Buying a new smart TV? Common mistakes that you should avoid

Buying a new TV is an exciting experience. The thought of rewatching your favourite movies on the big screen, the movie marathons with friends and the late-night football rivalries coming to life when the rest of the world sleeps! With a steady rise in TV features and more options to choose from than ever before, you’d be forgiven for thinking buying a TV must be a walk in the park. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple.

The sheer choices of features, sizes and everything from the type of display panel to the ports on the back, all make TV-buying a somewhat overwhelming experience for many. Sounds scary? It doesn’t have to be. Here are five common mistakes buyers tend to make when choosing a new TV, that should help you make a choice as crystal clear as your new TV screen.

Overspending on features you don’t need

Walk into any TV store and you’ll be greeted by the latest and greatest tech in televisions. From larger-than-life 8K panels to TVs with built-in soundbars and subwoofers. While these features may look and feel great, remember they also up your budget significantly. This isn’t an issue if you can afford an expensive television, but if you are more conscious about spending, you may want to double check on features you actually need.

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This includes high-end panel technology like OLED, as well as large screen sizes. If you’re a casual TV watcher looking for a basic TV for your moderately-sized room, a 75-inch panel may not be the best idea. To avoid spending on aspects you don’t (or won’t) need, start by doing your research on everything from screen size and software to features and ports. Make a neat list of what features you’ll actually find handy before you begin hunting for the perfect TV.

Not considering the operating system

Most televisions are smart TVs today, but the experience you get out of them post-purchase may vary significantly based on the software at their core. Yes, we’re talking about the operating system. Just like your phone runs on Android or iOS and your laptop runs on Windows or macOS, smart TVs all have their own operating system. You must consider which operating system makes more sense to your ecosystem of devices, as well as your needs.

Android TVs, for instance, will offer the largest app support, while Samsung TVs which run on the brand’s TizenOS will offer a seamless multimedia experience with Samsung smartphones. WebOS TVs, on the other hand, will offer a simplistic user experience, perfect for the non-tech-savvy. Different operating systems will also dictate the design, buttons and capabilities of your remote control. So, it’s something you should definitely pay attention to.

Prioritising built-in soundbars

The fact is, TVs with built-in soundbars and subwoofers usually sound much better than TVs with bottom-firing speakers. However, the audio quality of a television alone should not be your top priority. Remember, the key aspect of a TV is the display, as it is the only major component you can’t really upgrade without getting a new TV.

The sound, on the other hand, can always be upgraded. You can always get a separate soundbar, a home theatre system, or even a pair of wireless headphones for when you don’t want to wake the kids and pets in the house.

If you’re stuck between a TV with a great display and average speakers, and a TV with a great soundbar and an average display panel, pick the former. If the sound quality is not enough to please you, you can always upgrade it later on with home theatres and soundbars, and get even better results.

Not future-proofing your purchase

Keeping a tight budget and sticking to it is a great north star to follow while buying not just TVs, but any appliance. However, if your budget allows you to, it is a good idea to invest in a TV that’s at least a little future-proof. This is because most people will not upgrade their TVs for years, much longer than your smartphones and laptops.

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If that sounds like you, you also don’t want to get stuck with a TV with dated ports and specifications a couple of years after you’ve purchased it. To avoid this kind of buyer’s remorse, make sure your TV has at least a 4K panel, a few HDMI ports, and other features and specifications you may find handy in the years to come.

Not getting an extended warranty

Speaking of TVs that last for years, here’s a hard pill to swallow – all TVs will not make it to their expected lifespan. This could be because of many factors like manufacturing defects. To avoid costly repairs down the line, you can always consider getting an extended warranty plan like Croma’s ZipCare Protect Advanced for TVs. This will help you get through repairs or replacements quicker, while avoiding the soaring prices that an expensive TV can throw at you from the service centre.

Those are some of the most common TV-buying mistakes you need to avoid while buying a new TV. Consider the features and specifications you really want, don’t stray too far from your budget and understand the technologies you’re paying for. Happy binging!

हिंदी में पढ़ें: नया स्मार्ट TV खरीद रहे हैं? सामान्य गलतियाँ जिनसे आपको बचना चाहिए