Apps are not just on phones these days. They are on practically every screen and device that we use – including TVs. Televisions with apps are called smart TVs due to the fact that they are able to connect with the internet, and can also interact with other types of web-enabled devices to open up a whole new world of entertainment possibilities.
Whether you are wanting to buy your first Smart TV or replace your current one, it can be a confusing process with all of the various brands, models and types that are available. In this guide, we will be discussing what smart TVs are, what to look for when shopping for one, and how much they cost. This information will help you make an informed decision so that you can find the best Smart TV for you.
What is a smart TV and what can they do?
Smart TVs come with apps and these apps are for a wide range of purposes. Here are some of the things you can do with Smart TVs thanks to the apps they come with:
Streaming movies and TV: The most popular apps by far on a smart TV are the ones that allow you to connect with subscription-based streaming services like Hulu and Netflix so that you can binge watch all of your favorite TV shows and movies.
Playing games: If you like playing mobile games such as Candy Crush you can play many of these games on your Smart TV just like you do your iPhone or Android phone.
Video chat: Many smart TV support video-calling services like Skype and also come with built-in cameras.
Interact on social media: You can interact through Smart TV with all of your social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Shopping: Many of the major online retailers offer smart TV apps that allow you to use your television remote control to explore and buy products.
Screen Technologies
One of the most critical factors when shopping for a Smart TV is its screen, both its picture quality and resolution.
Screen resolution: You will need to determine whether you want your television to be Ultra High Definition (resolution of 3840 x 2160, also referred to as 4k), or high definition (resolution of 1920 x 1080, also called 1080p). More detailed images are produced by a high-resolution screen, so for the best picture quality, you will want to get a 4K TV.
TV Panels: There are several different screen technologies that are available, with the most common ones being QLED, XLED, OLED, and LED. The most affordable are LED screens. They are able to produce quite impressive imagery at all resolutions. Each pixel on an OLED screen is individually lit which gives them a brighter image and makes them superior. They also are around three times more expensive than the other types of screen. QLED and XLED screens are variations of LED screens. They significantly improve color reproduction and brightness, but the OLED screen is still superior.
Cost of Smart TVs
Prices of Smart TVs can vary widely, ranging from $300 up to $3,500.
Inexpensive models range in price from $300 to $799. You can get a basic HD smart TV with a 1080p or bare-bones 4K screen.
Mid-range models cost around $800 to $1,2.99. Most of them come with 4K resolution but might not come with all of the features.
High-end models cost from around $1,300 to $3,500. These are all 4KTVs that also come with numerous features, including Doly Vision and HDR, along with the higher-end screen panel technologies such as OLED, QLED, and XLED. They also can serve as the anchor to your home theater system.
