The year 2021 is on the calendar, and by no means its beginning, which means that a consumer who is fundamentally aimed at purchasing an ultramodern, high-tech, “smart” TV in the most recent “incarnation” already has something to profit from in the open spaces of retail. And already the leading manufacturers have gone to great lengths, filled the counters of retail, pages of online stores with new products. There is a choice, it remains only to make it infallible. And our today’s rating of the best TVs should help in this.
How Do I Pick a Good TV?
You can, of course, try to study the detailed characteristics of all possible candidates for a home residence permit, but the process can be very delayed. So, you look, and the next season will come. At the same time, success is by no means guaranteed. Therefore, we will consider the fundamental parameters on which it is worth focusing on when choosing a TV in 2021.
The usual recommendations: distance from the screen should be at a distance of 2-3 or more diagonals. If you want “in science”, you can use the graphs-diagrams, which are “a dime a dozen” in the network. And in life? Nobody will forbid the end user to buy a TV of the size he likes.
Display resolution
In 2021, 2 formats are relevant:
4K UHD (3840×2160 px) is the most widespread and popular option. The range of TVs with this resolution is as wide as possible. Everyone can find the optimal model for the size of the wallet, room, in accordance with brand preferences.
8K UHD (7680×4320 pixels) is an aesthetic format for the time being mainly for “rich Pinocchio”. In our market, TVs with such a screen, as a rule, are flagships from the big three: Samsung, Sony, LG (the latter, by the way, has relatively affordable versions). However, 8K TVs are traditionally equipped with the latest processors with intelligent 8K upscaling. So videos of basic 4K or even Full HD formats can easily be viewed with the highest possible clarity.
Display type
Classic LED. At the heart of the LCD matrix with LED backlight. Today this type of screen is typical for the budget TV class.
QLED, Nano cell. Similar technologies from different manufacturers, which also use a traditional LCD panel, LED backlighting, complemented by a special filter with quantum dots, they are also nanocrystals, thanks to which it is possible to cut off incorrect shades, achieving 100% color accuracy.
OLED. The most highly efficient, but also the most expensive type of panel to manufacture. There is no backlight unit, the image on the screen is formed by millions of self-illuminating pixels that can turn on and off at the right time, providing maximum black depth and super contrast, almost unattainable for even the most advanced LED displays.
HDR support
High Dynamic Range is a technology for reproducing the most realistic picture for the human eye with the highest degree of detail in dark and light scenes. It is found in almost all modern TVs, only the degree of efficiency differs. Three whales on which the quality of content in the high dynamic range depends: contrast, brightness, color rendition.
Conclusion: if you want to see true HDR – it is better to look towards OLED or QLED, Nano cell, Trolamines models with a powerful processor, local dimming system, display brightness from 600-700 nits.
The best TV manufacturers in 2021 and their new technologies
I must say, the leading brands did not disappoint this season. There are innovations, and not just a copy of the previous series with minor changes in color, design, equipment.
Samsung
The South Korean brand has pleased with two innovations:
New super slim Airlie design for entry and mid range models;
Premium Neo QLED technology. What is the point: the Quantum Dot display comes with a Mini-LED backlight based on a new type of LEDs about 40 times smaller than traditional ones. Thus, the body becomes thinner (Neo Slim design), uniformity is significantly improved, and it becomes possible to increase the number of local dimming zones. Hence the excellent black depth, comparable OLED contrast ratios at significantly higher brightness values.
Unfortunately, Samsung continues to upset its Russian fans with strange innovations. Not all consumers of the brand’s products like the fact that the lion’s share of top-end QN TVs are now equipped with IPS-like ADS matrices instead of the VA panels that are so beloved by many for the high contrast and depth of black VA panels. Moreover, the replacement took place quietly “without declaring war.”
Sony
The Japanese brand in the design of its top-end TVs did not particularly refine anything, but as for the already famous highest realism of color reproduction (and the image in general), it became even better. In 2021, Sony’s flagships have a unique Cognitive Processor XR. According to the manufacturer’s assurances, his cognitive intelligence knows how the human brain perceives visual and audio information, therefore it is able to provide the best perception, maximum immersion of the TV user into the scene on the screen.
Lg
Perhaps the most significant achievement of this Korean manufacturer is the development of OLED technology. The company is the main and, in fact, the only manufacturer of self-illuminating pixels for TV. And now the year 2021 was marked by an important event – a new, more advanced version of the OLED Evo display appeared. The manufacturer announced the optimization of the panel structure by adding a special layer, improving the properties of the luminous elements, making the image even brighter and clearer.
In addition, not wanting to be outdone in the technology race with its rival Neo QLED, LG has launched its line of QNED TVs with an innovative Mini LED backlight and Quantum Dot Nano cell display.
