TV Buyers Guide – How to Choose the Right Television?

Choosing a new TV can be confusing. Screen size, OLED, Mini LED, QLED, 4K, HDR, refresh rates and smart features can make two televisions that look similar on paper perform very differently in your home.

At Dacombes of Wimborne, we help customers compare TVs based on how and where they will actually be used. Whether you watch films, sport and everyday television, enjoy gaming or want a large-screen home cinema experience, this TV Buyers Guide explains the key things to consider before choosing your next television.

You can shop our TV range online or visit our Wimborne showroom in Dorset, where our experienced team can demonstrate selected TVs and help you compare picture quality, screen sizes, sound and features for yourself.

What Should I Look for When Buying a New TV?

Start with screen size and viewing distance, followed by the type of display technology, such as OLED, Mini LED, QLED or LED. Then consider picture quality, 4K resolution, HDR performance, refresh rate, smart TV features, connections and sound quality.

The best TV isn't necessarily the model with the longest specification list. A bright family living room, a darker room used mainly for films and a gaming setup can all benefit from different characteristics.

Dacombes Tip: Decide where the TV will be positioned and measure your normal viewing distance before choosing the screen size.

What Size TV Should I Buy?

TV size is measured diagonally across the screen rather than across its width.

For modern 4K TVs, you can generally sit closer to a larger screen than was advisable with older lower-resolution televisions because the higher pixel density produces a much more detailed image.

As a practical starting point:

These aren't rigid rules. Some people prefer a more immersive cinema-style picture, while others prefer the television to be less dominant in the room.

Dacombes Tip: If you're replacing an older television, don't automatically buy the same screen size. Modern TVs generally have much slimmer bezels, so a larger screen may fit into a similar overall space.

Is a 55 Inch or 65 Inch TV Better?

For many living rooms, 55 Inch and 65 Inch TVs are the sizes worth comparing first.

A 55 Inch television can work particularly well where seating is relatively close or space is limited. A 65 Inch screen provides a noticeably more immersive picture and can be a better choice for films, sport and gaming where the viewing distance allows.

If you're unsure, visit our Wimborne showroom and compare screen sizes from approximately the same distance as you sit from your television at home.

OLED, Mini LED, QLED or LED – Which TV Is Best?

There isn't one display technology that's automatically best for everybody. The right choice depends on your room, viewing habits, preferred content and budget.

OLED TVs

OLED televisions use self-lighting pixels that can individually switch on and off. This allows extremely deep blacks, excellent contrast and impressive picture quality. OLED also generally provides excellent viewing angles.

Consider OLED if: picture quality, films, contrast and wide viewing angles are priorities.

Mini LED TVs

Mini LED televisions use a large number of very small LEDs in the backlight, allowing more precise control of brightness and contrast than conventional LED-backlit TVs.

Consider Mini LED if: you want a very bright picture, watch a lot of television during daylight or want strong HDR performance.

QLED TVs

QLED televisions use Quantum Dot technology with an LED-based display system to produce strong brightness and colour.

Consider QLED if: you have a bright room or want strong brightness and vibrant colour.

LED TVs

Modern LED TVs can offer excellent value and are available in a huge range of sizes. They can be particularly suitable where budget, screen size and everyday viewing are more important than achieving premium-level black performance.

Consider LED if: you want a good-value television for general viewing, a bedroom, kitchen or secondary room.

Is OLED Better Than QLED?

OLED is generally stronger for deep blacks, contrast and cinematic viewing, while QLED can be particularly strong for brightness and vibrant pictures in brighter rooms.

That doesn't mean one technology is universally better. The right choice depends on your room, viewing habits and budget.

For more detailed advice about OLED technology, read our OLED TV Buyers Guide.

What Is a 4K TV and Do I Need One?

A 4K Ultra HD television has a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels, providing four times the number of pixels of Full HD.

4K is now the normal choice for most mid-size and large new TVs. Streaming services, games consoles and other sources increasingly take advantage of 4K, while modern televisions can also upscale lower-resolution material.

For most customers buying a main television today, we recommend concentrating on a good-quality 4K TV rather than making resolution alone the deciding factor.

Is an 8K TV Worth Buying?

8K provides a higher resolution than 4K, but resolution isn't the only factor determining picture quality.

For most households, a high-quality 4K television remains the sensible choice because picture processing, contrast, brightness, HDR and the quality of the source material can have a greater effect on everyday viewing.

8K can make more sense for very large screens and specialist installations, but don't choose an 8K television simply because the number is higher.

What Is HDR on a TV?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It is designed to reproduce a wider range between bright highlights and dark areas of the picture, together with improved colour information when compatible content is being viewed.

Common HDR formats include HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, although support varies between manufacturers and models.

