Television
Buying Guide

Diode

Measuring 0.2mm, diodes are the ‘D’ in LED. These are used as the backlight to project the TV picture. Since they are smaller in size than the traditional LED TV diodes, more can be packed into the TV screen. This means that the diodes in Mini LED TVs give you more control to create a better quality image. It also means there is less backlight bleed.

LCD substrate

This is the glass panel on the TV screen that protects the technology encased inside. The tens of thousands of Mini LEDs sit behind this panel, and it works as a transistor for the display to produce the TV colours and picture.

LED

LED stands for "Light Emitting Diode." LED TVs utilise an LCD screen to project their picture. A backlight within the screen controls where light is displayed and when colours are lit up. LED screens are split up into zones that can be controlled independently. The more zones a screen contains, the greater the picture control the TV has.

OLED

OLED stands for "Organic Light-Emitting Diode." OLED screens are made of tiny organic compounds that emit light when an electric current passes through them. This allows each individual pixel to emit its own light, resulting in vibrant colours, deep blacks, and better contrast compared to traditional displays.

QLED

QLED stands for "Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode." QLED TVs use tiny particles called quantum dots to produce vibrant and accurate colours. These quantum dots are illuminated by LEDs to create the images you see on the screen. QLED displays are known for their excellent colour reproduction and brightnes.

Mini LED

Instead of traditional backlighting, mini LED TVs uses thousands of tiny LEDs that are smaller than regular LEDs. These mini LEDs provide more precise control over brightness and local dimming, resulting in better contrast, improved picture quality, and more vibrant visuals. In essence, Mini LED enhances the overall viewing experience by offering sharper and more dynamic images.

HDMI

HDMI stands for "High-Definition Multimedia Interface." It's a type of cable and connection used to transmit high-quality audio and video signals between devices like TVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles, and computers. HDMI cables are commonly used to ensure sharp and clear pictures, as well as excellent sound quality when connecting different devices to your TV or monitor.

HDR content

High-dynamic range content has a higher contrast and a larger colour and brightness range than Standard (SDR) content. It is also more visually impactful than 4K content. Most Mini LED TVs fully support this level of output.

Zones

Premium TVs are able to locally control the colour in areas on a screen, known as zones. These zones can be brightened or dimmed independently, which results in deeper shadows, brighter highlights and more vivid colour.

Refresh rate

Refresh rate refers to how many times per second a display updates the images on screen. It's measured in Hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate, such as 60Hz or 120Hz, means the screen can change what you see more frequently, making motion smoother and reducing blur in fast-moving scenes, like in video games or sports. A higher refresh rate is generally better for a smoother and more responsive visual experience.

AI upscaling

AI upscaling is a technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the quality of images and videos. It works by analysing and interpolating pixels in lower-resolution content to make it look sharper and more detailed. Essentially, AI upscaling takes something that might look a bit blurry or pixelated and uses smart algorithms to make it appear clearer and more refined. This can improve the viewing experience when watching older videos or content with lower resolutions on modern, high-resolution screens.

Lag input

Input lag refers to the delay between when you perform an action, such as pressing a button on a controller or remote, and when that action is reflected on the screen. In gaming, lower input lag is better because it means your commands are executed more quickly, leading to a more responsive and enjoyable gaming experience. High input lag can result in a noticeable delay between your actions and the on-screen response, which can be frustrating, especially in fast-paced games. So, the lower the input lag, the more responsive and enjoyable your gaming or interactive experience will be.

Dolby Atmos

An advanced audio technology that provides immersive, three-dimensional sound by placing audio "objects" in specific locations within the listening space.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR technology that offers dynamic metadata, optimising the HDR experience scene by scene for improved picture quality.

Bezel

The frame around the TV screen; thinner bezels provide a more immersive viewing experience.

Aspect ratio

The ratio of the width to the height of the TV screen. Common aspect ratios include 16:9 (widescreen) and 4:3 (traditional).

Casting/Mirroring

The ability to wirelessly display content from a mobile device or computer on the TV screen.

IMAX Enhanced

A certification program for audio and video quality. If a TV is IMAX Enhanced, it means it meets certain standards for delivering a more immersive and high-quality audio-visual experience, similar to what you'd get in an IMAX movie theatre. This can include better picture clarity, enhanced sound, and specialised content that's been optimised for home viewing.