Which televisions

And be aware that streaming video requires robust broadband and WiFi connections to prevent the video from freezing or buffering. If you move more of your entertainment to the internet, you may need to upgrade to a faster connection. Many smart TVs also let you check social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and several support casual games as well.

Some sets may have all three. Like streaming media players, smart TVs need to be connected to your home network. We recommend using a wired Ethernet connection, if possible, but all smart TVs now also have built-in WiFi for accessing your network wirelessly. Despite many improvements, most LCDs still have a fairly significant shortcoming: limited viewing angle. That means the picture looks its best only from a fairly narrow sweet spot right in front of the screen.

We recommend checking the viewing angle by watching a TV from off to the side, and from above and below the main part of the image. As you move away from the center of the screen, the image can dim, lose contrast and color accuracy, or look washed out. And the degree of picture degradation varies from model to model.

We suggest you do it immediately so that you can easily return the set if it proves to be disappointing. Television technology is constantly evolving.

Here's a roadmap to help you navigate the terms and types as you shop for a new TV. Don't forget to consider a TV's connections before you buy. Almost all TVs now have side input connections, as well as rear inputs, which provide some flexibility for connecting source components to your TV. Inputs located on the side or bottom of the TV work best if you'll be mounting a TV flat against a wall.

HDMI is now the most common technology for connecting cable boxes, Blu-ray players, streaming media players, and game consoles to a TV. However, many budget sets have only one or two HDMI inputs. When choosing your primary TV, we recommend that you look for at least three HDMI connections unless you'll be connecting all your other components to a home-theater receiver or an HDMI switcher.

A newer version, called eARC, has higher bandwidth and speeds, and supports higher-quality audio, including Dolby Atmos. Most new sets also have HDCP 2. Most TVs also include component-video inputs, which have RCA-type connectors in red, blue, and green.

On some TVs, the component-video input will do double duty as a composite-video connection, as shown above the yellow and green input marked "video". These analog video-only connections are typically used for connecting older gear that lacks HDMI outputs. Many smaller TVs, and some larger ones, may have a headphone jack so that you can watch a show without disturbing others in the same room. A TV with Bluetooth capability will let you do this wirelessly if you have Bluetooth-enabled headphones.

Many TVs have a slideshow feature for viewing digital photos. Some TVs also have a digital coaxial audio output, which is another digital audio connection, but these are becoming less common. Even though all smart TVs these days have built-in WiFi, you may find that a wired connection to your home network will provide a better, more reliable streaming experience, especially with video services, such as Netflix.

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Screen Size Remember when a inch TV seemed gigantic? You can go bigger with a 4K, or UHD, set. See Our TV Ratings. The Ins and Outs of Resolution A regular high-definition HD set is also called a p model because its screen resolution is x Unfortunately, cheap TVs will actually be more expensive in because of chip shortages and supply chain issues, but sales on midrange and high-end TVs -- in other words, those with the best picture quality -- will be in full effect.

We've reviewed many of the best TVs of the year already and picked our favorites for the list below. TVs come in all sizes and prices so I concentrate on picture for the money. An OLED television will give you the best picture quality, but it's expensive and might not be available in the size you want.

We'll keep tracking new deals all season long and update this list periodically. Watch this: 4K TVs: A buying guide. No TV I've ever tested offers this much picture quality for as little cash. The TCL 6 Series has an excellent image thanks to mini-LED tech and well-implemented full-array local dimming that helps it run circles around just about any other TV at this price. It's also a solid choice for gamers with a THX mode that combines low input lag and high contrast.

As if that's not enough, the Roku TV operating system is our hands-down favorite. This TV first came out in but will stay on sale throughout -- in fact it just got its holiday price cut -- and remains my top choice so far. TCL also sells an 8K version of the 6-Series , but I don't think it's worth the extra money, as well as a Google-powered version I have yet to review although according to TCL its image quality is the same as this Roku version.

It also has the best gaming features, making it the perfect companion to an Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 or both. The Samsung QN90A is your best bet. Read our Samsung QN90A series review.

The three TVs above are amazing, but what if you can't afford that level of picture quality? It's a 60Hz model, not Hz, but it still handles variable refresh rate games for extra smoothness. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Most of us don't have gargantuan budgets for a new TV, but we do want to buy one that will last.

It's a beautiful 4K TV that marries advanced technology like quantum dots great for bright colors and local dimming for deeper blacks with a built-in Roku interface. TCL is known for competitive pricing, and this 6-Series is no exception, providing the image quality we'd expect from LG and Samsung models that cost nearly double the price. It even has Dolby Vision support, our favorite high-dynamic-range format, which provides exceptionally vivid colors.

The included Micro-LED backlighting is the star of the show, providing exceptional contrast and nearly none of that annoying "halo" effect when you look at bright objects on dark backgrounds. Given the lack of 8K content and the fact that it's much pricier right now, we still recommend this model. Unlike the previous model, which was edge-lit, the 5-Series gets full-array local dimming, which means it has deeper contrast than many TVs. It's usable for gaming and looks better than the HD set you might have right now.

It comes with built-in Roku, so the remote is easy to use, and it streams right out of the box. We recommend the inch model because it's the best bang for your buck, but TCL makes other sizes.

Vizio has improved its Smartcast interface, which makes casting tabs from laptops and cell phones that much easier. Expect great contrast, thanks to Vizio's excellent local dimming technology, though not as many zones as you'll get on the TCL 6-series. Even without local dimming, the display looks bright and vibrant and doesn't bleed too much during dark scenes.

Are you really watching 4K on your new 4K TV? Check your sources. Everything you need to watch 4K HDR movies. Chris Heinonen is a senior staff writer reporting on TVs, projectors, and sometimes audio gear at Wirecutter. He has been covering AV since for a number of online publications and is an ISF-certified video calibrator. He used to write computer software and hopes to never do that again, and he also loves to run and test gear for running guides. Our pick.

Buy another type of TV if:. You watch a lot of TV during the day: Our budget 4K TV picks might not be bright enough to compete with sunlight through windows, which might bother you during a lazy Sunday morning. You want something that looks as good turned off as it does while on: A more expensive TV may have better aesthetics than our budget pick.