TV Buying Guide

A smart TV connects to your internet to let you enjoy the variety of streaming platforms available online as well as much more.

If you have a smart TV, just follow the instructions in your product manual to connect to the internet. If your TV doesn’t have smart capabilities, don’t worry. You just need to get a smart TV box such as an Amazon Fire TV stick or an Apple TV box. You can shop our range here.

There’s a handy formula you can use to work out the TV size you might need - measure the distance between where your TV will be and where you’ll be sitting in inches. Divide this number by two for your recommended screen size. This is just one way of working out the size that might be best, but you should always choose one that you like and feel comfortable with. We always recommend sizing up for your new TV where possible. With TVs being thinner and thinner, even the biggest TVs aren’t as bulky and imposing as they once were.

LED TVs use an LED backlight that lights up all the pixels in your TV to display the images you see on screen. OLED on the other hand doesn’t need a backlight. Each pixel can light up individually, meaning the colours you see on screen are rich and detailed. Plus, with no backlight, OLED TVs are much thinner. Shop our range of OLED TVs here.

4K is a type of screen resolution. It’s called 4K because it has four times as many pixels as a HD TV, meaning your favourite films and shows will look better than ever. Shop our range of 4K TVs here.

They are essentially the same.

Yes, there are variety of channels that broadcast in 4K.

Most streaming services will be very clear about the streaming quality. But you can check the info section on your TV to make sure the resolution you’re outputting is 4K.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.

A TV operating system is the software in your smart TV that lets you access and flick through all those network features such as your favourite streaming and catch-up services.

8K is the next step in video resolution. Just like 4K was an upgrade on Full HD, 8K has four times as many pixels as 4K. However, 8K is not widely available yet, with 4K being the industry standard at the moment. Shop our range of 4K TVs here.

A curved TV has a slightly curved screen for that cinematic experience. The idea behind it is that whatever the viewing angle, you’ll always get a good view of the screen.

Yes, just choose our TV wall mounting service at the checkout.

No, but we recommend buying your bracket from the same place your buy your TV. Our range of brackets are compatible with the TVs we sell, so you’ll know you’ll be getting the right one. Shop our range of brackets here.

The smallest is 40”, but we’d always recommend going bigger if you want to truly get the benefit of 4K.

No, you don’t have to upgrade your HDMI cables for your new TV. Even if you’re making the jump to 4K, the ones you currently have will do the job. However, the newer HDMI cables will help you get the most from your new 4K model, with richer and vibrant colours along with faster refresh rates. Shop our range of HDMI cables here.

In TV terms, smart means a TV can connect to the internet.

Whereas cable or traditional terrestrial TV gives you access to scheduled programmes. A smart TV gives you access to all the streaming and on demand services that let you watch the content you love when you want.

You just need a good internet connection.

You need a TV licence if you want to watch anything on BBC iPlayer or any live TV or sporting events. You don’t usually need a licence for streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Now TV and Disney +, but we always recommend checking the TV Licensing page for their guidelines here.

This can depend on the model you have, but usually you’ll have access to all the main ones such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Now TV, Disney + etc. Don’t forget most streaming services are subscriptions based, so you’ll need to sign up before you can watch.

When you plug in your TV and turn it on for the first time, you’ll usually be guided through the set-up process where you’ll need your WiFi name and password on hand.

Of course, choose our TV wall mounting service, and we’ll mount your new smart TV on your wall and connect it to your Wi-Fi – just make sure you’ve got any passwords ready to go. We’ll leave downloading and setting up any apps down to you.

If your current TV doesn’t have smart capabilities, you can still enjoy the benefits through a smart TV box or device with smart features such as an Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV box and some games consoles like a PS4 or an Xbox One.

This can differ between different models and manufacturers. In most cases you would update it through the settings section of your TV’s menu, but we recommend looking at your product manual for the best advice.

Usually you can download them from your TV’s specific app store.

Chromecast is a nifty little dongle that slots into your TVs HDMI port and gives you access to all the features that a smart TV has to offer, from your favourite catch-up services like iPlayer to streaming services like Netflix and Now TV.

Make sure both your TV and your other devices like your smartphone or laptop are connected to the same WiFi. You’ll then want to go into your TV input menu and select screen mirroring. Now you’ll be able stream content from your phone or laptop straight to your TV.