STACK #199 May 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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ULTIMATE 2021 TV BUYING GUIDE STACK ’ S

There’s a great deal of excitement involved when the hunt for a newTV begins. But along

$ with that excitement comes a bucketful of questions – especially if it’s been years since you’ve updated. Like any consumer technology, advancements move at a dizzying pace, so even if you’ve only been out of the cycle for a few years, a lot has changed in that time. You’ll find all the answers you need right here to help you make an informed buying decision.

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PRICE

In saying that bigger is better, you obviously wouldn’t want to fit an 85-inch TV to the wall if you’re only DISTANCE

One of, if not the biggest driver in making a buying decision on a newTV is price, so having a budget in mind before you start shopping is a good place to start. If you’re looking for a TV that will just perform the basics, you can expect to get away pretty lightly at the register. However, to take advantage of the leap forward in technology and get the very best out of your visual experience, expect to pay a little more. The good news is that even top-tier TVs are now more affordable than ever. $

sitting a metre from the screen. It is therefore important to consider how far your viewing position is from the TV. While you can find detailed equations to calculate optimum viewing distances online (a bit of overkill in our opinion, as it completely depends on your level of eyesight), you can actually sit a little closer to a 4K TV because of the smaller pixels. As a rule of thumb, multiply the screen size by 1.2, so a 65-inch TV comes out at 78 inches. Convert that to metric and you have a 1.99 metre optimal viewing distance. Alternatively, you can do what several of the STACK team did when they bought newTVs last year – go into a JB store, walk up to the TV display, pick the size you’re interested in and step back until you feel comfortable with the viewing distance. Count those steps, and voila!

SIZE

A decade ago, 55 inches was deemed to be a large screen for a TV, but now it really is a case of the bigger the better. 2020 taught us that it’s quite feasible to put together a complete home theatre setup where you can enjoy a full cinema experience without getting out of your pyjamas. Pull out a tape measure and do the calculations on available wall space – you’ll never regret going bigger.

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reasons to upgrade your TV

1 There is no one left on the planet that can be convinced that your plasma TV is “Still the best picture quality I’ve ever seen!” Head in-store and take 10 minutes to peruse the TV displays – and take someone to support you when your legs give out.

2 Despite achieving a modern retail miracle and getting hold of a PS5 or an Xbox Series X, it has become impossible to insist that it looks “great” on your five-year-old TV. It doesn’t. These consoles were designed for TVs that feature 4K and 8K resolutions and refresh rates, plus High Dynamic Range (HDR). Anything less and you might as well pull out the PS3.

3 The smart component of your TV – that allows you to connect and access web content – runs like dial-up.

4 The screen image has dulled so much, it’s like watching a TV show in perpetual dusk. And let’s not forget those missing pixels!

5 The resolution you’re watching is 1080i – or lower.

MAY 2021

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