TV Buying Guide: How to Choose a TV

TV BUYING GUIDE

How to choose a TV

From understanding specs to deciding between different TV sizes, there's a lot to consider when choosing the right TV. That's why we're here to help guide you through the process with this handy TV buying guide.

Key considerations when TV shopping

Choosing a TV is simple: the best TV to buy is the one that fits your home and lifestyle. The LG TV buying guide will help break down your options based on your needs—whether you enjoy watching sports, streaming the latest box office hits or gaming in ultra high-definition.

TV qualities to look for

Display technology

Understanding display technologies is crucial to selecting the right TV for your home. OLED TVs, which use the premier technology on the market pioneered by LG 11 years ago, completely emit their own light resulting in perfect black and a wider viewing angle for those who want the absolute best home cinema experience.

Standard LED TVs are the most common currently on the market and, as the name implies, utilize an LED panel for backlighting to enhance brightness and contrast. Some LED TVs, like the LG QNED lineup that utilizes Quantum Dots for richer, more colorful images, incorporate advanced technology that utilize Mini LEDs for higher peak brightness, greater precision and detail. Some manufacturers call this technology QLED. (Keep in mind that OLED technology creates perfect black which allows for the greatest level of detail and contrast.)

Finally, LCD TVs provide the original framework for LED TVs and utilize an older, less advanced method of illumination, though they are still available on the market.

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Screen sizes

It's important to consider how the screen size you choose will impact your viewing experience. Most shoppers prefer a screen between 65" to 77", though many gamers will want to keep their screen size to 42" or 48" to reduce eye strain while grinding to the top.

Modern TVs come in multiple sizes, so you're bound to find one that fits your space—and viewing distance—like a glove.

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Picture quality & technology

Picture quality & technology Though 4K resolution is the prevailing standard, getting the most from your picture quality doesn't stop there. For those wanting to go above and beyond 4K UHD quality, LG's custom-engineered Alpha Artificial Intelligence Processors come armed with features like AI Picture Pro and AI Super Upscaling*, so no matter what you watch, you'll enjoy smooth, crisp picture and sound in a resolution that goes beyond your wildest dreams.

Looking for picture that shines even brighter? Our top-performing OLED evo TVs dazzle thanks to our Brightness Booster Max technology and offer optimal contrast via perfe>ct black. Our LG QNED TVs come equipped with Quantum Dot and NanoCell Color Technology to illuminate your entire space with a brilliant explosion of color and contrast.

OLED EVO QNED 4K UHD

*Image quality of upscaled content will vary based on the source resolution.

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Smart features

Smart features in TVs have been around for some time and continue to evolve with convenient features like intelligent search recommendations and voice commands. Most importantly, they allow you to connect to your favorite gaming and entertainment apps, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV and over 300+ free LG Channels* available exclusively on LG TVs.

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*Internet connection required; number of LG Channels subject to change.

Gaming features

When building their battlestations, gamers will want to look for a strong processor equipped to handle 4K gaming and a high screen refresh rate, also referred to as frames per second, of at least 120Hz to get those fluid action sequences ideal for sports fans, gamers and movie buffs.

Some LG TVs even come armed with a 144Hz refresh rate to support high-end PC gaming with a compatible graphics card. Take the experience even further with bonus features, such as our LG Game Optimizer, Nvidia GeForce NOW, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync to reach the speeds needed for a seamless experience with the latest games.

SHOP 42" C4 SHOP 48" C4

OLED Evo

OLED

QNED

4K UHD

Other features to look for

Resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels in your TV's picture. Pixels are small dots or squares that work together to create the images you see on your display. Simply put: the more pixels, the clearer the picture—so you'll want to shop for a TV capable of scaling your content to how you prefer. A quick tip: most modern streamable content is in 4K resolution.

