Tomasz Wadowski
What size TV should you buy?
Our latest video on YouTube has been extremely popular, which is why we decided to prepare an article in written form that explains how to choose the right size TV. This way, you can calmly review our tips and clear up any doubts.
The most important question: What size TV should you buy?
What size TV should you buy? This is one of the most common questions we hear from people planning to replace or purchase a new TV. You will find many extreme recommendations online. Some say, "the bigger, the better", while others argue the opposite – "better not to overdo it." However, we want to explain in practice how it actually is and what mistakes to avoid.
Why another article on this topic? Well, in our work with display calibration, we have visited thousands of households and noticed that very few people were fully satisfied with the chosen size. Many new buyers were stressed about purchasing a TV that was significantly larger than the one they were used to. And measuring with a tape or setting up a cardboard model didn't make it any easier.
In this article (and at the same time in the video), we want to dispel the most common doubts and show how to approach the choice of TV size so that you don’t regret it later.
The bigger, the better – why do people say that?
The first question we usually ask ourselves is: “What size TV should we choose if we love movies, series, and sports?” If we care about having an effect as close as possible to what we know from the cinema, it quickly turns out that:
Movies and series are created with the intention of being displayed on large screens.
Sports (especially soccer or basketball) are also better watched on a larger surface – we feel the atmosphere of the stadium.
Playing on a console gains additional "magic" when the image is suitably large.
What does it look like mathematically? In the cinema, we often sit 3/4 of the distance from the screen, and it feels very comfortable. To achieve a similar effect at home, we should aim for screens even up to 100 inches from just under 3 meters. Sizes like these truly create a cinematic atmosphere. Sure, it's not always achievable, but it's worth being aware that a standard 55” or 65” is not so “gigantic” compared to the cinema standard.
In our work, we have visited a lot of homes and never have we encountered someone who complained about buying too large a screen. Rather, the words often heard were: “Gosh, I could have bought a bigger one!”. This is all because a larger screen provides a better experience for movie viewings, sports, and even just regular TV watching.
What about the popular method of sticking tape to the wall or making a mockup? Such experiments often fail because a large screen encourages more relaxed seating and arranging the sofa a little differently. Only then do we feel how it can fill our field of vision. However, a mockup made of cardboard cannot convey this in any way. It will only help us imagine the new room decor.
Is 55 inches the BEST TV SIZE?
Of course, we don’t always need a screen that takes up half the wall. Many people turn on the TV mainly in the background: for news, so the home isn’t too quiet, or to catch a glimpse of some entertainment programs. In such a situation, the 55-inch model often works best because:
A 55” generally has the best price-to-size ratio (when we look at the market within that range).
Smaller sizes (42”, 48”, 50”) tend to be technologically limited or only slightly cheaper. (That’s why we’ve prepared shopping guides to help you choose smaller TVs).
You will find a larger selection of specific models and technologies starting at 55”.
55” is also a completely uncontroversial size that fits well in both a small room and a large living room.
If we want the TV to not detract from the interior, we can look at models like Samsung The Frame or TCL NXTFrame. They can beautifully blend into the surroundings in standby mode and serve as an electronic picture frame.
Can you go overboard with size?
And what if someone wants to go in the opposite direction and buy something really big: 85 or even 100 inches? Is it possible to go overboard here? We had the chance to test the 100-inch Hisense U7KQ TV and watch movies from a distance of even less than 2.5 meters. Contrary to some concerns, it didn't feel like sitting in the front row of a cinema where you have to turn your head left and right. Rather, we had a fantastic feeling of being in the middle of the action.
Indeed, there have been situations where in typically "television" programs (e.g., news channels) the presenter looked… enormous. But if we mainly watch movies, series, and sports, a large television really creates a super effect. As for the boundary where it can actually be "too much," it mainly arises from the resolution of the screen. For 4K, the limiting value will be approximately 2 cm of distance per 1 inch (so at 100 inches, we sit about 2 meters from the screen). That's when you can start distinguishing individual pixels and the quality drastically drops. So such an extreme approach may not be comfortable anymore, but these are quite rare cases, as not everyone has micro-rooms where we set up 100 inches directly opposite the couch.
Better smaller and better model, or bigger at the expense of quality?
Let's move on to a more practical dilemma: Is it worth choosing a bigger TV, but with worse parameters? Or maybe a smaller one, but in a higher technological class? Unfortunately, there is no one universal answer, as it depends on:
The budget we have
The size of the room and the distance from the screen
The type of content we watch
The lighting in the room
If we were to suggest a certain "golden rule," it would go something like this:
"First, let's invest in reasonable quality, and only then in additional inches."
