Buying New TV Help

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shelford

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Master Geek
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#271853 29-May-2020 11:30

Hello

I'm looking at replacing my 6-year old LED LG TV but really have no idea where to start or what to look for. I mainly use my TV for shows (Netflix TVNZ etc and apple tv) and for gaming (Xbox one).

My budget is about 2k, could stretch a little if necessary and size is 55" plus (bigger the better?) In the past I've always known Samsung to be the 'best' TVS but the market has certainly changed a lot since I last bought a tv so any help would be appreciated

ShinyChrome

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#2494293 29-May-2020 12:07

Are you planning on buying a next gen Xbox/PlayStation or PC Graphics card?

Do you use it in a light controlled room?

Are you fussy about streaming content of onboard apps or would you use a streamer like an Apple TV, Android TV etc?

I would recommend taking a flick through this existing thread to familiarize yourself with the landscape, but really at your budget + a little extra, I think a 55" Panasonic or Sony OLED might be up your alley. If you are sitting within 3m, the picture quality is second to none. An LG B or C series would be better for if you are planning on getting a next gen gaming console for its HDMI 2.1 support, but the cost goes up considerably.

If you haven't looked at any TVs released in the last couple of years, I would go to your nearest big-box retailer and test drive a few.

If you are worried about OLED burn-in (you shouldn't unless you are in the extreme edge case of users), need something with a bit more brightness for a brightly lit room, or want to go to 65" over the better picture quality, you could take a look at a Sony LCD-LED Tv if you are ok with Android TV, or a Samsung QLED if you are ok with no Dolby Vision support and the Tizen OS.

shelford

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Master Geek
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#2494300 29-May-2020 12:21

ShinyChrome:

Are you planning on buying a next gen Xbox/PlayStation or PC Graphics card?

Do you use it in a light controlled room?

Are you fussy about streaming content of onboard apps or would you use a streamer like an Apple TV, Android TV etc?

I would recommend taking a flick through this existing thread to familiarize yourself with the landscape, but really at your budget + a little extra, I think a 55" Panasonic or Sony OLED might be up your alley. If you are sitting within 3m, the picture quality is second to none. An LG B or C series would be better for if you are planning on getting a next gen gaming console for its HDMI 2.1 support, but the cost goes up considerably.

If you are worried about OLED burn-in (you shouldn't unless you are in the extreme edge case of users), need something with a bit more brightness for a brightly lit room, or want to go to 65" over the better picture quality, you could take a look at a Sony LCD-LED Tv if you are ok with Android TV, or a Samsung QLED if you are ok with no Dolby Vision support and the Tizen OS.

Yes I will buy the next gen Xbox so would waiting till closer to that time be a better idea?

I just have the TV in the living room which is a decent light.

I currently use all the apps via my Xbox one, plus I want to get an apple tv so I don't have to watch apple tv+ on my phone or laptop (got a years free subscription with my phone and can't stream to my current tv and no app for my tv or xbox)

Thanks, I'll take a look at that thread as well!

ShinyChrome

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#2494312 29-May-2020 12:45

shelford:

Yes I will buy the next gen Xbox so would waiting till closer to that time be a better idea?

I just have the TV in the living room which is a decent light.

I currently use all the apps via my Xbox one, plus I want to get an apple tv so I don't have to watch apple tv+ on my phone or laptop (got a years free subscription with my phone and can't stream to my current tv and no app for my tv or xbox)

Thanks, I'll take a look at that thread as well!

If you aren't in a rush, then I would be waiting. 2020 TVs are only just rolling out now, and one of the biggest upgrades this year has been the introduction of full (or near full, LG...) bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports on quite a few models. Not only will you get an idea of whether next-gen consoles will actually deliver on utilizing the full HDMI 2.1 feature-set, but Black Friday/Boxing Day is about the best time of year to buy currently. There are a few deals on outgoing 2019 models, but almost none are bettering their BF/BD deals from last year. The LG B9/C9 are the only 2019 TVs worth buying featuring HDMI 2.1, but the 55" models have been hanging around the $2.5k upwards mark.

