Upgrade Your Movie Night Experience With the Best Smart TV

Smart TVs can be an expensive purchase, which is why it’s important that you choose the right unit. However, with so many brands and models available in the market, picking the right smart TV for yourself has become quite difficult. After all, there are so many different features that you need to consider before purchasing. These include the resolution, refresh rate, design, sound system, and much more.

Not sure where to begin? Worry not! To help you make the right decision, we have reviewed the five smart TVs available in the market these days. We have also included a handy buying guide that would assist you in picking the unit that would suit your needs. Let’s have a look.

Detailing the Best Smart TV in 2021

1. TCL 32S327 Roku Smart LED TV

Best Overall

The very first unit on our list is the TCL 32 inch Roku Smart TV that offers high image quality, decent sound quality, and an attractive design. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a small TV on a budget. The unit features a 1080 HD resolution and has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which makes it a great option for watching fast-moving action movies and sports channels.

Other than this, the unit features dual-band Wifi and more than 500,000 movie and TV episodes that you can choose from. Also, it has a modern, sleek design that would look great wherever it is placed.

Pros

• Very affordable option

• Sleek and attractive design

• Decent refresh rate and image quality

Cons

• Does not support 4K

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2. Insignia NS-32DF310NA19 Smart HD TV

Runner-up

Next up, the Insignia Smart HD TV comes with 720p picture quality with deep blacks and rich colors. The speed and performance of the TV are worth mentioning. Also, it features a quad-core CPU/Multi-core GPU to ensure responsiveness and quick search results.

Additionally, it features three HDMI inputs, dual-band Wi-Fi, and several input/output options. With more than 500,000 streaming movies and TV episodes available, there’s a lot of content that you can watch. Lastly, it comes at a great price.

Pros

• Good performance and speed

• Comes with quad-core CPU/Multi-core GPU

• Comes at a great price

Cons

• Sound system could be better

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3. Toshiba 32LF221U21 Smart HD TV

Honorable Mention

The Toshiba 32LF221U21 Smart HD TV comes with a 720p resolution panel and offers some pretty amazing features that are a great deal for an entry-level, affordable TV. For a 720p TV, the image quality of this unit is nice. The images appear sharp, crisp, and well balanced. It also features Alexa integration, so you can use your voice to launch apps, watch live TV, search for titles, switch inputs, play music, control smart home devices, and more.

Pros

• Good image quality

• Comes with Alexa integration

Cons

• Has a modest color range

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4. Samsung TU-8000 Smart TV

Also Consider

You might want to get your hands on the Samsung TU-8000 if you’re looking for a good Samsung TV with an affordable price tag. The unit features Crystal LCD UHD panel technology and offers some exciting features such as the best-in-class smart TV system, built-in voice assistant, and a minimalistic design.

Other than this, it comes with a crystal processor 4K and 4K AI upscaling. Hence, you can expect it to display crisp, detailed, and ultra smooth videos. Other than this, it also features Alexa integration which makes it much easier to search for movies, change the channel, play music, and much more.

Pros

• Comes at an affordable price

• Comes with crystal processor 4K

• Has Alexa integration

Cons

• The screen is quite reflective

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5. Hisense 40H5500F Class H55 Series

Last but not least, the Hisense 40H5500F is another great addition to our list. Featuring rich 1080p picture quality, built-in WiFi, voice-enabled android TV platform, and multiple input and output options, this smart TV has a lot to offer.

The two 7-watt speakers and DTS studio virtual surround sound that the unit features are very good at producing immersive and crisp audio. Furthermore, it comes with a voice-enabled remote and a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Pros

• Built-in WiFi and multiple input and output options

• Comes with two 7-watt speakers

• 1 Year manufacturers warranty

Cons

• Doesn't come with a user manual

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Premier Smart TV Buying Guide

LCD vs OLED Screens - Which is Better?

When it comes to purchasing a smart TV for yourself, the first decision that you need to make is whether you want an LCD or an OLED. Not sure whether there’s a significant difference between the two? The image quality of an LCD and an OLED TV is very different.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. As compared to plasma displays, these TVs consume much less power since it works by blocking light rather than emitting it. Though LCD TVs are a bit expensive, their prices have been dropping recently since the technology has been available in the market for several years.

Though an LCD does not offer the same premium experience as OLED, it still has its advantages - a good picture quality with a bright display. Also, since LCDs are becoming very common in the market, you will have a wide range of options to choose from. Other than this, LCDs have a slim body to easily fit in limited space.

OLED stands for organic light emitting diode. Unlike the old TV systems that operated by a backlight being shined onto the pixels of the screens, the pixels of an OLED TV are individually controlled. So, what’s the main difference between an OLED and LCD? More vibrant colors, slimmer screens, lesser energy consumption, and darker blacks.

Since OLED offers a crisp display resolution and natural vibrant colors, it works great for fast moving content as well - such as sports and action movies. Generally, OLED TVs are slimmer than LCD TVs, which is why they look best mounted on walls. Other than this, OLED TVs emit less blue light so you can watch for long hours without experiencing eye strain.

Aspects That You Should Consider for Buying a Smart TV

Screen resolution

Screen resolution is something that you need to consider before buying a smart TV. So, what exactly is screen resolution and why does it matter? The resolution of a TV refers to the number of pixels that form the image on the screen.

The higher the resolution, the better the image quality. A majority of the televisions being manufactured nowadays feature screen resolution of 4K or higher. It’s difficult to find any TVs with 720p and 1080p, and these are usually limited to smaller sizes.

Screen size

Next up, the screen size of the TV is another factor you would need to keep in mind, especially if you have already decided where you’re going to place it. To select the right screen size, you should measure the distance between where the TV is going to be placed and the area where you would be watching.

If the viewing distance is less than five feet, then your best bet is to select a 32 inch TV. However, if the distance is 6-7 feet, then you might want to select a 43 inch TV. Other than this, for a distance between 7-8 feet, the best fit would be a 46 or 50-inch TV.

Ideally, a 40-inch TV should work perfect for a lounge. For bigger rooms, it may be better to have bigger screen sizes. In the end, the right choice boils down to your personal preference and what you’re comfortable with. Usually, the bigger the screen size, the more expensive the unit.

Refresh rate

The refresh rate of a TV is the number of times the image of a TV refreshes per second. Usually, the refresh rate for a TV display is 60. However, if you plan to buy a high-quality smart TV, you should look for a set with a higher refresh rate since that would provide a smoother motion. You should also opt for a TV with a higher refresh rate if you plan to watch sports or use it for gaming for the best experience.

Frequently Asked Questions