How to choose a TV and not overpay for features you'll never use

Choosing a TV is an easy trap to fall into. Manufacturers promise "cinematic" blacks, artificial intelligence, 8K, and immersive sound—but you end up paying for features that barely work in your room. To avoid this, just run through a few key points and figure out what you actually need.

Start by deciding how far away you'll be watching

A big screen on its own doesn't guarantee a better experience. If you sit too close to a huge display, you'll be constantly moving your eyes and head. If you sit too far, the sense of immersion is lost.

For 4K TVs, a handy formula is: screen size in inches × 1.5 × 2.54. That gives you the distance in centimetres. For example, a 55‑inch 4K TV is comfortable to watch from about 2.1 metres. For Full HD, it's better to use a factor closer to 2: because the detail is lower, sitting a bit farther away is more pleasant.

You can also work backwards: measure the distance from the sofa to the wall and choose the diagonal accordingly. If you have about three metres to the screen, a 75‑inch 4K TV makes sense.

Resolution: 4K is the sensible standard, 8K is not yet

In 2026, 4K (3840×2160) is the best choice for most people. There's already plenty of 4K content on streaming platforms, and good upscaling in quality models handles even regular Full HD.

Full HD is fine if the TV is in the kitchen or in a room where the picture is more background than focus. HD is a very basic option. 8K still makes little sense: there's hardly any content available, and the price premium is substantial.

Panel type: from "good enough" to "wow"

LED is the most affordable option. Black levels aren't the deepest, but for broadcast TV and undemanding viewing, it's adequate. Within LED, there are differences: IPS offers wide viewing angles (handy if you're watching with a group), while VA gives deeper blacks, but colours shift when viewed from the side.

Mini‑LED is a noticeable step up. The LEDs are smaller, there are more dimming zones, blacks are deeper, and blooming is reduced. It's a good compromise between price and quality.

OLED is where every pixel emits its own light. Black is truly deep, the image is contrasty, and the chassis is thin. There's one drawback, but it's significant—price.

QLED is essentially an advanced LED with quantum dots. Its main advantages are brightness and HDR performance. It's not "another OLED," but a separate development path.

To sum up: on a tight budget—LED; for good picture quality without overpaying—Mini‑LED or a high‑quality QLED; if you're willing to pay for the best—OLED.

Refresh rate and HDR

60 Hz is the baseline. For sports and gaming, it's better to look for models with 100–120 Hz or more: the picture remains smoother during fast motion.

HDR does add depth and detail to bright and dark areas, but only if the TV is bright enough. On panels with around 200 nits, the effect is barely noticeable. HDR becomes worthwhile when brightness starts at roughly 350 nits and above.

Artificial intelligence is no longer just marketing

In high‑end models, neural networks analyse the scene and adjust processing on the fly—preserving dark atmospheres, enhancing sunset colours, or making the grass greener in football broadcasts. Good AI can also upscale effectively: HD content on a 4K screen looks noticeably better. This is one of those features that is genuinely progressing and delivering real benefits.

Sound and smart features

Modern TVs are thin, so built‑in audio is almost always a compromise. Two speakers with "spatial sound" support sound modest. If sound matters to you, budget for a soundbar from the start.

Nearly all current models are Smart TVs. The difference is in the operating system:

Google TV / Android TV are the most open—you can install apps from the store and even from a USB drive.
Proprietary platforms (Tizen, webOS, Vidaa) are usually well‑optimised but less flexible.
Russian‑language platforms are convenient for local services and voice assistants, but offer almost no customisation.

All else being equal, Google TV / Android TV give you more freedom.

Ports that are often overlooked

HDMI 2.1 with VRR and ALLM is useful if you connect modern game consoles. For regular 4K, HDMI 2.0 is sufficient. At least one USB 3.0 port is handy for flash drives. Wired LAN is more stable than Wi‑Fi, and an optical audio output is useful if you plan to use external speakers.

What to get for different rooms

Living room. This is where it's worth investing: OLED or a good Mini‑LED, 55–75 inches (up to 85 in larger rooms), brightness from 350 nits, Google TV. This is where picture quality really makes a difference.

Bedroom. 4K on Mini‑LED or a good LED is enough. 50–65 inches is usually adequate. The main things are a comfortable viewing distance and decent brightness.

Kitchen. The TV is often background noise. A budget 32–43‑inch Full HD LED is a sensible, sufficient choice.

In brief

Don't chase the highest resolution or the loudest marketing promises. First, calculate the comfortable diagonal based on your viewing distance, choose a panel type that fits your budget and needs, check the brightness for HDR and refresh rate if you watch sports or play games. AI and a good OS add convenience, while weak built‑in sound is almost always worth supplementing with a soundbar. The right TV isn't the most expensive one—it's the one that matches how and where you'll actually be watching it.