TV Buying Guide

Shopping for a new TV can be challenging; with so many different models out there. From picking between HD or 4K HDR to choosing the right brand from Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Sony, it can be hard to know where to start. Our expert guide will help you find the best TV.

From smart features to design, each brand has its own way of doing things. While you might have an idea of the basic features you want from your TV, like size or resolution, those are likely available from a variety of brands. So which one is right for you? To help you navigate the messy world of TVs, we put together a brief starter guide to the leading TV brands in Uganda

Choosing the best TV for your space.

If you are selecting a new television, you’ll have plenty of sizes to choose from. Our TV sizes range from 32-inch class and smaller to 85-inch class and larger. When it comes to TVs, bigger is usually better. If you’re getting a television for your bedroom, you probably don’t want to go smaller than 40 inches, and you’ll want a 55-inch TV or a 65-inch TV for a living room or main TV-viewing room, so everyone can see it. If you’re picking a television for your entertainment center, measure the space carefully and make sure you have at least an inch on the sides and on top for ventilation.
You’ll also want to decide between an LED TV and an OLED TV or a QLED TV. What’s the difference? it is explained later on below in this article.

Your next decision will likely involve resolution. Full HD TVs offer high-definition resolution, specified as 1920 x 1080 pixels. 4K TVs offer four times the resolution of Full HD, and 8K TVs deliver four times the resolution of 4K. Choosing 8K might seem like a no-brainer, but there is another thing to consider. When the initial 8K TVs hit the market, there was very little 8K content available to take full advantage of this technology, but every day more 8K content becomes available.

Getting the most out of your new TV

The type of content you watch is another consideration in selecting the best television for you. Will you be getting cable? Will you use an antenna? Both? Do you want to stream the latest movies and shows from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and the rest? For streaming, you can use a streaming device connected to your TV, or you can pick a smart television which offers internet connectivity. Smart TVs open up a whole gamut of entertainment options including streaming video, games, social media and more. With a streaming device, you’ll need an input. You’ll also need an input for your Blu-ray or DVD player if you’re planning on watching Blu-ray movies. If you’re a gamer, you’ll want an input for a game console, and if you work from home, you might want to connect your laptop, too. Be sure to choose a TV with enough HDMI ports to accommodate your needs.

Most TVs are wall-mountable, so you may also want to pick up a TV mount from our large selection. Additionally, all our televisions have built-in speakers, but as TVs get lighter and thinner, so do speakers. Check out our selection of sound bars so the quality of your audio will rival the quality of your video. Finally, if you’d like help with any aspect of the installation, don’t hesitate to take advantage of our TV mounting service. Geek Squad agents are ready and able to provide you with any assistance you need.

The different types of TVs explained: OLED vs. LED vs. LCD

Major TVs typically come in three varieties: OLED, LED, or LCD. OLED allows for smooth and colorful images with great contrast. In an OLED, each individual pixel self-illuminates, so you can control images at a pixel level. LED and backlit LCDs can be cheaper, but require an external source of light which increases the components so are chances of the TV breaking down or needing repair. There’s also QLED, which is just an LED with a brighter screen. OLED TVs are our top choice, but they don’t come cheap. If you cannot get an OLED, your next best bet would be an LED TV, followed by an LCD.

How much should I spend?

While LG, Samsung, and Sony all make superb high-end sets, their budget and midrange sets are often outshined by up-and-comer TCL and Hisense, which offers relative quality at a great price. Larger TVs are typically more expensive, and stepping down to a 55- or 50-inch model will bring the price down.

Best TV features to look for

Resolution:

This is the number of pixels on the screen. More pixels mean more details. Anything above 4K is aptly referred to as Ultra HD. With Ultra HD sets, you also get High Dynamic Range (HDR), which allows for better contrast with a wider array of colors. That’s why you shouldn’t buy a TV with less than 4K resolution.

Screen size:

You can sit twice as close to a 4K UHD TV thanks to better resolution, so pick the largest size that will fit in your space and budget.

Smart TVs:

Today, most TVs are smart, meaning they are WiFi connected and have built-in apps like Netflix and YouTube. Many TV brands offer their own unique platform, while some work with third parties like Roku to develop the interface. When shopping, if you like the TV but not the smart interface, you can always augment it with a relatively inexpensive media box.

Some of the best TV Brands

1. SONY

   

   Sony TVs have fantastic color accuracy and smooth motion for movies and sports. Sony TVs offer a wide variety of features ranging from smart TVs with 4K HDR Full Array LED to standard HD with Wi-Fi capabilities. Sony televisions provide superb TV resolution and audio quality with full HD and 4K LED TVs.

2. LG

   

   LG produces the best OLED TVs for movies and gaming and descent LED models for big groups. The LG line of TVs suit every room and budget. From premium OLED and the ultimate LED TV, NanoCell, to our wider Ultra HD range

3. SAMSUNG

   

   Samsung is one of the market leaders in TVs with huge ranges spanning cheap TVs to high-end, big-screen sets costing millions of shillings. Samsung TVs are best for bright rooms and unique sets.

4. PANASONIC

   

   One of the leading manufacturers of TVs, Panasonic have a huge range of screens that will suit any budget or room size. Panasonic’s Smart TVs feature a range of dedicated apps that bring online entertainment to the big screen

5. PHILIPS

   Philips has long been synonymous with cutting edge television technology and, as its current TV collection proves, this highly regarded Dutch brand remains something of a pioneer, making top of the range models equipped with the latest OLED technology to compact and affordable LCD sets

6. TOSHIBA

   Bringing more colour, passion and power to home entertainment, Toshiba is spear heading the future of TV through aspirational design and trend-setting boasting fantastic LED technology and 4K Ultra HDs

7. SHARP

   Sharp offers a wide range of TV’s with excellent picture quality and immersive sound. Their 4K and FHD TVs offer up-to-the-minute smart technology in a range of sizes

8. HISENSE

   

   Hisense TVs undercut rivals while offering similar specs and stylish designs, making them an attractive prospect for anyone looking for a high-end TV without a matching price. A big chunk of the market in Uganda is taken up by budget TVs offered by Hisense.

Some of the best TVs

Best Budget TVs

Best TVs for Gaming

Best OLED TVs

Best Smart TVs

Best 4K TVs

More in our TV range!

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