Good HDR performance depends on the television's actual capabilities, not simply whether "HDR" appears on its specification sheet.

What Refresh Rate Do I Need – 60Hz, 100Hz or 120Hz?

Refresh rate describes how frequently the television can refresh the image on screen.

For normal television and streaming, a standard refresh rate may be perfectly adequate. Higher native refresh rates become particularly valuable for fast-moving sport and gaming, where smoother motion can make a noticeable difference.

Gamers should also look at features such as HDMI 2.1, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), depending on the games console and TV.

What Is a Smart TV?

A Smart TV connects to your home network and provides access to compatible streaming services and apps without requiring a separate streaming box.

The available apps, features and interface vary between manufacturers and operating systems.

Before choosing a television purely because of its Smart TV platform, we'd recommend concentrating first on picture quality, screen size and the features you actually use.

Which TV Is Best for Watching Sport?

For sport, look for good motion handling, sufficient brightness, strong picture processing and a screen large enough to follow fast-moving action comfortably.

A higher-refresh-rate television can be particularly worthwhile for football, rugby, motorsport and other fast-moving sports.

Wide viewing angles can also be useful if several people regularly watch from different positions around the room.

Which TV Is Best for Watching Films?

For films, we'd prioritise contrast, black levels, HDR performance, accurate colours and good motion processing.

OLED is particularly popular for film viewing because individually controlled pixels can produce extremely deep blacks and excellent contrast.

For an even more cinematic experience, consider the television together with a soundbar or dedicated home cinema system rather than concentrating on the screen alone.

Which TV Is Best for Gaming?

For PlayStation, Xbox and PC gaming, consider features such as 4K resolution, 120Hz support, HDMI 2.1, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and low input lag.

Not every gamer needs every feature. A casual gamer has different requirements from somebody using a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PC at 4K and high frame rates.

Tell our team which console or gaming system you use and we can help identify TVs with the appropriate connections and features.

Do I Need a Soundbar With My New TV?

Not necessarily, but a soundbar can provide a substantial improvement to television sound.

Modern TVs have become increasingly thin, which limits the physical space available for speakers. A soundbar can improve dialogue, scale, bass and overall impact, particularly for films, television and sport.

For a more immersive setup, Dacombes can also help with separate speakers and dedicated home cinema systems.

Should I Wall Mount My TV?

Wall mounting can produce a clean appearance, free up furniture space and help position the screen at a comfortable viewing height.

Before wall mounting, consider the wall construction, TV weight, bracket compatibility, viewing height, cable routing and the location of power, aerial and network connections.

Dacombes offers professional TV installation and wall mounting, with more advanced solutions available for concealed cabling, media walls and integrated home entertainment systems.

How High Should a TV Be Mounted?

As a general principle, the central area of the television should be around eye level when you're in your normal viewing position.

The exact height depends on your seating, screen size, room layout and viewing distance.

Mounting a television too high can become uncomfortable during longer viewing sessions, which is why we recommend deciding the viewing position before fixing the bracket.

Is Wi-Fi or Ethernet Better for a Smart TV?

Both can work well.

A good Wi-Fi connection is adequate for many homes, but a wired Ethernet connection can provide a more consistent network connection where suitable cabling is available.

This can be useful for high-quality streaming or where Wi-Fi coverage around the television is unreliable.

Dacombes' Smart Home team can also advise on home networking and Wi-Fi where connectivity is part of a larger installation.

How Long Should a TV Last?

There is no single guaranteed lifespan for a modern television. How long a TV lasts depends on the model, components, operating hours, environment and how it is used.

Rather than replacing a television at a predetermined age, consider whether it remains reliable, provides the picture quality you want and supports the services and connections you now use.

If you're replacing an older TV, today's slimmer bezels and higher-resolution screens may also allow you to choose a larger screen without dramatically increasing the overall physical dimensions.

What Is the Best TV to Buy?

The best TV is the one that matches your room, viewing distance, content, budget and priorities.

For cinema-style viewing, OLED may be particularly attractive. For a very bright room, a high-brightness Mini LED or QLED model may make more sense. Gamers should pay particular attention to refresh rate and HDMI features, while everyday viewers may get better value by concentrating on screen size and overall picture quality rather than paying for features they won't use.

That's why we recommend comparing TVs rather than choosing purely from specifications.

Get Expert TV Advice at Dacombes of Wimborne

Buying a television online is convenient, but some differences in picture quality and screen size are much easier to understand when you can see TVs for yourself.

Visit Dacombes of Wimborne to compare selected televisions and speak to our experienced team about screen size, OLED, Mini LED, QLED, sound, wall mounting and installation.

You can also shop online, with fast local delivery available on selected TVs and professional installation services available for customers in our local area.

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