How to buy a TV: size, room, technology and what to ignore

Buying a TV gets easier if you decide things in order. Start with how big and where, then how bright, then the technology, and only then the features. This guide walks through that order and flags what you can skip.

Step 1: Choose the size

Measure the distance between your seat and the TV. TechRadar's size finder uses a ratio of 1.6 times the screen's diagonal for general viewing, 1.2 for a cinematic feel and 2 for a smaller picture. A seat 8 feet away, which is 96 inches, divides by 1.6 to give 60 inches. Our size guide has a full table.

Step 2: Think about the room

Light matters more than most shoppers expect. Tom's Guide says entry-level OLEDs are usually the dimmest and are best in dim rooms, while mid-range OLEDs are bright enough for most living rooms that are not flooded with sunlight. TechRadar's comparison found a mid-range Mini LED had a clear brightness advantage in strongly lit rooms, though neither it nor the OLED escaped reflections. For a room-by-room breakdown, see Best TV for your room.

Step 3: Pick a technology

OLED makes light at each pixel, while Mini LED lights an LCD from behind with many small LEDs. Details are in OLED vs. Mini LED. Variants include QD-OLED, which adds quantum dots for extra brightness and color (see QD-OLED explained), and RGB Mini LED, which uses red, green and blue LEDs (RGB Mini LED explained).

Step 4: Check the specs that matter

• Brightness, two numbers. TechRadar reports peak brightness on a small part of the screen and full-screen brightness over the whole picture. HDR content is commonly mastered at 1,000 nits, so reaching it helps. See nits explained.
• HDR formats. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are not interchangeable, and Samsung TVs lack Dolby Vision. See what is HDR.
• Gaming features. For a console or PC, look for 4K 120Hz, VRR, low input lag and enough full-speed HDMI 2.1 ports. TechRadar's gaming guide lists the number of HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR types and measured lag for each pick. Read HDMI 2.1 explained and the gaming TV buying guide.
• Sound. Built-in sound is rarely the best part of a TV. Plan for a soundbar with an eARC connection if you care about audio (eARC explained, soundbar guide).
• Antenna features. If you watch over-the-air channels, check ATSC 3.0 and NextGen TV.

Step 5: Set a budget with ranges

Prices move, so use ranges and compare current prices before you buy. In general, entry-level OLED and mid-range Mini LED often compete for the same budget, as TechRadar's head-to-head shows. TechRadar noted ahead of the 2026 World Cup that the previous year's models were at some of their cheapest prices as new ones reached stores, which is covered in when to buy a TV. For a whole system, try the builder.

What to ignore

• Panel brand names. TechRadar notes that makers give Mini LED different names: for example, Samsung Neo QLED and LG QNED. Look for the backlight type in the spec sheet instead.
• A single brightness number. The brightest figure on the box is usually from a small test window. Check the full-screen number too.
• A model name without a size and year. Two TVs under one name can differ. TechRadar reports that LG's 2026 C6 line has a different, brighter panel on the largest sizes, sold under the C6H name. See TV model numbers explained and use the decoder.

A shortlist routine

1. Write down your seating distance and pick a size range.
2. Note your room lighting and choose OLED or Mini LED.
3. Filter in the finder by size, panel type and must-have features.
4. Compare finalists side by side in the compare tool, such as the LG C6, TCL QM7L and Hisense U8QG.
5. Read the review for the exact size you plan to buy, then check current prices.