Glossary
The spec sheet, translated.
77 terms from TV and home theater spec sheets, defined in plain language. Where a term has a related one worth knowing, it is linked underneath.
#
- 4KUltra HD, UHD
- A screen resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, four times the pixels of 1080p. Nearly every TV sold today is 4K, so the label tells you less than the panel, backlight and processing do.
- See alsoResolution8K
A
- ABLAutomatic brightness limiter
- A safeguard on OLED TVs that lowers brightness when a large part of the screen is bright, to protect the panel and manage power. It is why full-screen white scenes can look dimmer than small highlights.
- See alsoOLEDPeak brightness
- ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode
- An HDMI feature that lets a console or PC tell the TV to switch into its low-lag game mode automatically when play starts, and back again afterwards.
- See alsoInput lagHDMI 2.1
- Anti-reflection coating
- A treatment on the screen surface that scatters or absorbs room light so there are fewer mirror-like reflections. It helps in bright rooms, and some finishes soften the picture slightly in exchange.
- See alsoReflection handling
- ARCAudio Return Channel
- An HDMI feature that sends audio from the TV back to a soundbar or receiver over the same cable that carries video to the TV. It handles standard surround formats but not the highest-quality audio.
- See alsoeARC
- Aspect ratio
- The relationship of a picture’s width to its height. Most TVs are 16:9. Many films are wider, which is why black bars appear above and below them.
- ATSC 1.0
- The broadcast standard for free over-the-air digital TV in the United States for many years. A TV needs a built-in ATSC tuner to receive it from an antenna.
- See alsoATSC 3.0Tuner
- ATSC 3.0NextGen TV
- The newer U.S. over-the-air broadcast standard. It can carry sharper pictures, HDR and better sound, but it needs a TV or box with a compatible tuner and is rolled out station by station.
- See alsoATSC 1.0Tuner
- AV receiverAVR
- A box that switches video from your devices to the TV and powers a set of speakers for surround sound. It is the hub of a separates-based home theater.
- See alsoSurround soundSoundbar
B
- Backlight
- The light source behind an LCD panel. The liquid crystal layer in front controls how much of it reaches your eyes. OLED TVs have no backlight because each pixel makes its own light.
- See alsoLED/LCDOLED
- Bias lighting
- A soft light placed behind the TV. It reduces eye strain in a dark room and makes the screen’s black look deeper by contrast with its surroundings.
- Black frame insertionBFI
- A motion setting that flashes black between frames to reduce the smearing the eye sees on fast movement. It usually lowers brightness and can cause visible flicker for some viewers.
- See alsoJudderRefresh rate
- BloomingHalo effect
- A glow around a bright object on a dark background, such as subtitles or stars. It happens on LCD TVs when a backlight zone is larger than the object it is lighting.
- See alsoLocal dimmingMini LED
- Burn-inImage retention
- Permanent ghosting of a static image on a screen that has aged unevenly, a risk mostly associated with OLED. Temporary image retention fades, while true burn-in does not. Varied viewing and the maker’s protections make it unusual in normal use.
- See alsoOLED
C
- Calibration
- Adjusting a TV’s picture settings so colors, brightness and gamma match a reference. Professionals use a meter, and modes such as Filmmaker Mode get closer without one.
- See alsoFilmmaker ModeDelta E
- CECHDMI-CEC
- A control feature that lets devices on HDMI work together, so one remote can turn on the TV, switch inputs and adjust a soundbar’s volume. Each brand gives it its own name.
- Color gamut
- The range of colors a screen can show. A wider gamut can display more saturated colors. Coverage is usually quoted as a percentage of a standard such as DCI-P3.
- See alsoDCI-P3Wide color gamut
- Color volume
- How many colors a screen can show at different brightness levels, not only at one. A TV with good color volume keeps bright colors rich instead of washing them out.
- See alsoColor gamut
- Contrast ratio
- The difference between the brightest white and the darkest black a screen can show. Native contrast is measured without dimming tricks, while dynamic or dimmed contrast includes local dimming.
- See alsoLocal dimming
D
- DCI-P3
- A color standard used in digital cinema and by most HDR content. TVs are often described by how much of the DCI-P3 range they can cover.
- See alsoColor gamutRec. 2020
- Delta EΔE
- A measure of how far a displayed color is from the intended color. Lower is better, and small values are hard for the eye to tell apart from the target.
- See alsoCalibration
- Dimming zone
- A section of an LCD backlight that can be dimmed independently. More zones allow finer control, although tuning matters as much as the count.
