What To Look For

Television technology changes so quickly, it seems that as soon as you walk out of the store with your shiny new television the technology is already outdated and replaced by the newest thing. Of course, it doesn’t really happen that fast, but it is a very quickly changing field.

Some technology is important when you’re selecting a new TV set, some is nice to have, and other features are just downright confusing and not that significant at all. It’s difficult to wade through the technical aspects and hype to discover what really matters. That’s why our team of ShopOwl researchers put together this quick guide to help you choose a television that suits your needs.

How Do Television Sets Work?

As with most big inventions, many different people were working on electronic and mechanical televisions at around the same time. The 1920s had inventors across the globe trying to perfect a technique to transmit moving images.

Initial versions were little more than newsworthy experiments and inspiration for creative thinkers. They were far from being the household staple that they are today.

The first television stations started cropping up in the late 1920s and early 1930s but it wasn’t until 1938 in America that TVs were commercially sold as an appliance for the home. The history of television clearly shows a swift level of acceptance and demand grew.¹

We started with small, blurry, black and white sets, which were later replaced by color sets. Technology improved and analog sets were replaced by digital (DTV) sets. The mass acceptance and adoption of digital standards led to the smart television. 3D technology appeared to be the next big breakthrough, but it’s been very slow to gain steam and all but forgotten in the broadcast world.

Today, TV shoppers have their choice of HDTV, Ultra HD, 4K and 4K UHD. Then there is the option of OLED or LCD/LED. Once you get that figured out you need to decide what size you want, do you want a smart TV, do connecting options matter to you, will you be streaming, do you want voice control and on and on and on.

Buying a TV set can be overwhelming for anyone. Which is why our television buying guide makes it easier for you to understand what really matters so you can make the right choice for your viewing lifestyle.

What To Look For And What To Avoid?

Beware Of TV Store Settings

Stores that sell televisions often change the settings on the television to give the viewer in the store an unrealistic viewing experience. This technique is often used to push certain TVs out the door.

If you know a bit about how to change the settings and what the manufacturer recommendations are, go ahead and fiddle with them to check how it will really look at home.

The best way to prepare yourself for television shopping is to create a list of what matters most to you, do your research at home to find out how to meet those priorities, and then go to the store. This way it’s less likely you’ll be confused by numbers that are basically meaningless, pushy sales people and features you don’t need.