Finding the Best LED TV for Every Budget

LED TVs offer television viewers a lot of perks, but findingthe best LED TV for your budget can be a hassle. With so many brands, sizes,and styles out there, it’s hard to know whether you’re getting the best bangfor your buck, or whether your hard-earned money is going to waste.

In this article, we’ll sort through the process for you.We’ll explore why so many consumers are investing in LED TVs these days. Then,we’ll look at the three biggest decisions you’ll have to make in order to findthe best LED TV for your budget:

1.     Size

2.     Brand

3.     Technology

First, let’s take a look at what an LED TV is and thebenefits that make it worth your while.

PERKS OF LED TVs

LED TVs use Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to create theimages you see on the screen. This technology produces a high-contrast picture,where the whites are very white, and the blacks are very black.

Clear Visibility: The outstanding contrast ratiomeans the TV screen will be easy to see in both well-lit and dark rooms.

Portability: In general, an LED TV is lightweight andportable, giving you lots of flexibility whether you intend to stand it up onfurniture or mount it to the wall.

Cost Savings: Perhaps one of the biggest benefits ofLED TVs is their potential to save you money. Many of them are highlyefficient when it comes to consuming energy. Less electricity usedto power your television means smaller utility bills each month!

Fans of LED TVs say they combine the great contrast of aplasma screen with the superb brightness of an LCD TV, which helps explaintheir growing popularity. So, now that we know investing in one is a wisechoice, let’s move on to finding the best LED TV for your budget.

SIZE MATTERS

The first step is to determine what size screen you want.Take a look at where you intend to use the TV. If it’s going in a bedroom orden, for instance, you can probably opt for a smaller size, allowing you toinvest in a more reliable brand. On the other hand, if your new LED TV will bethe centerpiece of your living room or home theater, you might need to make afew sacrifices on brand and features in order to get a bigger screen.

Remember though, when it comes to TVs, size really doesmatter. The tech gurus at CNETsay one of the most common things they hear are complaints from people whodidn’t get a big enough screen. They also say of all the decisions that go intochoosing the best LED TV, opting for a bigger size is the best use of yourmoney.

WHAT’S IN A BRAND?

Once you’ve identified the right size for your needs, it’stime to start looking at brands. There are a lot of different televisionmanufacturers out there, and their price usually aligns with their reputation.

Big Names: You’ve most likely heard of the big nameson the market. We’re talking about brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG. They eachhave their own pros and cons, but the general consensus is they all make outstandingTVs. Naturally, these household names will be more expensive, but if you canfind a size and style in your price range, you can rest assured you’ll bebuying a quality product.

Middle of the Road: Just below that tier, a number ofother manufacturers have established a pretty good name for themselves over theyears. Brands like Vizio, Toshiba, and Insignia are putting some quality LEDTVs on the market, and their prices tend to be a little less than thosetop-tier brands.

Budget Brands: A few other brands are gainingpopularity among buyers for their budget-friendly prices. Manufacturers likeHisense and TCL are quickly becoming known as “budget brands.” With thesebrands, you’ll be able to get a bigger screen for less money.

Be careful, though. As with most electronics, a cheaperretail cost for a comparable product usually means some corners were cut inproduction. Ultimately, when deciding on the best brand for your budget, makesure you do your research by reading online reviews from both experts andfellow consumers.

GETTING HIGH-TECH

The last thing you’ll need to understand when finding thebest LED TV for your budget are the different types of LED technology and howthey can impact a television’s price. With this information, you’ll be able todecide how high-tech you want to get and what type of bells and whistles youcan afford.

A quick Google search for a Samsung 65” LED TV revealsseveral different options, ranging in price from $500 to upwards of $5,000! Sohow can TVs that are the same exact size and brand have such different prices?It all depends on the technology, and in today’s television industry thattechnology is changing at warp speed. You’ll need to decide how much you’rewilling to spend. Do you want to keep costs low with a TV that’ll get you thebare minimum in tech features? Or shell out to guarantee you’ll be equippedwith the technology of tomorrow?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the major differences inLED TV technology that can impact a TV’s price.

HD vs UHD Resolution: Just a few years ago, standardLED TVs were “full high-definition.” That meant your set had a resolution offull HD 1080p. While practically all TVs are still equipped to deliver a 1080ppicture these days, most of them are now Ultra HD capable too, meaning you canget watch your favorite shows in 4K or even 8K resolution.

You’ll save money if you can find a television with HD onlycapabilities, but your set won’t be future-proof if 1080p ever becomesobsolete.

QLED vs OLED: Chances are when you’re shopping for aTV, you’ll come across these two very similar acronyms. They sound nearlyidentical, but their technologies are polar opposite.

QLED stands for Quantum Light-Emitting Diode. It’s basicallyan improvement on traditional LED technology, using a quantum dot to transmitbacklight to each pixel.

On the other hand, OLED, which stands for OrganicLight-Emitting Diode, uses light from the pixels themselves to self-emitbacklight.

In general, QLED TVs are less expensive and produce abrighter image. However, OLED TVs typically have better contrast and viewingangles. When it comes to long-term savings through energy efficiency, OLEDs winthat battle, too.

There are a few other factors that tend to impact atelevision’s price. More expensive TVs often add higher refresh ratecapabilities to help reduce motion blur. Also, if a television supports highdynamic range (HDR), you’ll likely pay more for it.

Of course, like anything you buy, cheaper products areusually made with cheaper materials. If you’re looking for durability,you may want to consider a more expensive LED TV that’s built with a metalframe, rather than plastic.

And while television is all about the picture, don’t forget aboutsound quality. You’ll want to consider the size of the built-in speakersand whether the TV supports surround sound. Those features can bump the priceof your new TV up a bit. However, if you don’t plan to invest in an externalsound system, the extra cost might be worth it.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’re pinching pennies or sparing no expense, thethree biggest factors you’ll want to consider when purchasing a new television aresize, brand, and technology. Remember not to skimp out on size. Be sure to doyou research on brands and decide how high-tech you really want to go. Onceyou’ve figured out those three things, you’ll be well on your way to findingthe best LED TV for your budget.