STACK #235 May 2024

10 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A SMART TV continued

TECH FEATURE

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9. Smart features

8. UI and apps The TV’s user interface is the central hub where you access subscription streaming and catch-up TV apps, many of which come preloaded. Android TVs often include Google TV built

Virtual assistants like Alexa or Google can be built-in, and when a smart TV is integrated into a smart home ecosystem, you can use it to control devices like lighting and access security camera live video (see page 16 for more).

10. Gaming

Smooth and fluid gaming with no blur or jitter is the way to play, and most smart TV’s cater for gamers with a suite of dedicated features to optimise play. Look for a Game Mode and specs like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), AMD FreeSync Premium, and HDMI 2.1 support (see page 42 for more).

in for one-stop app access, while some of the big brands have proprietary OS – such as Hisense’s VIDAA and LG’s webOS – and offer bonus channels like Samsung TV Plus and Sony’s BRAVIA Core streaming service.

How to tell a QNED from a QLED, ULED and OLED Perusing the various types ofTV display tech means deciphering a variety of similar sounding acronyms. Here’s what you need to know.

QLED Quantum dot Light– Emitting Diode Quantum dots are tiny

QNED Quantum Nano-Emitting Diode LG’s proprietary QNED TVs are LCD-based displays that combine mini LED backlighting with thousands of dimming zones, quantum dots for precise colours, and the brand’s NanoCell tech. NanoCell is a layer of nanoparticle pixels that filters dull colours and unwanted light, resulting in bolder colours across a variety of viewing angles and a brighter display than traditional LED TVs. Their excellent colour contrast makes QNED displays perfect for viewing HDR content in a brightly lit room.

ULED Ultra LED Hisense’s proprietary ULED display is a combination of tech patents: ultra local dimming, ultra wide colour gamut, ultra 4K resolution, and ultra smooth motion rate – with the emphasis on ultra! ULED TVs are traditional LED TVs that are augmented by a grayscale panel that sits between the display and the backlighting to create deeper blacks. The latest Hisense ULED displays also incorporate quantum dot tech to increase brightness and colour.

OLED Organic Light-Emitting Diode OLED displays don’t use an LED backlighting source, because each pixel emits its own light, which can be switched off to create the pure blacks and high contrast that OLED TVs are renowned for. The ‘organic’ bit is a carbonised film through which a current is passed to create light and colour. OLED displays have a wider viewing angle than LED TVs, and better response times to reduce blur in fast moving images. They're also more energy efficient, since there’s no backlighting to power. You’ll also come across QD OLED, a hybrid display that adds quantum dot tech to increase colour and brightness.

nanocrystals that boost colour and brightness, improving a TV’s LED backlighting – ergo, QLED. QLED TVs display extremely accurate colours with better saturation, and their high peak brightness keeps the picture sharp and vibrant in a sunny room. Then there's Neo QLED (neo being ‘new’), which uses mini LED backlighting for more precise light control, keeping colour and contrast consistent for a wide viewing angle.

12 MAY 2024

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