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Refresh rates

Gamers and action movie lovers will appreciate a higher refresh rate, which allows your TV to display more frames per second for smooth, fast action with reduced tearing and blurring. Most all LG OLED and QNED series TVs come equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate to help make sports, fast-paced movie scenes and console gaming come to life.
For dedicated gamers, our OLED C4 and G4 models come equipped with 144Hz refresh rates for next-level PC gameplay that will leave any gamer stunned.

Inputs

Hosting gaming sessions or movie nights? Consider what types of inputs you'll need to plug in your consoles or other devices to play your content. LG TVs play nice with all your devices with built-in HDMI inputs, including HDMI 2.1 and HDMI eARC, plus USB connectivity ready to roll from the very start.

Audio Quality

Built-in audio capabilities in TVs continue to improve year after year. As a matter of fact, select LG QNED and all OLED models come equipped with Dolby Atmos®4 tech combined with custom AI Processors that automatically up-mix multi-channel audio for an immersive listening experience all in one. For cinematic audio that sends a shiver up your spine, check out LG's Soundbar offerings for a perfect pairing with your new TV.

Home cinema features

Modern TVs come packed with features to take your viewing experience to the next level. Build the home cinema of your dreams with features like Dolby Vision™4 for extraordinary color, contrast and brightness and FILMMAKER MODE™, allowing you to see films just as the director intended.

Design

It's time to decide: do you plan to wall mount your new TV or have it stand on its own? If you're considering wall-mounting your tech, the latest generation of LG OLED evo features One Wall Design with a built in bracket that leaves virtually no gap when you hang it on the wall,5 with ultra-slim design to display like a work of art in your very own home gallery.

Budget

No matter what your budget, there's a TV out there perfect for your home. From the amazing value of our 4K UHD TVs, equipped with endless free content via the built-in LG Channels app, to our top-performing OLED technology, there's a wide range of options available for all types of shoppers.

Warranties

When investing in a new TV, you'll want peace of mind that your tech is protected for years to come. With a 5-year panel warranty6—and industry-leading tech perfected for over a decade—you can watch on and on with confidence and peace of mind that we stand behind our premium LG OLED evo TVs.

The scoop on reliability

When you invest in a new TV, you'll want to be sure that your new tech comes strapped for the long haul following your purchase and is able to keep up with the industry's hottest features, such as artificial intelligence. You may even ask yourself: so how long do LG TVs last?

With our exclusive tech like webOS Re:New, you can rest assured you'll enjoy top-rated performance and peace of mind with new software updates and feature refreshes for up to 5 years.* Plus, we stand behind our hardware with our 5-year panel warranty on our leading OLED G, M and Z Series models. And don't worry about everyday wear and tear. Our OLED TVs care for themselves with neat tricks like reducing energy output by automatically adjusting screen brightness and optimizing your TV's run power by removing unused apps.

Everyday uses for endless possibilities

The first question to ask yourself when starting the TV shopping process is 'why are you buying a TV?' Maybe you're hunting for the best TV for streaming, the best TV for gaming or a unicorn that tackles everything in between?

No matter how you plan to use your new tech, LG has got you covered; with refresh rates of up to 144 Hz—courtesy of our a11 AI processor—top-of-the-line gaming features and state-of-the-art cinema tech including Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Vision™ and FILMMAKER MODE™, the perfect TV for your needs is just a click away.***¹

Exploring TVs by size

Choosing the perfect size

If you're wondering what size TV is right for your room, it largely depends on where it will be placed. When looking for a TV size comparison chart it's easier to calculate your ideal TV viewing distance by size by multiplying your screen's diagonal by 1.2.

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The truth behind TV sizes

Technically, a TV's size is the measure of the TV's diagonal—so a 65-inch TV is actually smaller than a TV that measures 65 inches in width. Keep this in mind when measuring the space where you want to put your new TV. Remember to take note of height, width and wall depth as you shop for the right TV for your space.

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Finding your viewing angle

Most likely, you're planning on viewing your TV straight on. To achieve the best possible image clarity and reduce eye strain, you should place your TV directly in front of your main viewing point. However, don't fret if you're forced to view from off to the side when you've got a packed house. Our LG OLED evo is specially designed for comfortable viewing from any angle.