Two main “thresholds” of quality.
What is all this about? The leap from the cheapest technologies, such as standard LCD, to more advanced models with local dimming, e.g., FALD or Mini LED – is noticeable from the very first moments. Deeper blacks, better contrast, and more natural colors make the image gain a new quality.
On the other hand, within the same technology, e.g., when comparing different OLED models, the differences are less spectacular. Sure, flagship models can have higher brightness, better color reproduction, or more advanced image processing, but even a basic OLED offers such a high quality that for most users, a larger diagonal will make a bigger difference than subtle improvements in specifications. To illustrate this better, below you will find specific examples.
Example 1: LCD without local dimming vs. LCD with local dimming (e.g., mini LED).
Let's assume we have 1K USD. We can buy:
If we look at the black quality, on the first television (regular LCD) in dark scenes we will notice a lot of imperfections, while the Q80D will perform much better. In this example, the larger 75” could simply disappoint in evening screenings due to poor black levels. On the other hand, the difference between the Q80D and QN85D is smaller, so it's not necessarily worth dropping down to 55” just to get a more “packed” variant. Therefore, in this case, let's choose option number 2.
Example 2: High-end shelf in a smaller variant vs. tall shelf in a larger variant.
Let’s assume we have 3K USD and we are choosing something from the OLED family:
Here a larger, 77-inch OLED (even the basic one) will likely provide more enjoyment than a super advanced but noticeably smaller QD-OLED. Of course, the best QD-OLED TVs clearly outperform basic models in terms of picture quality. However, even the simplest OLED offers a level high enough that a larger diagonal will bring a more noticeable difference than choosing a higher model but in a smaller size. Therefore, in this case, we choose option number 3.
There are exceptions to this rule, however. If your distance from the couch to the TV is about 2.5m (or less), then choose the intermediate option. Unless you want a cinematic effect, in which case, not necessarily 😉.
Such dilemmas could be discussed for hours, but the general conclusion is simple: First the level of technology, then the size. If you are still in doubt, you can consult a specialist, where you can choose a TV more individually.
Myths and Facts About Choosing a Large Television
Here you will find three most common questions that we have heard when selecting the right television. These issues raise the greatest concerns among customers who wonder if they will definitely not overdo it with the screen size. It's time to clear up the doubts!
Does a large TV harm your eyes?
“A large television damages your eyesight” – this is one of the most common myths. The size of the screen itself does not affect the deterioration of eyesight. However, it is important to maintain viewing hygiene:
Use backlighting to reduce the contrast between the bright screen and the dark surroundings.
Adjust the brightness of the television for evening viewing (a screen that is too bright will be tiring, regardless of size).
Image calibration will also be helpful in restoring the natural tone of the picture and eliminating excessive blue light.
Will I be shaking my head in front of a large TV?
Another myth says: “If I get a TV that is too big, I will have to shake my head like in the front row at the cinema.” That’s not possible in a typical living room. The front row at the cinema means that you are sitting ultra close to a screen that is almost 10 times larger than the standard 85–100 inches at home. It’s like sitting 3 meters away from 9 100-inch TVs. No one usually sets up their couch to view a wall the size of a football field from 2 meters away.
Big Heads on TV
In movies, series, and sports, so-called "big heads" do not occur because framing is prepared in such a way that it looks good even on cinema screens. A certain inconvenience may arise in news channels, where the presenter fills the frame heavily – and then, with a huge screen and close distance, they may look oversized. But those are rather extreme cases!
How to choose the size of a television? Brief summary
Consider what and how you watch the most. If you mainly watch movies, series, play on a console, or follow matches – a larger television will be a great choice, as it will provide a more cinematic experience.
If the television will be running in the background, and you only glance at the news or your favorite show occasionally, then you can easily go for 55 inches, as it is the most universal diagonal size.
It's not worth buying a large one at the cost of totally poor quality. It's always good to get a television with at least basic but solid contrast (meaning something better than the cheapest LCD) – only then do we decide on additional inches.
Maintain viewing hygiene. A large television will not ruin your eyesight, as long as you don't stare at it in a dark room with the brightness at 100%.
Let us know what size television you chose and from what distance you watch it. Share your impressions – do you feel you could have gone for something larger, or have you already slightly overdone it with the inches? And if you missed the movie where Maciej talks about choosing the right diagonal, we invite you to watch!
