How to choose a smart TV
More and more different models of smart TVs have appeared on the modern market. They have similar functionality, but many differences. You need to pay attention to them when choosing a device.
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How to choose a smart TV
There are some important features that you need to look out for when purchasing a device. Among them:
- What the device looks like externally.
- Dimensions (weight, length, width).
- The technology on which the screen operates (a TV can be plasma, LED or LCD).
- Viewing angle.
- Screen refresh rate.
- Availability of USB connector.
- Ability to access LAN. This is necessary to access the network without using a Wi-Fi modem.
Benefits of Smart TVs
The devices have some advantages that make them competitive with similar devices. Among them:
- During the process of creating equipment, a WLAN module is installed into it. It will allow you to quickly connect your TV to your home Internet network. The module settings are most often the same for all manufacturers. If it is missing, they connect to the network via USB ports.
- Modern devices already have all the most necessary applications (social networks or hosting for watching videos). Thanks to this, a person can immediately view the necessary materials directly through the TV.
- There is an opportunity to find out both the current weather and for the near future.
- Ability to watch TV programs and news in real time.
- Smart TVs can completely replace other smart devices (tablets and computers). They have web browsers. They work in the following mode: a virtual keyboard and a search bar appear on the screen. You can dial the required address using the mouse or remote control. The link will automatically transfer to the required address.
But such devices also have some disadvantages:
- Information may be displayed in an inconvenient way. Very often the font is placed in an inconvenient place or its size is too small.
- A remote control is sold along with the device, which is not intended for searching information on the Internet (it is inconvenient for typing). You can replace it with a computer mouse, or a special remote control that supports this function.
- In some cases, it will be more appropriate to buy a laptop or tablet. You can take them with you on trips, and their price can also be cheaper than smart TVs (this depends on the manufacturer).
Work platform
When choosing a smart TV, you need to find out in advance what platform it runs on. There are several standard platforms (Apple iOS and Android.) But manufacturers can also make their own developments, including:
- Tizen from Samsung.
- Web OS from LG.
Applications will run under a specific platform. The most common ones in Russia are LG Smart and Smart Hub (Samsung). These platforms have extensive information and educational capabilities.
Useful applications and services
Providers will provide a set of functions and services for use. Therefore, smart TVs for television are not inferior in functionality to tablets.They have a lot of features, applications and services that will make life easier. You can regularly check exchange rates and view the weather.
App content may vary slightly on smart devices. But at the moment, special standards are being developed that will make the functionality of all devices similar.
Smart TV also has a set of paid functions. For example, LG is equipped with cloud storage where you can store downloaded information (it will be located on the service). Access to such repositories is available for a fee. But Samsung has a built-in paid function that allows you to recognize the owner’s face.
To prevent your opinion of the new device from being spoiled, it is necessary to establish a high-quality connection in advance. In most cases, modern apartments already have routers that distribute the Internet. Thanks to this, you don’t have to buy additional devices, cables or pay for connection. But if there is no connection established in the house, you need to purchase the following:
- Wires.
- Swage.
- Connector.
It is necessary to select a cable in advance. They may vary in functionality and performance, and not all cables work in all locations.
Note! Modern capabilities will allow you to make a smart device out of any TV, even one that is already in the house. It can be turned into a smart device by purchasing a special attachment.
There are two most common options for consoles:
- ChromeCas
- Apple TV.
They are able to expand the capabilities of devices and connect them according to all the rules.
Diagonal and screen resolution
You need to decide in advance on the size of the TV.We orient ourselves according to the distance from the place where the device will be located and the place from which the person will look. When choosing the size of your TV, you need to consider the following parameters:
- It is recommended that the distance between a person and the TV be at least 5 meters.
- If the device is located only two to three meters from a person, you should not choose screens that are too large. Standard sizes for this distance are about 40 inches.
Also, the choice of extension depends on what exactly will be watched on TV. Recently, preference has been given to 4k TVs. But FULL HD devices are still in great demand on the market. And they will be relevant over the next few decades, since almost all modern content for TV is filmed specifically for this extension. The frequency of updating content from the network is also important. To avoid image interruption, it is recommended to give preference to devices with a frequency of at least 120 Hz.
Note! When choosing a device, you also need to pay attention to quality sound. Modern smart TVs are very thin. And the lower the fineness, the worse the quality of the speakers. That is why you may need to purchase an additional acoustic system.
Which smart TV model to buy
Most new models have all the functions necessary for a person. Market leaders are the following brands:
But every brand has one or more special differentiating features. For example:
- Thanks to Samsung technologies, you can control your TV using your voice or gestures.
- LG has additional technical developments. For example, a second remote control. This will significantly speed up the operation of the devices.
- Toshiba TVs are very easy to control. The instructions are written very well and clearly.
- Sony has created a clear, simple and high-quality menu for its devices.
- Philips models are equipped with additional protection against intrusion and break-ins. And another advantage is greater sensitivity. The command will work even with a light touch.
To make your choice, you need to compare the most popular models of the brands listed above. But there are also a few tips that will help you decide on your choice of TV:
- First of all, you need to choose a suitable diagonal.
- The next step is to check the functionality of the device. You need to check its audio capabilities by testing the sound quality at low and high frequencies. It is important that the sound is smooth, understandable, and that unnecessary wheezing and hissing do not appear.
- Next you need to determine the image quality. To do this, the settings are reset to factory settings.
- The last step is to check the broadcast of one of the analogue channels (their quality is slightly worse than that of digital ones). But if the production is of high quality, the analog channel will still broadcast well.
When choosing a smart TV, you need to pay attention to the size, applications, platform on which they work, price and other characteristics.