and shows while you’re entertaining guests, too.

Best Sizes

When it comes to the best TVs for a bedroom, matching the size of the television to the size of the room is important. For instance, you may want a smaller unit for a kid’s room than for the master bedroom. In part, this is because of the distance between whoever is watching the television and the unit itself.

For the standard 10-foot by 10-foot bedroom, a 32-inch television is typically an appropriate size. This provides a large enough screen that you don’t have to strain to see what’s on it clearly but isn’t so large that it will overwhelm your senses. On the other hand, a master bedroom that’s 20 feet by 15 feet may need a larger screen to allow you that same comfort. For this space, you may want a screen that’s around 55 inches.

Best TVs for Outdoor Use

During the warmer months when you prefer to spend more time in your backyard, it’s common to want to take some entertainment out with you. While it’s tempting to take a normal television designed for indoor use outside, they are often ill-equipped to give you a satisfactory outdoor experience. Consider the following challenges as you think about adding a television to your outdoor space.

Placement and Size

Consider where you’ll place the television in terms of its distance from where you’ll sit. You want to make sure the TV is big enough that you can actually see what’s on the screen. The outdoor setting lends itself to a greater distance from the television, so you may want to consider a 55-inch screen to be sure everyone can enjoy viewing it. Additionally, think about the natural lighting and how it may affect what you can see on the screen. Many modern televisions have a screen that discourages glare. However, the brighter it is outside, the harder it will be to clearly see what’s on the screen. Make sure you’re considering a model that has a brightness of at least 500 nits.

Designed for the Elements

Putting a TV outside means it’ll have to deal with changes in the environment that most indoor units are ill-equipped to handle. Start by considering resistance to moisture. You can build an enclosure around your television to help combat this. However, by doing so, you run the risk of also trapping in additional heat, increasing the wear on your TV. Look for a set that has sealed vents, screw holes, speaker grills, and seams. This helps keep rain and summer humidity away from the sensitive internal components.

Additionally, consider the temperature variations the TV will experience while it’s outside. Even if you bring it inside over the winter, it’ll still experience significant temperature swings during the day. Heat alone is a significant issue, potentially harming internal electrical components. You may want to consider a model that’s equipped with an internal cooling system, something most indoor sets do not include. Most TVs have plastic housing, which becomes brittle after exposure to UV light and temperature changes. Consider a model that’s made of more durable materials.

Sound

If you rely on the internal speaker, make sure it’s designed for use in a more open setting. Alternatively, you can connect it to an external speaker or soundbar. Some soundbars and surround sound speaker systems need to connect through traditional wired ports. If this is what you’re planning to use, you’ll want to make sure your model is equipped with the correct ports. Although, Bluetooth speakers are used more commonly. This could still be a soundbar that mounts below your television. You may want to choose a portable Bluetooth speaker so that you can take the sound closer to the action as you move around your patio or yard. While Bluetooth is popular, it’s far from a standard feature, so you’ll want to check to make sure the model you’re purchasing includes it.

Connectivity

Finally, consider how you’re going to connect to power, and if you need the television to connect to your wireless network. Ensure the power cable is long enough to reach from wherever you’ll mount the set to the power outlet. Additionally, check to make sure the set’s wireless connectivity is compatible with your home’s wireless network.

Similarly, you’ll need to consider the model’s capability of integrating with your security system. If you’re in the backyard grilling or relaxing, this makes it easy to find out when someone comes to the front door. This adds a level of convenience so that you don’t have to carry your phone or a separate monitor with you as you go about your chores.

Best TVs for Gaming

If gaming is your main priority when purchasing your TV, then getting a high-quality television will take your game to a new level. While you can connect many popular gaming consoles to just about any modern television set, avid gamers have particular needs and preferences. Consider the factors that define the best TV for gaming.

Latency and Lag

Latency, also known as lag, is incredibly important to anyone playing games. Most gamers know this as a function of online play. However, there is also lag between your gaming device, either console or computer, and when the image shows up on the screen. You’ll have a better gameplay experience when you have lower latency. At a minimum, you’ll want a latency rating under 30 milliseconds (ms). More serious gamers prefer an even lower latency, down around 13ms. The low-end, higher resolution televisions typically have higher latency. If you don’t want to lay out top dollar for your television, you may want to consider a 1080p model for now. Keep in mind that the latency of your screen doesn’t mean much if your network latency is poor. Both must be low to give you the best gameplay experience.

Refresh Rate

How quickly you can recognize what’s happening on the screen changes the quality of your gameplay. Refresh rates are referred to as Hz, frame rate, or frames per second (fps), and describe how quickly the image on the screen changes. The refresh rates on modern televisions range from as low as 30fps all the way up to 240fps. Low-end screens have about 30fps, which is sufficient for older consoles and budget gaming computers. While you can play console games at a higher refresh rate, most console gaming enthusiasts using older systems are satisfied with this rate.

Future systems, however, are aiming to bring more visual intensity to their games, so the 60fps will be the norm moving forward. This is also the frame rate targeted by most PC games and gaming computers. If you plan to connect your PC to your TV for gaming, then you’ll want to consider this better frame rate. Plus, it’ll satisfy the needs of the newer systems like Xbox X and PS5, not to mention any future consoles.

Inputs

Incredibly important for any gamer are the ports available to plug-in consoles and gaming computers. First, consider what you want to use your TV for: Is it strictly for gaming or also for watching movies on DVD or Bluray? You’ll want to consider the inputs required and aim to have enough inputs for everything you would like to plug in. If you have multiple consoles or use older consoles that rely on the RCA inputs, you’ll want to consider some sort of switch or splitter. If you’re using a gaming PC, be sure to consider whether the TV comes equipped with a DisplayPort, the clear preference among serious gamers. Other inputs you may need to consider include coaxial and s-video. Be sure to have a look at the device you’re using, then look for the TV model that includes as many of the ports that you’ll need so that you can minimize ancillary devices for converting signals.

Consider the Future

Resolution is right up there with refresh rates in the conversations among pro gamers. The resolution indicates the depth and crispness offered by the screen. The better the resolution, the more real the picture feels, making it seem like you’re in the midst of the action.

Most gaming systems don’t take advantage of the highest-resolution technologies, like the Ultra 4K HD. Rather, the maximum output resolution has typically been around 1080p. The newer PS5 and Xbox X tout compatibility with 4K resolution. Keep in mind that the picture you’ll experience is always a balance between resolution and refresh rate. Expect that moving forward, systems will aim for the higher 4K as a standard.

In addition to resolution, you’ll want to consider image contrast. HDR makes colors more pronounced, with darker blacks and brighter whites. This provides much greater detail in the image on the screen, something that is useful when playing many popular multiplayer games.

How Are TV Sizes Measured?

When determining the size screen you have space for, you need to know how to measure it properly. Advertised measurements are only for the actual screen, from the top-left corner diagonally to the bottom-right corner. Depending on the television you’re purchasing, there may be a frame, also called a bezel, around the screen, so be sure to account for that extra space when deciding where you’re going to place your television.

Best times to buy a new TV

No matter what kind of TV you’re looking to purchase, you’ll have opportunities to get great deals throughout the year. You’ll find the best opportunities to purchase a television at a substantial discount in winter, spring, and fall. Your first opportunities are in January and February, leading up to the Super Bowl. You’ll also have opportunities in March and April, as new models hit the market. Then there are the Black Friday sales. If you can get one of the doorbusters, these are often the best deals of the year.