Why is it worth comparing televisions and what should you pay attention to?

Buying a television used to be simple. There were plasmas, there was some LCD, you picked a size, checked if the remote had big buttons, and that was it. Today? We have OLEDs, QLEDs, MiniLEDs, ADSs, thousands of models, dozens of brands, and ten times more abbreviations than in a washing machine manual. Even if you know you want something “for Netflix and sometimes for gaming,” after a few minutes of browsing offers, it’s easy to get lost. The worst part is that everything looks the same at first glance. Every model has 4K, every one has HDR, every one is “smart,” and descriptions often confuse more than they help. And if you go to some forum, one person will shout, “get a Samsung, there’s nothing better,” another will reply, “Samsung is trash, only LG or Sony,” and a third will add, “why do you even need a television when there are projectors?” Typical.

And that’s exactly why it’s worth taking a moment to pause and approach the matter calmly. Instead of grabbing the first model you see on sale, it’s better to compare a few things. It’s not about diving into graphs and specifications right away – just check those elements that really affect whether you’ll be satisfied with your choice for the next few years. Because the truth is that two televisions can cost the same, look identical on the outside, and still offer a completely different picture. And that’s what really matters. I know, I know, more headaches before buying and thinking for hours about what’s best for a given price. But we’re talking about equipment worth a few thousand, not a new shirt, so you probably don’t want to throw that money away. 😉

When buying a television, it's very easy to fall into the "first impression" trap—especially if you're looking at devices in a store. It’s known that they stand next to each other, something is blinking, something is playing, the colors are vivid, and the brightness is blinding. It seems like you can see everything with your own eyes, so why even compare anything at all, right? Well, here’s where the problem begins. Most televisions in the store operate in what is called store mode—this is a special setting that maximizes brightness, sharpness, and colors to the absolute maximum. On top of that, there’s strong lighting in the showrooms, which makes it almost impossible to catch the differences between models. The effect is that at best you can see which screen is brighter, but not which one actually has better contrast, blacks, motion smoothness, or colors. And it’s precisely these elements that build the overall perception of the image—not whether red is more red.

Moreover, the materials shown in stores are usually promotional loops prepared by manufacturers—they look good even on lower-end equipment. But then try playing a regular episode of a series on Netflix in a dark living room, and suddenly it turns out that one television looks cinematic, while the other... somewhat like a cheap imitation. That’s why comparing coolly, outside of the store's noise, really makes sense. Instead of being guided by which model "seems better," it's worth looking at the specifics—how it handles contrast, whether it accurately reproduces colors, whether it smoothly displays motion, and whether it suits your viewing style. Because a television for gaming is different from one for everyday television or movie viewing in a dark room.

Picture Quality – This Is Where Everything Begins

The way the picture looks will have the greatest impact on your daily experience. And while every manufacturer promises "realistic colors" and "perfect contrast," in practice, it can vary – and that's why it's worth comparing. Above all, picture quality can be divided into three main aspects: contrast, brightness, and colors.

Let's start with contrast and black, because that’s the foundation. If the television struggles to display deep blacks, the entire scene loses its depth. Instead of a cinematic atmosphere during an evening screening, we have a faded image with a noticeable glow. This is particularly evident in night scenes or dark rooms – there, one television will show every detail while another will simply turn it into a dark spot. And while in the store, under strong light, these differences may be invisible, in home conditions, they become obvious.

The next topic is brightness. The fact that a television “has HDR” doesn’t mean it actually utilizes it. For HDR to impress, the television must achieve appropriate brightness – not just on small elements but also across wider sections of the frame. If the screen can't do this, the HDR effect is limited to a label in the menu.

Also important are colors. One television will display them naturally, while another will exaggerate them artificially – and while this may look impressive at first glance, over time it can strain the eyes. What matters is not only saturation but also smoothness of tonal transitions, meaning how smoothly the image shifts between shades. If the television can't handle this, stripes, grain, and other artifacts appear – especially in shadows and on the sky.

That's why picture quality is not a single feature but a set of several elements that together determine the final effect. Only their combination – contrast, brightness, colors, tonal quality – reveals which model truly makes a difference and which one merely pretends to.

Types of Panels – The Foundation of Image

Before we start comparing accessories and marketing technologies, it's worth remembering the basics. It's the panel – the type of display responsible for creating the image – that most significantly affects contrast, black levels, viewing angles, and response time. Terms like QLED, ULED, or MiniLED are additions – but VA, IPS, or OLED are the foundation.

Before we move on, it's worth pausing at one thing that can cause quite a mess. Most LCD TVs on the market – that is, those that are not OLEDs – use one of two panels: VA or IPS (sometimes under the name ADS). It is this panel that determines the key features of the image, such as contrast, viewing angles, black depth. But that’s not all. Manufacturers often add color-enhancing filters to this – and this is where all the abbreviations like QLED, ULED, PFS LED come from. These are not entirely new technologies – they are simply different ways to add a layer that enhances colors and brightness to the classic LCD panel without changing the fundamentals – because the TV still has a VA or IPS panel.

What is backlighting in a TV?

