If you are reading this then, you most likely intend to purchase a TV, the best choice at that. When choosing the best TV to purchase, your budget is not the only thing you should consider.
Even if you have a fat budget, if you have a small space or a crowded room, a giant TV might not be suitable for you.
Let’s dive deeper. I’ll tell you what to do to help you decide on the best tv for you.
1. Have a good knowledge of tv resolutions
There’s no harm in doing a little research on tv resolutions. Find out from the experts. This is critical because the resolution of your TV will determine how close you can sit to watch your favorite program. It will also affect your viewing experience from different angles of the room.
The resolutions that are available today are 8k, 4k, and 1080p. As mentioned before, the resolution of a tv determines how close you can sit before the tv screen before the pixelation in an image is noticed.
For example, a 4k TV is more ideal than sitting closer to a 1080p TV. The resolution of a 4k TV is 3840×2160, while that of a 1080p TV is 1920×1080.
Knowing that you will have to sit closer to 4k TV, you won’t need to get a large TV to fill your space. But it’s okay to do much for a 1080p TV seeing that the viewing angle will have to be farther.
2. Decide if you will be hanging your TV on a wall or placing it on a cabinet
Another thing that should affect your TV choice is your decision to hang it on a wall or place it on a cabinet or TV stand. You want to decide on this before you find your way to the store to make a purchase.
If you desire the aesthetic of a TV cabinet and you’re considering getting one, also consider the size of the cabinet you intend to purchase. Are you planning to get a centre or corner TV cabinet?
A large screen won’t look great on a small cabinet, even the weight of the tv on the small cabinet might end up being a disaster waiting to happen. Likewise, a standard size screen will look very small on a long cabinet.
Therefore, finding out how much weight the cabinet you intend to purchase can carry is an excellent idea. This will help you in choosing the best cabinet and subsequently the best tv.
3. Consider the viewing distance
Your viewing distance is the distance between your sitting position and your TV screen. This is dependent on the tv resolution.
Remember, you’re also considering your eye health. You don’t want to sit too close and get too much light into your eyes; neither do you want to sit too far and strain your eyes. You want to get it just right.
The tables below are ranges of viewing distance recommended for different screen sizes.
Range of Viewing Distance for 1080p HD TVs
| TV Screen Size | Range of Viewing Distance |
| 40 inches | 5.0 – 6.75 ft |
| 43 inches | 5.4 – 7 ft |
| 48 inches | 6 – 8 ft |
| 50 inches | 6.3 – 8.3 ft |
| 55 inches | 6.9 – 9.2 ft |
| 60 inches | 7.5 – 10 ft |
| 65 inches | 8.1 – 13.5 ft |
| 70 inches | 8.75 – 11.7 ft |
| 75 inches | 9.4 – 12.5 ft |
| 80 inches | 10.0 – 13.3 ft |
| 85 inches | 10.6 – 14.2 ft |
Range of Viewing Distance for 8k and 4k UHD TVs
| TV Screen Size | Range of Viewing Distance |
| 40 inches | 3.3 – 5.0 ft |
| 43 inches | 3.6 – 5.4 ft |
| 48 inches | 4 – 6 ft |
| 50 inches | 4.2 – 6.3 ft |
| 55 inches | 4.6 – 6.9 ft |
| 60 inches | 5.0 – 7.5 ft |
| 65 inches | 5.4 – 8.1 ft |
| 70 inches | 5.8 – 8.75 ft |
| 75 inches | 6.3 – 9.4 ft |
| 80 inches | 6.7 – 10 ft |
| 85 inches | 7.1 – 10.6 ft |
How to Calculate Your TV Screen
First, you must understand that the television measurement doesn’t include the bezel (that is, the television frame around its screen). So, the next time you see a commercial on a 60 inch TV, know that 60 inches is the screen size only.
Measuring diagonally from one end of the tv screen to the other end is the way to get the measurement of your television.
If you don’t have a measuring tape or feel the need to go through all this trying to get the tv size, you can find the model name of the tv. It is usually situated at the back of the TV. When you find the model name, look out for the first number in the model name. That is the screen size in inches.
For example, the Samsung LNS4092DX/XAA is a 40-inch tv because 40 is the first number in the model code.
Conclusion
If you can measure your field of view, decide whether a small or big TV frame will be better for your space, choose a tv resolution you can afford, while taking cognizance of viewing distance.
