In the decades since TVs first revolutionised living rooms across the world, they’ve changed in numerous ways. They’re now much more vibrant, with fantastic resolutions, and much smarter, with fantastic features that make it easier to find the content you love. However, one of the most important ways in which TVs have changed is in terms of their screens!
Whether you need a small 32-inch tv screen for a bedroom or a wall-filling 98-inch tv screen for a living room, there’s a whole wealth of choice! As well as different tv screen sizes, there are dozens of distinct screen types, using different technologies to create rich imagery.
Navigating the modern TV market can often leave you lost in a maze of technical terms and confusing jargon! So, to help keep you on the right track, we’ve enlisted our Reliant tech experts to help us put together this definitive guide to TV screens. Everything you need to know is just below!
How Do TV Screens Differ?
If you’re looking to choose the perfect TV screen for your home, there are a few things to consider. TV screens can differ in a few distinct ways. Some of the most important are screen size, resolution, display type, and refresh rate. There are a few more potential differences, but these are easily some of the most important. Let’s start by taking a look at size!
TV Screen Size
If you gave the average person the opportunity to get a brand new state-of-the-art television, easily the first thing they would consider is the size of the screen. Larger TV screens have long been a dream of many homeowners across the world. After all, with a larger screen, you’ll never need to head to the cinema again! You can simply bring the cinema into your home! Just imagine watching your favourite film on a 85 inch tv screen.
Perhaps the most important way in which TV screens differ is their size. Some TVs have juggernaut screen sizes, while others have much smaller screens! Your choice between them depends on your needs and available space!
However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t simply go for the largest TV screen on the market just because you can. The reason there are so many distinct screen sizes on the market is because different screen sizes suit different needs.
Let’s find out a little more about TV screen sizes, and why it’s so important to get the choice right!
What Is The Best TV Screen Size?
It’s practically impossible to come up with a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. This is because different homes require different TV screen sizes. As such, technically the “Best” TV screen size is the one that best suits your individual needs.
If you’re looking for a TV that you can place in a smaller room, like a bedroom, then you’ll want a smaller screen! This is also the case if you only need a simple screen for watching the simplest content. For instance, if you simply want to tune into the news every morning, while you get ready for work, then a smaller TV screen size will suit you perfectly. You’d also save more money in the long run.
There is no single “best” screen size. It’s ultimately down to personal preference. The best screen size depends on your personal needs and the amount of space you have available for the TV!
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a cinematic screen that brings out the potential of your films and shows, then you’ll want to scale up. 98-inch TV models are some of the largest on the market and offer a truly cinematic experience. But this isn’t to discredit smaller TV screen sizes. Even the comparatively smaller 65-inch TV or 75-inch TV can still boast an immense view.
Ultimately, whether a TV screen is the best for you will depend on what you want from the screen, and the space you have available!
Are Larger TVs Better?
When it comes to buying a new TV, the most common tendency is to max out. Many people will opt for a screen slightly larger than they originally intended, just because they can. While this sounds like a great and exciting idea in the short term, it can prove troublesome in the long run. It’s very easy to end up with a TV that’s too big!
Larger TVs are not always better. While they can certainly offer cinematic scope to any image, they can also prove an obstacle in a smaller room. If there’s not enough space for a larger TV, you’d have a lot of trouble trying to find a suitable, and most importantly, secure place for it to rest. This could result in the TV careening on a crash course for the ground at the slightest touch!
Preferably, there should be enough space in your room that you never need to come into direct contact with the TV itself. If you’re planning to place your TV on a TV stand, you should also make sure it’s not wider than the stand itself. A TV too large for its stand would be much easier to bump!
Before you set out to buy any TV, you should be sure to measure the room you’re planning to place it in. This will help you to decide on a TV that actually fits! It will also help to narrow down your options, to make choosing just one TV much easier!
Do Larger TVs Cost More?
Ultimately, larger TVs do tend to cost much more than smaller models. Larger TVs naturally take longer and require more materials to manufacture. As such, their price very often reflects this. Again, this is why you need to carefully consider the size of your chosen TV. You don’t want to end up splashing all of your cash on a large TV that you can’t even fit into your home!
Larger TVs cost more to acquire and to run. They’re more costly to manufacture, which means you will have to pay more for one of your own. They also consume slightly more electricity than smaller models!