The second most important thing in a TV is the issue of its backlighting, which refers to how light is delivered to the panel in LCDs. And this is where the real variety begins – from simple edge lighting, through classic Direct LED, to MiniLEDs with thousands of dimming zones that can really enhance picture quality. Below, you will find a simple table showing how different types of backlighting affect contrast, black levels, and picture precision. It's worth keeping this in mind, especially when comparing high-end LCD TVs – not every MiniLED is the same, and the term QLED does not guarantee excellent black levels.

Of course, it's worth looking at this entire table with a bit of a grain of salt. Not every TV with a VA panel and MiniLED will be exceptional, just as not every one with an IPS panel and regular backlighting has to be poor. Differences in image processing algorithms, build quality, and the number of dimming zones can drastically change the final effect.

And if one were to indicate the two most important things that determine the image quality in an LCD TV, they would be:
the type of panel and the type of backlighting used. These two together create the foundation – and only on this can one start to build: colors, HDR brightness, contrast, and all those things that genuinely influence whether you will like the picture or not.

Motion Smoothness

When you watch presentations in a store or ads online, the motion usually looks perfect. Slow pans, nature shots, close-ups of faces—nothing is rushed, everything is polished. But just fire up a dynamic film, a match, or simply a fast YouTube edit and... suddenly it becomes clear which television can't keep up.

Motion smoothness is a topic that often takes a backseat—because marketing brochures don’t mention that the picture can be blurry or jittery. The truth is that this is when we start noticing the biggest differences between models. Some televisions have noticeable trailing—meaning there’s a “shadow” or blur left behind moving objects. Others, on the other hand, interfere too much with the picture, adding an unnatural soap opera effect. A good television should provide the option to adjust the motion smoother, rather than impose one style on all content. You can see what a motion smoother is and how it works in films in this video:

It is also important to refresh the matrix – 60 Hz is now an absolute minimum, but with games and sports, the difference between 60 and 120 Hz is really noticeable. Some TVs even offer 144 Hz, which will mainly benefit PC users – but for many people, 120 Hz is already a sufficiently large jump in quality. The response time of the matrix also affects motion smoothness, which is how quickly pixels can change their state. Usually, OLEDs win here – their response is almost instantaneous, so blurring is minimal. In the case of LCDs, the situation is more complex – it largely depends on the type of matrix (VA or IPS) and the quality of the panel used.

That's why it's worth paying attention not only to the “numbers” but also to how a given TV actually handles dynamic motion when comparing. Because if you plan to watch sports, play, or simply like when the image is smooth and clear – this could be one of the key decisions.

Everything else – that is, the system, appearance, extras, and sound

Since we have already discussed the most important elements related to the picture, it is worth pausing for a moment to consider things that do not directly affect the quality of viewing, but can have a significant impact on daily use of the television.

First of all – operating system. For some, it's a detail; for others, it can be something that really irritates or simplifies life. Some televisions operate on Android (Google TV), others on LG’s system (webOS) or Samsung's Tizen. The differences can be significant – from how the remote works, to the speed of the interface, to how many apps can actually be installed. YouTube and Netflix are everywhere, but if you use less popular platforms (e.g., Canal+, Apple TV, SkyShowtime), it’s worth checking if they are supported. We also have additional features for gamers – variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), game bar, Dolby Vision Gaming mode, etc. For some, it’s a nice extra; for others, it’s absolutely essential. If you have a console or play on PC, it’s good to know what a given model actually supports and what only looks good on paper.

Another matter is design, or the appearance of the television. Here, it all depends on taste – some prefer a thin metal frame, others a minimalist back, and some only care about the legs because they want to tuck a soundbar under the screen. There are no wrong answers here, but if the television is in the central point of the living room – it’s worth choosing one that simply pleases you. And finally, sound. On one hand, manufacturers boast about “surround systems” and “the movie effect without additional speakers,” but the truth is: even the most expensive television will not sound as good as a regular soundbar/home theater. If audio is truly important to you, an external setup will always be a better solution. Built-in speakers work well for news, series, or sports, but they are unlikely to impress in movies or games.

How to Compare TVs Online Without Getting Lost?

These days, comparing equipment online is completely natural. After all, no one wants to buy blindly. Most stores have their own comparison tools, and you can also find external tools – like popular "versus" type websites – where different models are compared. The problem is that these are usually just dry data and numbers that don't say much in practice. And they certainly won't help you decide when you're concerned about picture quality, motion smoothness, or user convenience. However, there is one tool online that approaches the topic differently. The TV comparison tool at choose.tv allows you to compare two specifically selected models in terms of real film scenarios, gaming, classic TV, or brightness in daylight. Instead of looking at the parameters from the box, you can see ratings of picture quality, information about supported apps, gaming features, or the operating system. Importantly – everything is presented in a clear format, with scores, short descriptions, and a clear answer: which TV will perform better for a given application. If you really want to buy a TV that meets your needs – and not spend several evenings sifting through forums and tables – this will be one of the most helpful tools you find online.

In the end? Compare wisely

Buying a television doesn't have to be stressful or a guessing game. You just need to know what to pay attention to – picture quality, motion fluidity, daily functions – and simply compare the models that caught your eye. The less randomness, the greater the chance that you will be truly satisfied with your choice. The internet is full of opinions, tables, rankings – but what matters most is your needs. So before you click "buy now," it's worth taking a moment to compare what actually matters.