TV buying advice: New televisions for every occasion
26.7.2019
Translation: machine translated
When choosing a new TV, you don't want to deal with the detailed differences between QLED and OLED or whether the TV supports HDR10+ or just HDR10? Then our buying guide is the right place to start.
We naturally take a look at the screens, but also look at the details. In addition to our own experiences, we also read reports from others to get a comprehensive picture. In the end, we came up with recommendations for the following areas.
- A television for the home cinema
- The second set in the bedroom, kitchen or holiday home
- These televisions obey your every word
- Streaming TVs for Netflix, Prime Video, Sky Ticket & Co
- For Playstation and Xbox: gaming is better on these TVs
Would you like a few more inches?
Televisions are not only getting bigger and bigger, but large TV sets are also getting cheaper and cheaper. Nevertheless, you should follow a rule of thumb when choosing the screen diagonal: For Full HD televisions, the old rule is that the seating distance should be two to three times the inch size. For 55 inch, this means around 2.80 to 4.20 metres. With UHD televisions, you can get even closer. A factor of 1.6 is considered ideal here. For example, with 55 inches, you can move almost 60 centimetres closer to around 2.20 metres.
OLED, QLED, LCD and quantum dots
There are currently two relevant display technologies for televisions: OLED and LCD. LCD is the oldest, cheapest and most common technology. OLED displays consist of organic light-emitting diodes. Although they are more expensive than LCD televisions, the colours on them are usually richer and the black is really black because the OLED pixels can switch themselves on and off like a lamp.
In order to keep up with the rich colours of OLED TVs, manufacturers have developed so-called nanoparticles for LCD televisions. LCD televisions can display more colours the whiter the light from the LED backlight is. The problem: LED light tends to be bluish in colour. The nanoparticles ensure that the bluish light of the LEDs takes on a pure white colour. This makes richer colours possible.
At Sony, the whole thing is called Triluminos. Samsung calls its nanoparticles Quantum Dots and markets its televisions as QLED TVs. LG, on the other hand, calls it NanoCell TV.
4K, UHD and HDR
4K and UHD are two terms that are used synonymously for high resolution televisions. Strictly speaking, however, most devices have a UHD resolution of 3860×2160 pixels. 4K is actually 4096×2160 pixels. However, this difference is irrelevant when choosing a television.
In order for the investment in UHD to make sense, the TV should be at least 55 inches in size. Otherwise you won't see the difference to Full HD. For UHD content, you currently have to rely on Blu-rays, streaming services or console games. It will certainly be a few years before television channels in Germany switch their programmes to the higher resolution. To ensure that you can still enjoy the picture on your UHD TV, manufacturers are upscaling the lower resolutions.
Television manufacturers use terms such as Dolby Vision, HDR and the further developments HDR10 and HDR10+ to describe technologies that increase the dynamic range of the television picture. Because this massively increases the number of colours that can be displayed, the picture appears more natural and the lighting more balanced. While the difference between Full HD and UHD is not so noticeable for the viewer, HDR makes a massive difference.
A TV for the home cinema
If you want to set up a small home cinema in your living room, the TV can't really be too big. Of course, it should have an excellent picture and high resolution - and you're prepared to spend a little more money for that. The sound, on the other hand, is of secondary importance, as you will certainly set up at least one soundbar or a complete speaker set in your small private cinema.
The LG OLED65C8, or the C8 series, was LG's best TV last year and is in the middle of the price range. Although it is the smallest at 65 inches, it has an OLED display with high contrast and a true black colour. The larger 75-inch Philips 75PUS7803 and Sony KD75XG8505, both of which run Android TV, have a better energy efficiency class. While the much cheaper Philips TV with Ambilight illuminates the room to match the picture, the Sony TV has twice the refresh rate and a very attractive Triluminos display. The Samsung UE82RU8009 is really big with 82 inches. The Korean manufacturer develops the software for its televisions itself. Tizen, as it is called, leaves nothing to be desired in comparison with webOS from LG or Android TV.
The second device in the bedroom, kitchen or holiday home
The second TV can usually be smaller, regardless of where exactly it is located - after all, you still have a larger main TV. But you still don't want to do without the usual standards of operation. Our recommended devices are also suitable if you don't want to spend too much money on your TV.
32 inches and a Full HD resolution have become the norm for affordable televisions. LG puts together the best price-performance package with the 32LK6200. For less than 300 euros, you get a smart interface with webOS and support for all HDR variants. Grundig has the best price with its 32 GFT 6820 and the best energy label with A+. Although you pay the most for the Philips 32PFS6402, you can enjoy the range of Android TV functions and have the wall behind the TV illuminated by Ambilight.
The much smaller 22PFS5403 from Philips stands out from the crowd. It has neither Ambilight nor is it smart. Instead, its power connection is the reason to buy it. You can power it using a 12-volt cable and use it in places where a conventional TV would remain black.
These televisions obey your every word
It's nice to have the remote control on the sofa, but not if you have to keep looking for it. It would be much more practical to talk directly to your TV. This is possible, at least if Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa is installed on your new TV. You usually activate the voice assistants via a button on the remote control and speak into a microphone there too.
With the LG 55SM8200 and the Samsung UE55RU7179UXZG, you can even choose whether you want to give your commands to the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Both voice assistants are available on the TVs. You can use both to select programmes, stop and resume playback and control the volume, among other things. Other Samsung models already have Bixby on board, but the Korean company's own voice assistant has yet to convince me. With the Philips 55OLED803, only the Google Assistant accepts your instructions. The significant surcharge is explained by the OLED display and Ambilight room lighting.
Streaming TV for Netflix, Prime Video, Sky Ticket & Co
If you are not interested in conventional TV programmes and Netflix and the like entertain you, your TV must be able to access the internet. Ideally, your streaming supplier's app should be pre-installed and you may even be able to start it directly with an extra button on the remote control. It's even worth paying the extra for 4K resolution. Because UHD content is currently mainly available from streaming services.
In contrast to the TVs for home cinema, which also easily meet the requirements for this category, I opted for smaller models. However, 4K is of course still available and, as with the Sony KD-55XF7596, there are also the appropriate buttons on the remote control. Thanks to Android TV, you can use numerous streaming services on the TV. This also applies to Tizen OS on the larger Samsung UE55RU7409 and webOS on the LG 55UK6750, both of which support HDR10+. The Sony lags slightly behind with HDR10.
For Playstation and Xbox: It plays better on these TVs
In order for the console to fit on the TV, it needs at least one HDMI connection - the selected TV models each have four - and because HDR and UHD are already more widespread for games than for TV programmes, it is worth paying attention to these features. You also need a low input lag to minimise the input delay. If available, a gaming mode in the TV reduces the input lag. To avoid streaks on the screen, the response time of the screen must be as short as possible.
OLED screens are said to have better response times. OLED pixels seem to react faster than LCD pixels. Input lag is generally good with Samsung and newer Sony models also offer good figures. That's why the Sony KD55AG9 is at the top of the list. When you're not playing games, the Android TV offers plenty of other entertainment. You can get away with the Samsung QE55Q85R at a slightly lower price, although it has an LCD panel with nanocrystals to improve its quality.
The LG 55SK8000 is a cheaper option. It has webOS on board and falls into energy efficiency class A+. After all, the console already consumes enough energy.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