We’d recommend not only measuring your available space before hunting for a new TV but also coming up with a budget for your TV. While it’s important to be somewhat flexible, having a budget ensures you don’t ever end up paying too much or too little for a TV. Alongside screen size, you’ll need to consider other features, such as whether the TV is a smart model, or what its resolution is. These factors can all affect the total price of the TV.
Do Larger TVs Consume More Electricity?
It’s also worth noting that larger TVs do tend to consume more electricity than smaller models. With a larger screen size, there’s more power needed to create an image that fills it! Other factors that can affect energy consumption are resolution and display type.
Luckily, larger TVs only consume slightly more than smaller TVs. As such, you won’t have to pay too much extra for your energy bills! If you do want to be environmentally conscious, however, we would recommend scaling down, and opting for a slightly smaller TV!
How Do You Choose The Right TV Screen Size?
To choose a TV screen of the right size, you’ll need more than just the measurements of your chosen wall. You’ll need to understand the unique dimensions of your space, and how your furniture is organised. The reason for this is that it ensures that your TV can be comfortably viewed.
When a TV is too big for your space, it can be incredibly difficult to sit down and watch. Sitting too close to your TV results in not only a fragmented view but also a great deal of neck ache! If you have a massive TV in a tiny room, the chances of sitting too close to the screen are much higher.
You need to ensure there’s enough space between you and your TV screen to make the most of its image. The larger the screen is, the more space will need to be between you and it!
As such, you want to make sure that there’s enough floor space for comfortable viewing of your new TV. The optimal viewing distance for a TV screen is 1.2 times its size. For instance, a 75-inch TV would require that you sit around 90 inches from its screen. A distance like this ensures that you can take in the full scope of the image without having to move your head. If you were looking for a 75-inch TV, but did not have enough space to ensure the 90-inch viewing distance, then you would need to look at a smaller model!
What Is The Most Popular TV Screen Size?
The most popular TV screen sizes have changed a lot from generation to generation. The popularity of specific screen sizes generally has a lot to do with cost. Larger televisions most commonly tend to cost a lot more than smaller televisions. In the current market, the most costly TVs are those with 98-inch screens. This means that these TVs are much less popular than slightly smaller TVs.
Currently, the most popular TV screen sizes tend to be between 65 to 85 inches. Screens at this size offer immense views and great potential for higher resolutions, while also not being too expensive. As TVs potentially get even bigger, and 98-inch TVs become more affordable, there’s every chance that the most popular TV might be a little bigger.
Do 100-Inch TVs Exist?
The mere existence of 98-inch TVs has people wondering whether they’ll ever see 100-inch TVs in their lifetime. The quick answer is that such displays actually already exist! 100-inch TVs have already been shown off at tech fairs and at press events. In fact, some TVs have far exceeded the 100-inch mark, with screens that truly take up the entire length of a wall!
However, it must be remembered that TVs of 100 inches or more have yet to enter the mass market. So far, these displays have only ever been shown off at specific events as a sort of “Prototype”.
100-inch TVs already exist, but they’re not widely available in the current market. TVs of this size have currently mostly been shown off at tech events and trade shows! It may be some time until they’re fully available!
It’s unclear whether TVs of this size will ever enter the market. And if so, when they would make their debut. It would be unwise for manufacturers to release 100-inch+ TV models in the current market. This is because 98-inch TVs are still some of the most costly models on the market. Many people are unsure about springing for TVs of this size and cost, so attempting to sell them on the idea of an even larger TV with an even higher price tag would be a lot of wasted effort!
Screen Resolution
TVs have seen some seriously incredible advancements in resolution over the last few decades. Full HD resolutions, like 1080p, totally revolutionised the way in which we enjoyed home entertainment, and for many years, were the dominant resolutions across the market. However, with the arrival of 4K and 8K resolutions, home entertainment has witnessed another totally amazing resolution revolution!
Not only is there a vast array of screen sizes to choose from, but also a vast array of screen resolutions. When looking for your dream TV, you’ll need to spend some time finding the perfect resolution to match the screen size.
Let’s take a closer look at screen resolutions, so you can choose your TV’s resolution with total confidence!
What Are The Different TV Screen Resolutions?
TV screen sizes and resolutions are actually more closely intertwined than you may expect. TVs are now available in a number of distinct resolutions. Below, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common.
Full HD
Full HD is the term used to describe any display that boasts a 1080p resolution. 1080p TVs were largely the standard across the TV market for many years, until being largely usurped by 4K resolutions. Now, you’re a little less likely to find a TV capped at a 1080p resolution. All 4K and 8K TVs can be used to display 1080p content, so for the most part, there’s no need to cap TVs at 1080p resolutions!
