10 things to ask before buying that new TV to watch the World Cup

DON’T know your OLED from your UHD? Read this before you invest in a new television.

Getting ready for the World Cup? Here’s what you should ponder before buying that new TV.

News_Image_File: The Samsung Series 9 HU9000 Curved UHD LED TV.

Do I want it curved?

Curves are sexy, and they’re the most obvious new detail in the 2014 TV models. Samsung and LG did offer curved OLED displays last year, but 2014 sees multiple curved models across sizes and price points. The theory is that the screen’s curve follows the curve of your eyeballs, leading to more immersion in your program.

Is the time right for ultra HD?

It’s not new for 2014, but expect more UHD (or 4K) TVs in stores, showing what 3840x2160 pixel displays — that’s four times the resolution of current full HD display — can do.

What about ultra HD content?

The big issue for UHD TVs remains getting hold of content that’ll do the resolution justice, because you can’t yet buy UHD movies or watch UHD TV broadcasts. The manufacturer’s pitch for this is that the upscaling you get from SD and HD content offsets that. They also say you can sit much closer to the screen without seeing screen elements, making them ideal for smaller apartments.

News_Image_File: The Samsung Series 8 Curved HD LED TV H8000.

How long will I keep it?

Samsung’s research suggests the average Australian household replaces its TV every five years, which means a TV you buy today will most likely still be running at the end of the decade. It’s worth factoring in the purchase price against that kind of estimate, not to mention the running costs.

Do I have enough bandwidth?

All figures suggest the most popular aspect of smart TV remains using it for catch-up TV. Combine that heavy usage with the increased bandwidth needs of UHD, and you may need to upgrade your quota, or your speed if you can.

Will it do my sports preferences justice?

Australians buy TVs in record numbers when there’s a big sporting gig going. Samsung is promising that its 2014 TVs will include a “sports” mode that’ll automatically detect and record highlights from the World Cup, so even if you drift off in the early hours, you’ll still be able to watch every goal. The promise is they’ll bring the feature to other codes this year as well.

News_Image_File: A new LG TV with WebOS menu which aims to simplify smart TVs.

What happened to 3D?

3D was hyped as the “next big thing” a few years ago. That didn’t exactly happen, but it’s still present in this year’s models, with a mix of active shutter-powered and cheaper passive glasses on display.

What about smart TV?

Smart TV sales are relatively flat. LG is selling its Smart TV vision for 2014 around the webOS platform it bought from HP and the simplicity of its viewing options. Smart TV didn’t end up being super-brainy, but there are some clever features to enjoy here.

Is my TV big enough?

The days of the tiny 12 inch are behind us. GfK statistics suggest almost 70 per cent of TVs sold in Australia in the first quarter of 2014 were larger than 46 inches diagonally. The top of Samsung’s 2014 range runs to 78 inches, while LG is promising a TV in the Australian market by year’s end that will be 98 inches diagonally.

How much should I spend?

Last year’s ultraHD TVs cost north of $20,000. This year the name brands are offering UHD TVs from $2499. If you’re willing to steer away from the big-name brands, Kogan and TCL are offering UHD panels for under $1000.