- See alsoLocal dimmingMini LED
- Dolby Atmos
- A sound format that places sounds in a three-dimensional space, including overhead, instead of only in channels around you. It needs compatible content and speakers or a soundbar that supports it.
- See alsoeARCSurround sound
- Dolby Vision
- An HDR format that carries instructions for adjusting the picture scene by scene, or even frame by frame. A TV must license and support it, and its benefit depends on the TV’s brightness.
- See alsoHDRHDR10+
- DTS:X
- An object-based surround format that competes with Dolby Atmos. Many TVs do not decode DTS audio themselves, so it matters mostly when you use a receiver or a disc player.
- See alsoDolby Atmos
E
- eARCEnhanced Audio Return Channel
- An upgraded ARC with enough bandwidth for high-quality audio such as lossless surround and Dolby Atmos. It sends sound from the TV’s apps and inputs to a soundbar or receiver over one HDMI cable.
- See alsoARCDolby Atmos
- Edge-lit
- An LCD design with LEDs along the edges of the panel that spread light across the screen. It allows thin sets, but it has less precise dimming than a full-array backlight.
- See alsoFull-array local dimming
F
- Filmmaker Mode
- A picture preset designed to show movies and shows the way their creators intended, with extra processing switched off. It is a good starting point on many TVs.
- See alsoMotion smoothingCalibration
- FreeSync
- AMD’s variable refresh rate technology, which many TVs support alongside or instead of the standard HDMI version. It matches the TV’s refresh to the game’s frame rate.
- See alsoVRRG-SYNC Compatible
- Full-array local dimmingFALD
- A backlight made of LEDs spread directly behind the screen, grouped into zones that dim independently. It generally gives better contrast than an edge-lit design.
- See alsoLocal dimmingEdge-lit
G
H
- HDMI 2.0
- An older HDMI version that carries 4K at up to 60 frames per second. It is fine for streaming and most video, but it cannot carry 4K at 120 frames per second.
- See alsoHDMI 2.1
- HDMI 2.1
- A newer HDMI version with much more bandwidth, up to 48 gigabits per second. It enables 4K at 120 frames per second, variable refresh and eARC, but a TV may offer these features only on some of its ports.
- See alsoVRReARCALLM
- HDRHigh dynamic range
- Video that carries a wider range of brightness and color than standard video, so highlights can be brighter and shadows keep detail. How good it looks depends on the TV’s brightness and tone mapping.
- See alsoHDR10Dolby VisionNits
- HDR10
- The basic, open HDR format that every HDR TV supports. It uses one set of brightness instructions for a whole film or show.
- See alsoHDR10+Dolby Vision
- HDR10+
- An HDR format that adds scene-by-scene instructions to HDR10, similar in idea to Dolby Vision. Support varies by brand and by streaming service.
- See alsoHDR10Dolby Vision
- HGiG
- A group that defines how games and TVs should handle HDR together, so the console tells the TV about its limits and the TV does not apply a second layer of tone mapping. Many TVs offer an HGiG setting.
- See alsoTone mapping
- HLGHybrid Log-Gamma
- An HDR format designed for live broadcast. It works on both HDR and non-HDR screens, so a single signal can serve both.
- See alsoHDR
I
- Input lag
- The delay between a button press on a controller and the result appearing on screen. Lower is better for fast games, and independent testers measure it in milliseconds in game mode.
- See alsoALLMResponse time
- IPS
- An LCD panel type known for wide viewing angles. Its blacks are usually less deep than on a VA panel, so contrast is lower.
- See alsoVAViewing angle
J
- Judder
- A stuttering look in panning shots, often seen when 24-frame film is shown on a screen that does not divide evenly into that rate. Modern TVs usually handle it automatically.
- See alsoRefresh rateMotion smoothing
L
- LED/LCD
- The most common TV type: a liquid crystal panel lit by LEDs from behind or the edges. Quality ranges widely, from basic sets to Mini LED models.
- See alsoBacklightMini LEDQLED
- Local dimming
- A feature that lowers the backlight in dark parts of the picture while keeping bright parts lit. Better dimming means deeper blacks with less visible glow.
- See alsoFull-array local dimmingBlooming
M
- Micro LED
- A display technology in which each pixel is made of microscopic LEDs that produce their own light. It offers OLED-like control with high brightness, but it is rare and very expensive.
- See alsoMini LEDOLED
- Mini LED
- An LCD backlight built from a very large number of small LEDs, grouped into many dimming zones. It allows high brightness and strong contrast on an LCD TV.
