Sony Bravia 8 II is the new flagship OLED display.
With all the TVs available today, and all the technical terms and jargon associated with TV technology, it can be difficult to know what's important. Here's a quick guide to help avoid any confusion.
Image Quality: Generally speaking, the type of display technology helps determine how good a TV's picture quality is, but OLED is generally the best display technology, followed by LCD (including QLED and Mini LED). OLED generally provides the best picture quality because it doesn't need a backlight and each pixel can be turned on or off, resulting in excellent black levels. By comparison, each backlight LED processes multiple pixels at once, so it's not as accurate—not 1:1 yet. Among the mid-range models, look for features that include full local dimming, a mini-LED, and a 120Hz refresh rate, which (unlike some other extras) actually help improve the picture in my experience. Additionally, if a TV uses quantum dots, it often results in improved color reproduction, whether OLED or LCD.
Screen Size: In my opinion, the more the merrier. I recommend a size of at least 43 inches for a bedroom TV and at least 55 inches for a living room or main TV, with 65 inches or larger being best. More than any “feature,” increasing the size of your TV screen is the best use of your money. One of the most common complaints I hear after purchasing a TV comes from people who didn't make it big enough. And I rarely hear people complain that their TV is too big. It is worth adding that for now TVs can get really big4K resolution is sufficient even for the largest models, and CNET doesn't recommend 8K TVs because they represent poor comparative value.
Price: TVs range in price from $100 to over $2,000. Smaller screens cost less, well-known brands are more expensive, and by spending more money you can also get better picture quality. Most entry-level TVs have good enough pictures for most people, but TVs last a long time, so it may be worth spending more to get a better picture. It is also best to buy a TV in the fall, when prices are lower.
Sound quality: Every TV has a built-in speaker, but in twenty years of reviewing AV equipment, the sound of modern TVs has always been terrible. Although I test the sound on each model, if you are serious about sound quality, then buy separate soundbar (from $100) or home theater system will instantly improve important aspects such as speech and bass reproduction.
Smart TV: Among entry-level TVs, the most important feature is which smart TV system the TV uses, and while some are proprietary to each brand (Samsung and LG), some models support Roku and Google TV.
For more TV buying tips, see How to buy a TV.
