Best TVs for 2016 – and How to Find the Right One
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Best TVs for 2016 – and How to Find the Right One

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Buying a television these days is a lot more than looking for the right size. There are pixel counts, screen curves and a thicket of acronyms to consider, and the options can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, Consumer Reports has done much of the digging for you and has come up with most important factors to consider when buying a television.

1. Does size matter? If you are an avid sports fan or enjoy a theater-like experience when watching movies, go bigger. Televisions with 65-inch screens and larger have come down in price, and now start at around $900. If you want a monster screen, consider a 4K model with more pixels. (See issue No. 5 below for details). If your living room is small and your sofa is only six to eight feet from the screen, skip the huge TV. It can cause neck pain as you try to take in the whole screen, and a larger screen seen up close exposes all the flaws in picture quality.

Related: Best Home Theater Electronics of 2016 for Movies, Sports and Games

2. Smart or not? If you want the easiest way to stream Netflix or Amazon, go with a smart TV that hooks up to your Wi-Fi network, no additional equipment needed. But if you want more flexibility, consider buying a streaming media player ($35 and up) for your Netflix needs and keeping your old TV set. Some of these players come with more content and variety than smart TVs and are easier to navigate.

3. Curve or flat? If your TV-watching position is directly in front of the screen, then you may opt for a curved television, which some viewers think provides a more immersive experience. Some people also prefer the sculptural look of the curved screen. But if you want better picture quality from any direction, go for a flat screen. Curved screens can distort images slightly when viewed from an angle.

4. Invest in OLED? If you have the money and picture quality is your top priority, get an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) television, which offers more depth and dimension to darker scenes thanks to its pixel technology. These types of TVs also offer great views from any angle. But if you’re budget-conscious or plan to put the set in an area with lots of natural light, an LED LCD television will give a better picture in a high-glare room.

Related: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Trust Those Product Reviews on Amazon

5. Do I need 4K/Ultra High Def (UHD)? Because 4K TVs have more pixels, the picture quality is better. This is particularly noticeable on larger-screen TVs and for those who sit close to the screen, so it may be worth getting the 4K in those scenarios. But if you want to save a few hundred dollars or want a smaller television in the 40- to 50-inch range, you can probably skip the 4K.

6. 3D or only 2D? If you’re a blockbuster-movie enthusiast who loves being inside a disaster or action film, then a television with 3D capability may be right for you. But if you’re like most Americans polled by Consumer Reports, 3D is a feature to skip, especially since fewer 3D movies are being made.

When making your purchase, CR offers some shopping advice. Check out display televisions from different angles and compare them against each other. Adjust the volume on display sets to test sound quality. Once you make a purchase, immediately test your new set at home and return it ASAP if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Last, skip extended warranties (most credit cards offer these anyway) and expensive HDMI cables (the cheaper ones are just fine).

Here are Consumer Report’s Best Buy televisions:

65 inch screen

Samsung UN65KS8500, 2016 model
Price: $2,500
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 65UH7700, 2016 model
Price: $2,000
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 65UH615A, 2016 model
Price: $1,400
Features: Ultra HD

Sony Bravia KDL-65W850C, 2015 model
Price: $950
Features: HDTV, Smart TV

Samsung UN65J6300, 2015 model
Price: $1,700
Features: HDTV, Smart TV

60 inch screen

LG 60UH8500, 2016 model
Price: $1,800
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 60UH6550, 2016 model
Price: $1,360
Fe
atures: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 60UH8500, 2015 model
Price: $1,800
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 60UH6550, 2015 model
Price: $1,360
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

Samsung UN60JU6500, 2015 model
Price: $1,300
Features: Ultra HD

 

55 inch screen

Samsung UN55KU6500, 2016 model
Price: $1,000
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

LG 55UH7700, 2016 model
Price: $1,000
Features: Ultra HD, Smart TV

Samsung UN55J620D, 2015 model
Price: $600
Features: HDTV, Smart TV

LG 55LF6000, 2015 model
Price: $500
Features: HDTV

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