Most people purchase a new TV without giving the entire process much thought.
In Uganda, it’s always the factor of money that determines what one chooses to purchase i.e. how much you are willing to spend.
However, the best way to get the ideal experience out of your TV is by determining the size that fits your room best.
This guide should help you determine what size is appropriate for you.
Before purchasing your TV, you always have a few things to consider;
The nature and type of TV
The nature and type of TV is always the first thing that comes to mind.
In this current age, only flat screen TVs are relevant.
When flat screens were first introduced, Liquid Crystal Display TV’s used cold cathode fluorescent lamps to provide backlighting, which made the viewing experience less enjoyable.
Today, these TVs have been upgraded to smaller more efficient Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that produce better images.
Other more superior types are the OLEDs and QLEDs which all produce more accuracy with the QLED upping overall efficiency.
LEDs are more budget-friendly than OLEDs and QLEDs and this guide will stick to budget-friendly ones.
The screen size and resolution
The screen size is always measured diagonally e.g. a 32 inch TV will measure 32 inches from one corner to the opposite corner.
With the resolution, the higher the resolution, the closer you can sit without noticing pixelation in an image.
Meaning you can sit much closer to a 4K TV as compared to a 1080p TV.
Sellers always have a high-quality video they use to sample out on their screens to get you hooked.
It is always quite hard to tell the difference between the picture quality, especially when you have many TVs of different sizes all mounted side by side and running the same exact video.
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It might require you to hire an expert to tell the difference for you.
Trust me, you might look at the 32-inch and its display will be exactly the same as the 42-inch, but only bigger.
The best way to check your screen resolution is to go with a flash drive preloaded with a video of your choosing.
This way, you will not be surprised when you reach home and your TV isn’t as clear as you saw at the shop.
It might also be a good idea to have the TV tested with local channels.
Ask them to turn to local stations and determine the picture quality from there.
The room size and position
The next factor to consider is where the TV is going to be.
Does the room have a lot of furniture to allow the TV to be placed anywhere with flexibility or there’s only one designated location where the TV is to be located?
Putting the TV on a table using the TV stands (usually included in the box) always places it closer to the viewer while mounting it on a wall-stand, adds a distance.
Making the choice
Measure the distance (in inches) between where you plan to put the TV and where you will be viewing it from.
The recommended ideal viewing distance is between 1 and 1.5 times the screen size.
So if you bought a 40-inch TV, it should be placed between 40 to 60 inches away.
Others recommend a viewing distance between 1.5 and 2.5 times the screen’s diagonal distance.
However, most people like to sit far away from their TVs and for this case, the pixels are factored out of the equation.
When you walk into a TV shop, always view the TV at an angle similar to which you are planning to use in your house or room.
If possible, stand or sit at the same exact viewing distance to be certain you are making the right choice.
In some instances, the math above might not be sufficient for you.
Illustration via Crutchfield Corporation
After choosing the TV, you will now need to ensure every part of it works the way it is supposed to. Have them (sellers) test out all your ports to ensure that they are working.
There are many TV manufacturers that produce durable TVs that last over long periods.
Making a choice between which manufacturer’s TV to acquire will depend on your experience, money, design or anything else.
This guide can be used when buying a TV for your bedroom, office or a family room.
Hopefully, it will help you make a better decision the next time you make a purchase.
Some of the current TV prices in Uganda
Saachi 24” LED – 450,000
Hisense 32” LED – 790,000
Hisense 40” Full HD LED – 1,150,000
Sharp 46” Full HD LED – 1,795,000
Prices always depend on the manufacturer and where the purchase is actually made.
TVs of the same size always fall in the same price range but with superior manufacturers pricing higher than others.
(The above prices are obtained from Jumia.ug)
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