Nowadays, 1080p TVs make a perfect case for TV screen sizes and resolutions being closely intertwined. The smallest TVs on the market are usually capped at 1080p. This not only makes these compact displays more affordable, but it also makes practical sense. 4K as a resolution boasts 4 times the number of pixels as a 1080p resolution. 4K images look best when they have room to spread out. Their true glory can’t accurately be shown off on smaller screens.
Full HD, which is the technical term for 1080p, used to be the industry standard for high-resolution TVs. However, it has since been usurped by the visually superior 4K and 8K.
Full HD TVs are beneficial for their low price tags. Low-resolution TV screens are much more affordable to manufacture, and thus they cost much less to access.
UHD
UHD is basically just a fancy term used to refer to 4K and 8K TV displays. The term is an abbreviation of “Ultra High Definition”, and when you take a look at a UHD screen yourself, you’ll quickly understand why.
UHD TV screens are some of the sharpest and clearest on the market, and they help to make both film and TV content look its very best. UHD TVs are best recommended for those looking for long and relaxing nights reclined in front of the set. They’re perfect for binge-watching the latest Netflix craze, or for diving into the year’s biggest blockbusters. 4K displays feature 4 times the number of pixels as 1080p TVs, while 8K TVs boast 4 times that amount! This means that images on 4K and 8K screens have unparalleled clarity.
4K and 8K both look much better on wider screens. This is because the greater screen space allows the image to spread out. Packing a 4K or 8K image into a tiny screen would only make it more difficult to see the benefits that these resolutions offer.
Larger screens benefit from higher resolutions, but it’s worth noting that it also works in the other direction. Higher resolutions greatly benefit larger screens. It would be largely impossible to find a larger TV screen that didn’t offer support for resolutions up to 4K or 8K. This is because an 85-inch TV, for instance, wouldn’t look its best if it were forced to only display at 1080p.
Is 8K Better Than 4K?
Seeing as 8K boasts 4 times the clarity of 4K, you might be led to wonder why 4K displays are still so popular. It’s easy to assume that 8K is better than 4K in every way. On a purely technical level, yes, an 8K TV screen is visually superior to a 4K TV screen. However, In order to show this off, you will need good 8K content.
The unfortunate problem is that there is much less 8K content available than 4K content. For instance, most premium streaming services offer only 4K as the highest resolution. Even the most powerful consoles, like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, can only output at 4K at the very best.
You can always make use of 8K upscaling programs to automatically enhance 4K content for an 8K resolution. But this technology isn’t always perfect!
8K TV screens are technically superior to 4K TV screens. However, they’re not definitively better. 4K TVs are still very popular thanks to the fact that there’s more content available for them!
Is It Worth Buying An 8K TV?
8K TVs might seem like quite a tough sell. However, they’re not a terrible investment at all! 8K TVs can be used to enjoy 4K content, and they can also upscale content in real-time. With an 8K TV, you can still happily enjoy 4K content, while being fully prepared for 8K content whenever it’s available.
There’s also the chance that content may be produced to target 8K resolutions moving into the future. With an 8K TV, you will be ready for the advent of 8K content becoming the industry standard!
Does 16K Exist?
Similarly to 100-inch TV screens, 16K TV screens actually already exist! Again, these particular displays have mostly only ever been shown off at trade shows and private events. 16K TVs have yet to enter the mass market.
It’s unclear when 16K TVs will ever make a splash in the TV market. It’s also unclear whether there’s any need for the resolution! 8K TVs have yet to overtake 4K TVs as the most popular on the market, so manufacturers likely don’t see the financial incentive to introduce 16K TV screens to the market.
16K TV screens would also need to be significantly large to make the most of the resolution. This would prove challenging for a number of households who may simply have no space for TVs with such extreme dimensions.
Display Type
TV screens don’t all operate in exactly the same way. Though, on the surface, some TV screens can look very similar, their unique display technologies can vastly affect the viewing experience.
Choosing the right display type is crucial to getting the most out of a given TV screen. OLED, QLED, and LED TVs all have their own unique benefits and drawbacks!
When browsing the TV market, you’ll no doubt encounter terms like “OLED”, “LED”, and “QLED”. It’s easy to get them confused. However, they each refer to different display types. Let’s take a closer look at each of these display types now!
What Are The Different TV Screen Display Types?