- See alsoLocal dimmingBlooming
- Motion smoothingSoap opera effect
- Processing that inserts extra frames to make movement look smoother. It can make films look oddly like live video, so many viewers switch it off for movies.
- See alsoJudderFilmmaker Mode
N
- Nits
- The unit of brightness for screens, equal to one candela per square meter. Peak HDR brightness and sustained brightness are quoted in nits, and testers measure how much of each a TV can really reach.
- See alsoPeak brightness
O
P
Q
- QD-OLEDQuantum dot OLED
- An OLED design that uses blue emitters and a quantum dot layer to create red and green. It keeps OLED’s black level and can hold color saturation at higher brightness.
- See alsoOLEDWOLEDQuantum dots
- QLED
- A marketing name for LCD TVs that add a quantum dot layer to the backlight to improve color. It is not the same as OLED or QD-OLED.
- See alsoQuantum dotsLED/LCD
R
- Rec. 709
- The color standard for HD video and standard dynamic range content. Most TV and streaming content outside HDR still uses it.
- See alsoSDRRec. 2020
- Rec. 2020
- A very wide color standard used as the long-term target for ultra high definition video. No current TV covers all of it, so coverage is usually quoted as a percentage.
- See alsoDCI-P3Color gamut
- Reflection handling
- How well a screen deals with room light bouncing off its surface. Matte finishes, anti-reflection coatings and brightness all contribute.
- See alsoAnti-reflection coating
- Refresh rate
- How many times per second the screen updates its image, measured in hertz. A native 120 Hz panel shows smoother motion than a 60 Hz one. Marketing terms for an effective rate are not the same as the panel’s native rate.
- See alsoJudderVRR
- Resolution
- The number of pixels in the picture, written as width by height. More pixels allow finer detail, though viewing distance and content decide how much of it you see.
- See also4K8K
- Response time
- How quickly a pixel can change from one color to another. Slow response blurs fast motion. It is different from input lag, which is the delay before the image appears.
- See alsoInput lag
S
- SDRStandard dynamic range
- Video with the narrower brightness and color range that TV used before HDR. Most non-HDR content is still SDR.
- See alsoHDRRec. 709
- Smart TV platform
- The operating system on the TV that runs apps, menus and voice control. Examples include webOS, Tizen, Google TV and Roku TV. Interfaces, speed and ads differ between them.
- Soundbar
- A long, slim speaker that sits under the TV. It improves on built-in speakers, and some include a subwoofer or rear speakers for a surround effect.
- See alsoeARCDolby Atmos
- SubwooferSub
- A speaker built for the lowest bass frequencies. Adding one takes strain off the other speakers and adds impact to movies and music.
- See alsoSoundbarSurround sound
- Surround sound
- Audio played through several speakers around the room so sound seems to come from different directions. Layouts are written like 5.1, with the last number counting subwoofers.
- See alsoDolby AtmosAV receiver
T
U
- Upscaling
- Processing that stretches lower-resolution video to fit a higher-resolution screen. Good upscaling keeps lower-resolution sources looking sharp on a 4K TV.
- See also4KResolution
V
- VAVertical alignment
- An LCD panel type with deep blacks and high native contrast, but narrower viewing angles than IPS. Colors and contrast fade when seen from the side.
- See alsoIPSViewing angle
- VESA
- The standards group behind the mounting-hole patterns on the back of TVs, written as two numbers in millimeters, such as width by height. A wall mount must match the TV’s VESA pattern and weight.
- See alsoVESA mount
- VESA mount
- A bracket that attaches to the VESA holes on the back of a TV. Check the TV size range, hole pattern and weight capacity before buying one.
- See alsoVESA
- Viewing angle
- How far off-center you can sit before the picture’s color or contrast drops off. OLED and IPS panels hold up well, while VA panels fade sooner.
- See alsoIPSVAOLED
- VRRVariable refresh rate
- A feature that lets the TV change its refresh rate to match a game’s frame rate, which removes tearing and reduces stutter. It is part of HDMI 2.1, and some TVs add FreeSync or G-SYNC Compatible support.
- See alsoFreeSyncG-SYNC CompatibleHDMI 2.1
W
- Wide color gamutWCG
- A range of colors wider than the older standard used for HD video. HDR content usually uses it, and TVs with quantum dots tend to cover more of it.
- See alsoColor gamutDCI-P3
- WOLEDWhite OLED
- The OLED design used in most OLED TVs, in which white emitters sit under a color filter. It is widely available in many sizes.
- See alsoOLEDQD-OLEDTandem OLED