Summer’s twilight days may usher in the year’s most lamentable period of change – shorter days, colder weather, the inescapable closing of the holiday window– but with it arrives another long spell of cosy, languorous weekends in front of the TV. That’s right, binge-watching is back for another season.
The content is already out there and ready for you to watch, and by this time of year the excuses to stay in begin to write themselves, so the last ingredient in the mix is a top-quality TV to enjoy it all on.
You probably already have a TV at home, but should you be looking to upgrade this autumn. There are plenty of great options for you to check out, from the wide screens to the best 43-inch displays in the UK, all packing smart capabilities as standard. Not sure where to start? Let us help you out…
Smart
When considering a new TV to begin binging your favourite content, it would be worth checking out the smart range first. A TV classified as Smart indicates that it offers internet connectivity, granting access to streaming platforms and other content marketplaces – essentially a wide-screen, entertainment-orientated computer. For example, the Samsung QE43QN90A can access a range of streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime and Rakuten, wirelessly and straight out of the box.
The Samsung webOS is easy to use and available straight out of the box. Not into TV shows or box sets? From a smart TV, more apps can be downloaded in order to expand your world of entertainment, including sports channels and other video and music content channels such as YouTube or Spotify.
Alternatively, should you end up purchasing a TV that doesn’t have smart capabilities built in, there are auxiliary products such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick that can integrate these services into your model for a small fee.
Size
In the minds of the uninformed, the size of a TV correlates directly with the quality of the experience – bigger means better. However, this isn’t always the case, as a disproportionately big TV in comparison to the room it fills will lead to eye strain and ultimately fatigue. Such conditions aren’t conducive to the ultimate TV binge-athon, so it’s important to select your new TV in accordance with the size of your chosen room.
A handy calculation to work out your optimal screen size is to divide your intended viewing distance by 1.2 then proceed with this figure as a guide. For example, if the viewing distance is seven and a half feet, divide 90 inches by 1.2 for an optimal screen size of 75 inches.
If you’re looking for a decent middle ground option, a 43-inch TV such as the Sony BRAVIA KD43X80JU would suffice most average size living rooms while still providing an immersive movie night experience.
If it’s a bedroom you’re eyeing up as this winter’s binge bunker, then there are many smaller screens, such as the Samsung UE32T4300AKXXU.