OLED
One of the most popular display types is OLED. This particular display type makes use of self-illuminating pixels. What makes these special is that they can not only create an image but also project their own light. Because of this, OLED TVs have no need for a backlight. In turn, OLED screens are also much thinner.
OLED TV screens work beautifully with 4K and 8K imagery. When each of the pixels turns off it results in the total lack of light. As a result, OLED TVs can show off true black values in all their richness! OLED is great for strong contrast and high detail.
OLED TVs are fantastic for film lovers and gamers. The extra contrast offered by OLED displays allows for immense detail that can make films more immersive, and games easier to play. OLED displays also have low input lag, for excellent control over intense games!
QLED
QLED TVs make use of specially designed semiconductors. These semiconductors are of such a microscopic size that they can’t actually be seen with the naked eye. When powered up, these semiconductors can recreate incredibly specific colours. QLED TVs are perfect for those who like their films and shows to be rich with colour.
Thanks to their unique technology, QLED TVs have much wider colour palettes than other competing display types. If you want a TV screen that bursts with colour then QLED is for you.
QLED displays don’t use simple pixels to generate images. Instead, they use microscopic quantum dots that can recreate specific colours. They’re great for HDR films, thanks to their wider colour palettes.
If opting for a QLED screen, it’s also worth checking to see if the TV is compatible with HDR video. HDR is a format designed to bring out the true potential of a TV display. It offers up wider ranges of colour and brightness. Naturally, HDR technology is perfectly suited to QLED screens!
QLED is best for film viewers who want to make the most of HDR. These screens aren’t great for gamers, as they typically have higher input lag.
LED
LED TV screens are the most basic type on the market. These screens make use of LED backlights that shine through the main panel to create visible images. LED TVs are some of the most affordable, and despite sounding less exciting than other display types, they are still perfect for 4K and 8K resolutions.
These TVs are great for their high brightness levels, which makes them great for homes frequently subjected to intense sunlight.
LED TVs are great for those looking to save a little bit of extra cash on their new TV. These displays are often inexpensive. This makes them great for those who need a basic TV. For cinephiles and intense gamers, it may not offer a great enough experience!
Refresh Rate
One of the most overlooked features of a good TV screen is the refresh rate. The reason for this is that most people are unclear on what exactly a refresh rate is.
Refresh rate is a metric used to determine how many times a TV screen can refresh its image in a single second. The more times it can, the smoother the motion appears on the screen. Refresh rates are referred to using “Hertz”. Most commonly, you’ll find TVs either boasting 50-60Hz refresh rates or incredibly high 120-144HZ refresh rates!
Why Does Refresh Rate Matter?
As we mentioned just above, the higher the refresh rate is, the smoother motion appears. Higher refresh rates are better for certain types of content. For instance, gamers benefit a lot from high refresh rates. A high refresh rate allows gamers to display their games at blazing-fast frame rates. For 120FPS games, it’s crucial to go for a 120-144Hz screen.
Higher refresh rates are also great for live sports. Sports fans love to get involved in the action, and higher refresh rates make this simple. You’d be able to see every single motion of every player!
Refresh rates mostly matter to gamers and sports fans. With higher refresh rates, it’s easier to follow the action and enjoy the best of games and sports. For film fans, high refresh rates are less important.
Higher refresh rates aren’t too important to film fans. This is because most films are usually displayed at a rate of 24 frames per second. Films can be upscaled in real-time to display at higher frame rates, but this often leads to the highly dissatisfying “Soap opera” effect. This is a term used to describe when films look unnaturally smooth. Film fans often decry upscaling technologies.
What Type Of TV Screen Is Best For Gaming?
If you’re an avid gamer, you’ll need a good gaming tv and we’d strongly recommend opting for an OLED display. OLED TV screens offer the highest number of benefits for gamers compared to other display types. For instance, they boast incredible response times that make them easily the best competitive option. And for those gamers looking to get lost in a good story, the higher contrast offered by these screens is totally worth singing about!
Frequently Asked Questions
In What Ways Can TV Screens Differ?
TV screens can differ in a massive number of ways. One way they can differ is in their total size. They can also differ in terms of their resolution, and refresh rate. TV screens also make use of a number of distinct display types. Choosing the right TV requires you to consider each of these different unique variations!
Which TV Screen Type Is Best?
This will entirely depend on what you are using your TV for. If you want to watch blockbusters and arthouse films, you’ll want a TV with a great image quality. If you’re an avid gamer, then you’ll need a highly responsive TV screen with minimal lag. If you just need an average TV, then an LED display may be just right!
