The World Cup will start next week, and this is a good opportunity to purchase a new TV screen to watch the games in high quality and on a big screen. There are many options on the market, and we turned to three experts at different companies operating in Israel to get the tips you must know before buying a TV.
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Panel type: What types of screens are there?
Guy Ben Yehuda, LG’s VP of Marketing in Israel, clarifies that “the television market is full of confusing technologies and buzzwords, which can only make a mess when you want to buy a new screen. In the end, the market is divided into two main categories: the first – screens with backlight, i.e. LED screens of various kinds. These agree that sometimes they can be cheaper, sometimes even brighter, thanks to the powerful backlighting capabilities. These agree that they are more suitable for everyday activities such as watching channels, movies and series on ‘normal’ channels and some gaming.
“The second category is the OLED screens, which know how to display stronger and clearer colors (which also affects the quality of the image) thanks to the ability of each pixel to turn on or off independently and display a complete black color. These are suitable for those who value maximum image quality, such as gamers Heavy or those who watch movies in extremely high quality.”
resolution: What is the new standard?
Shafrir Moses-Cohen, technical manager at the Hamilton Group, an importer of Xiaomi products in Israel, explains that a high resolution equals a better image. “Resolution shows the amount of pixels that are on the screen and is indicated by the values of the height and width of the screen. The higher the resolution, the sharper and more focused the resulting image will be,” he explains.
According to him, in recent years the Full HD standard has entered, which is actually a standard with 1,080 pixels and it has become common and accepted in the world. “But the world of technology is developing at a dizzying speed, and today the new standard is 4K resolution, as it is called, and it displays four times more pixels than the previous one. This resolution jumps the viewers’ experience like a winning goal in the 90th minute, provides an extremely realistic display and will attract the fans and give them It feels as if they are on the field in real time. Because buying a TV screen is a long-term investment, it’s better to go for the top.”
Screen size and viewing distance: How do you calculate what to buy?
Chen Harel, product manager at Semline, an importer of Samsung electronics in Israel, details how the calculation should look. “The amazing broadcast quality that already exists today makes it possible to increase the size of the screen in the living room. This is a clear function: the bigger the screen – the more you can feel a part of the field,” he explains.
According to Harel, the popular formula for calculating the appropriate screen size with a 4K/8K resolution is as follows: “The desired screen size is equal to the diagonal of the screen in centimeters times 1.2. For example, a 75-inch screen, convert the inch to cm (meaning multiply by 2.54 ). This comes out to 190 cm, which we multiply by 1.2, and we get approximately 2.3 meters. So, if the living room has a viewing distance of 2.3 meters, it will be possible to enjoy a 75-inch screen. For the sake of the example, if the viewing distance is 2.6 meters or more, you can turn to a larger screen of 85 inches”.
On the other hand, Ben Yehuda wants to break a myth, and according to him there is no such thing as too big. “In the past, you had to purchase small screens, because viewing from a distance meant that you had to move your head all the time. On the other hand, sitting up close would show a pixelated and low-quality screen. In recent years, TV screens (such as the OLED screens) have an image optimizer for quality 4K, with which you don’t see a pixelated image when you sit close, and when you sit far away it allows you to watch comfortably,” said Ben Yehuda.
Screen refresh frequency: A uniform sequence of images and at a proper pace
Mozes-Cohen points to the screen refresh frequency as one of the most important data. “Screen refresh rate, in simple words, describes the number of times the displayed image changes per second. The higher the image refresh rate – the faster and smoother the images will be and without visible skips, delays and smears. A high refresh rate will give you a more realistic image and an exciting viewing experience More.
“Today, the refresh rate that is considered the standard in the field of television screens is 60 Hz, but it already has difficulty keeping up with and following objects that move at extremely high speeds – extreme sports, fast scenes in movies and gaming. In order to create a uniform sequence of images and experience the World Cup games (and not only) in the ultimate form, in TV models with K4 resolution the refresh rate reaches 120 Hz and even more.”
Design: The television is part of the home space
Ben Yehuda says that it is not only a matter of the screen’s borders, but also of the overall design in the home space: “The screen is a central part of the living room, so it is important to choose a screen that blends in ideally with the design of the home you have chosen. It is recommended to choose particularly thin screens that blend in with the wall and blend in, what which helps integrate them with the rest of the living room.”
Contrast ratio and external light: How does it affect the colors on the screen?
Harel explains that the light around the device affects viewing. “The TV screen is in the living area, and if the environment is lit by large showcases, designed lighting strips, etc., it is advisable to purchase a screen with high luminance, so that the image will appear clearer and sharper. Screens with up to 3,000 nits will allow you to enjoy more in a bright environment, without having to darken the space”.
Mozes-Cohen also describes why it is important to understand what contrast ratio is: “As the name suggests, this criterion expresses the contrast between dark and light colors. The higher the contrast ratio – the more intense, detailed, sharp and true to the original the colors will be. In a tournament like the World Cup, on a variety of The costumes of the different teams, striking colors will put you even more into the atmosphere. A TV supported by a high contrast ratio displays an almost infinite number of colors and will know how to handle the lightest and darkest shades well.”
Audio quality: One word that is important to appear
Most people looking for a new TV screen neglect sound, and this is a common mistake according to Moses-Cohen. “When talking about the sound quality, look for one word – DOLBY, because the company dictated the new standard in the sound of the screens, in all kinds of technologies.”
responsibility: How much more should you really pay for safety?
When buying a new TV screen it is important to have a good warranty. “It is always better to purchase through stores that work with the official importer. Most of the official importers also have a warranty on the installation itself, and they provide an insurance certificate from the company itself as well as certified professionals trained by the manufacturer,” says Ben Yehuda.
According to him, “It is also important to get as many years as possible on the screen warranty. There is always the option of extending the warranty period. A good warranty and professional help can save thousands of shekels in case of damage to the screen, so it is always recommended to choose televisions that come with several years of warranty from an official importer.”