If you needed/wanted a TV now, then either of those two above would be worth looking into (the Sony AF9 is technically a 2018 TV, but it is from their higher quality OLED range), but both are equipped with HDMI 2.0 ports. Again, its an open question on whether next-gen games will actually take advantage of that, but that's where the market is heading, so personally, that's the way I would be purchasing from now onwards.

Unless there is sun shining directly on the TV or bad reflections behind the TV, then I think you would be fine with an OLED.

Since you are using either an Xbox one or Apple TV, OS choice shouldn't really be a factor for you. Personally, I lean in favor of external streamers/devices and treating a TV like a dumb monitor where possible, as most TV OSes are barely kept alive by the OEM, and bar Android TV equipped TVs, usually die on the version they are released on.

sqishy

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#2494338 29-May-2020 13:24

Samsung QLED pretty good something like:

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/televisions/ultra-hd-televisions/49-59-uhd-tvs/samsung-qa55q80rasxnz-55-uhd-quantum-hdr-4k-smart-qled-television/prod180837.html

shelford

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Master Geek
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#2494344 29-May-2020 13:33

ShinyChrome:

shelford:

Yes I will buy the next gen Xbox so would waiting till closer to that time be a better idea?

I just have the TV in the living room which is a decent light.

I currently use all the apps via my Xbox one, plus I want to get an apple tv so I don't have to watch apple tv+ on my phone or laptop (got a years free subscription with my phone and can't stream to my current tv and no app for my tv or xbox)

Thanks, I'll take a look at that thread as well!

If you aren't in a rush, then I would be waiting. 2020 TVs are only just rolling out now, and one of the biggest upgrades this year has been the introduction of full (or near full, LG...) bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports on quite a few models. Not only will you get an idea of whether next-gen consoles will actually deliver on utilizing the full HDMI 2.1 feature-set, but Black Friday/Boxing Day is about the best time of year to buy currently. There are a few deals on outgoing 2019 models, but almost none are bettering their BF/BD deals from last year. The LG B9/C9 are the only 2019 TVs worth buying featuring HDMI 2.1, but the 55" models have been hanging around the $2.5k upwards mark.

If you needed/wanted a TV now, then either of those two above would be worth looking into (the Sony AF9 is technically a 2018 TV, but it is from their higher quality OLED range), but both are equipped with HDMI 2.0 ports. Again, its an open question on whether next-gen games will actually take advantage of that, but that's where the market is heading, so personally, that's the way I would be purchasing from now onwards.

Unless there is sun shining directly on the TV or bad reflections behind the TV, then I think you would be fine with an OLED.

Since you are using either an Xbox one or Apple TV, OS choice shouldn't really be a factor for you. Personally, I lean in favor of external streamers/devices and treating a TV like a dumb monitor where possible, as most TV OSes are barely kept alive by the OEM, and bar Android TV equipped TVs, usually die on the version they are released on.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and give me all of this information. I think I will wait till the new consoles are out as I'm not really in a rush!

Thanks again :)

ShinyChrome

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#2494349 29-May-2020 13:41

sqishy:

Samsung QLED pretty good something like:

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/televisions/ultra-hd-televisions/49-59-uhd-tvs/samsung-qa55q80rasxnz-55-uhd-quantum-hdr-4k-smart-qled-television/prod180837.html

JB HiFi has it for $2499, as do a few other places.

If you are looking at an LCD-LED tv, I reckon the Sony X950G is the better buy. The Q80R might subjectively have better picture quality, but I would debate whether it is $700 better. Hell for $300 more than the Q80R, you could even get the 65" X950g, which I opine would have a bigger impact on experience than minimal differences in picture quality. Completely subjective though, so worth comparing the two in-store at the very least if you can.

shelford:

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and give me all of this information. I think I will wait till the new consoles are out as I'm not really in a rush!

Thanks again :)

No problem, hope it helps.

This is just one biased meat popsicle's opinion though, so I would encourage you to take a gander through a couple of the other recent threads. Rtings and FlatpanelsHD are great sources of actual information, as opposed to the marketing speak of TV manufacturers and salespeople, as is Vincent Teoh of HDTVTest on YouTube.