Key things to consider when buying a new TV

Netflix, Stan, Foxtel, Freeview, SBS On Demand - TV just keeps getting better and better every day, and so do our favourite TV shows. As technology continues to evolve, we’re seeing monster screens, ultra HD, OLED, QLED, Dolby Vision and a host of other mind-boggling and sometimes confusing features emerge from the TV set frontier.  

If your current television isn’t doing justice to your favourite TV series or TV shows anymore, it might just be time to invest in an upgrade. Yes, navigating your way through the plethora of options can be a bit overwhelming but we’ve scoured the internet and developed this purchasing guide to make it easy for you. 

TV size 

Size matters!  When you’re deciding about the size of your new TV, think about how many people will typically watch TV at the same time. You should also consider the size of the space that you plan to place your new TV in, as you want to make sure there is plenty of room. And it’s not just whether or not your wall is big enough to accommodate the TV – you also need to consider how far away people should ideally sit from it. A good rule of thumb for this is that you should sit at a distance from your TV of at least 3 times the height of an HD TV. 

Screen resolution 

Another key thing to consider is screen resolution. It’s probably one of the major reasons why you may want to buy that new TV in the first place - especially if you’re hooked on the awesome special effects of those addictive series such as Black Mirror, Stranger Things, or Lucifer. 

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the picture on display. To make it easier for you, the more pixels there are, the sharper the picture, and the finer the details are. These days, most TVs that you will find on the market have 4K resolution. But even though 4K resolution is relatively new, Samsung launched its’ first 8K TV in April of this year. An 8K resolution means you get double the resolution of a 4K TV. How awesome is that! 

Refresh rate 

The refresh rate affects the number of images that your TV can display per second. The most common refresh rate on today's TVs is 60 Hertz (Hz), but in scenes that have rapidly moving objects, it can look a little blurry. So, for smoother motion on your TV screen, go for a model with a higher refresh rate. The standard higher refresh rate in Australia is 100 Hz so, be cautious if you see a TV advertisement saying it has 400 Hz as it may not be accurate. A 240 Hz refresh rate may be more realistic at this point - and if you find one with it, go for it! 

HDMI ports 

You might think that it’s not important to consider the number of High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI) ports when buying a new TV - but it’s a key factor that needs your attention. You use HDMI ports to connect to things like a gaming console, sound system, a DVD player, Apple TV or Chromecast, so it’s best to play it safe and go for a TV that has at least 3 HDMI ports to cover your current or future needs. 

Brand 

Of course, the brand is one very important aspect to consider when buying a new TV and everyone wants to buy something that’s going to provide good value for money. The big names in the industry have been consistently delivering good quality TVs for years – so you probably won’t go wrong if you choose a TV from Samsung, Sony, LG, or Panasonic.   

But there are also some cheaper brands that are worth a look. Both TCL and Hisense have QLED screen technology similar to Samsung. At the end of the day though, a picture still tells a thousand stories, so how great the picture looks through your eyes is a good place to start. 

Budget 

One of the key considerations for buying a new TV is often the budget. So, if your heart is urging you towards that $5,000 Samsung 82-inch QLED 4K Smart TV* but your bank balance is quietly ushering you over to the 50-inch Hisense, we’re here to help. Just check out our fast cash loans from $1,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours, so you could be installing your new TV this week!

* Pricing correct at date of publication (11 October 2019). May be subject to change without notice.