Inside picture and sound quality

To 4K and beyond

Here's how it works: each pixel in a TV provides a tiny dot of color, and all those dots combine to create one picture—so, a higher number of pixels leads to a higher resolution for sharper images and clearer details. UHD TVs typically start at 4K resolution, with a horizontal display of approximately 4,000 pixels for a grand total of about 8.3 million pixels, which is four times more than standard Full HD. Some TVs even go as high as 8K resolution. You'll want your new TV to be able to keep up with the hottest content, so go with the TV with the best picture quality for your budget.

Fast and furious

Have you ever been watching TV and noticed a bit of blur on-screen during scenes with fast action? This is common in TVs with low refresh rates. Refresh rates in TVs refer to how many frames per second your TV is able to process. Our LG OLED and QNED series TVs come equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate, or 120 frames per second. PC gamers can lock in even further with our OLED G4 and C4 models, armed with a mind-blowing 144Hz refresh rate for stunning gameplay.†

Putting the 'smart' in smart TV

Built-in AI helps to make your favorite movies and shows look even better by automatically enhancing contrast and color or even dynamically “remastering” content in 4K. LG's AI tech lives within our one-of-a-kind alpha processors—our fastest processors yet—designed just for our LG TVs to bring you the peak watching experience. Our AI processors also allow you to enjoy smooth, crisp picture and sound without compromise, thanks to features like AI Picture Pro and AI Super Upscaling.1

Immerse yourself in sound

When it comes to the ultimate home cinema experience, it's not just about picture—you'll also want pumped-up audio features to ensure you're getting the best TV for sound quality. Many LG TVs come pre-loaded with Dolby Atmos®4, a premier audio technology that transforms the sound coming from your TV for a truly immersive experience. Want to take your listening experience beyond built-in? Pump up your home cinema with LG's state-of-the-art Soundbars, which are designed to be a perfect aesthetic and digital match to complement top LG TVs. Take advantage of our WOW Orchestra tech, which uses the speakers on your LG Soundbar and LG TV simultaneously to create an expanded soundstage for audio you'll feel all around you.

Learn More About Soundbars

Smart features make the experience

Our stylish air purifiers not only look good—they do good, capturing airborne particles that can impact your family's comfort and health. Choose from two types of LG air care products according to your needs—airflow settings, and even an optional heating mode—so you can enjoy cleaner air all year round.

Plus, with LG's intelligent recommendation engine, it's even easier to find new content we think you'll love. And the best part: our top-rated TVs come future-proofed with our very own webOS Re:New, ensuring new software updates and feature refreshes for up to 5 years.*

LG's smart TV platform

Meet webOS—our one-of-kind smart platform that allows you to search for and discover your favorite content, streaming and entertainment apps.

LG Channels

Discover hours of premium content, including more than 300 free channels, all in one place with just a simple internet connection.

*Internet connection required; number of LG Channels subject to change.

webOS Re:New

We stand behind our tech long-term. Enjoy top-rated performance and peace of mind with new software updates and feature refreshes for up to 5 years.*

Types of TVs we offer

LG OLED Evo

LG OLED TVs have remained the world's #1 OLED brand for 11 consecutive years,* bringing to life brilliant color and perfect black with over 8.3 million self-lit pixels. Shop now and see for yourself.

How to choose a TV

Key considerations when TV shopping

TV qualities to look for

Display technology

Screen sizes

Picture quality & technology

Smart features

Gaming features

Other features to look for

The scoop on reliability

Everyday uses for endless possibilities

Exploring TVs by size

Choosing the perfect size

The truth behind TV sizes

Finding your viewing angle

Inside picture and sound quality

Smart features make the experience

LG's smart TV platform

LG Channels

webOS Re:New

Types of TVs we offer

LG OLED Evo

LG QNED

LG 4K UHD

Your TV's Remote

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