Samsung News Geek

These days funky new features, sales gimmicks and sweet talking salesmen make selling TVs an easy task.

Most buyers tend not to explore all the intricate features of a TV set but rather let the salesmen do the talking and make the decision. Buyers who opt to go down this road are more likely to pay more for their TVs for unnecessary features than those who do a bit of homework before buying.

Seriously, do you need to watch 3D movies?

Think about it, your TV may come at a good deal with 3D capabilities but you will still need to invest in other equipment to take advantage of this 3D features.

First, you will need 3D glasses which can cost an extra $5 - $50 a pair.

Second, you will need to invest in a good Blu-Ray player that plays 3D movies.

These two additional accessories can set you back for an extra $150-$20 depending on where you buy them. It doesn't sound a lot but here are other things to consider

1) Do you watch a lot of 3D movies?
2) Do you play a lot of games and much prefer immersing yourself in the 3D gaming experience?
3) Do you prefer watching sports close up in 3D. Case in point, the recent Olympics.
4) There are just a few channels that actually broadcast in 3D.


IMHO, watching movies in 3D is certainly a great experience. I remember watching Avatar and a few other movies and it was just simply amazing to see the images pop up right in front of you. But , I can live without 3D. A good movie in 2D TV is already good enough. I think 3D is more of an extra that I can live without.

You may notice that a lot of manufacturers are pushing consumers to go for the 3D ones. Some even incorporate 3D features by default as you will notice in some of the biggest LED HDTV manufacturers i.e Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic

But really, do you care? I DON'T...

But that is just my opinion. Over to you to decide

This might seem like an annoyance to some but spending a good few days or even a week researching on TV sets on the market pays off. There are a mind numbing amount of features and jargons that you will definitely come across. They may be annoying but you need to know if it is actually good.

Fortunately, most TV sets come with standard features such as HDMI inputs, internet connectivity, good refresh rates and great colour depth.

1) Where to Put Your TV
This might seem like a no brainer. But is a 42 inch LED TV sufficient? Yup it might be but it also depends on where you put it. A bedroom or a small living room will be sufficient. Get a measuring tape and see if this size is good enough otherwise just upsize or downsize it before you buy.

2) Check out the colours and depth
Animations or animated movies always look great on TV. Find a TV showroom where they display real life videos of scenery or movements and see what you like best. LED TVs used to be not so good at displaying blacks compared to plasma TVs but these days with improvements in technology, you get to see deeper and darker blacks.

Check out the skin tone and vibrancy of colours. Look at clips or movies with people. Do they look too red or too yellow? Or natural enough to your liking. Most TVs come with presets too so check them out and see if it appeals to you. Of course, you can set them manually but it would be great if some default settings look good enough already on-screen without having to fiddle with the presets.

3) Power Saving Features
Most TVs come with an energy rating. LED TVs are much more energy efficient than plasma TVs or LCD TVs. If you are a real couch potato, factor this into your decision before buying. Some TV sets auto dim according to background lighting conditions while some dims or turns off when idle Energy efficiency was a particularly important decision for me not because I am a couch potato but I just don't want to pay too much on my power bills.

4) Motion And refresh Rate
These days the refresh rates have increased from 60hz /120hz to 480hz. Some are even higher but would cost you a bomb. A good way to see how this works is to make comparisons between different TV sets with different refresh rates. Watch clips or movies with a lot of motion to test it out.

5) Superior High-Definition Technology
Full HD 1080p TVs have stunning picture quality and clarity. They also cost more than 720p TVs or standard HDTV sets. I prefer the full high definition 1080p TVs. I would also rather have a TV with full high definition than 3D capabilities but today these two features come standard in a lot of higher end TVs.

These 5 things are just some of the important considerations you have to make before buying a LED HDTV. You may have more...

This 42 Inch LED TV is the best TV in its size I have ever seen. The colours are so vivid and real. It is an IPS Full LED TV Panel and has such a wide viewing angle that watching TV at all directions is so good. The fast refresh rate of 120Hz makes watching movies with a lot of movement a joy. This TV does not come with 3D capabilities though but what the heck I don't need them and I am still not convinced if you read what I said on top.

The internet capabilities are built-in and the apps are really easy to use. It definitely puts LG's SMART TVs to shame with the ease of use. There are just so many features to like about this TV that you have to be stupid to avoid considering it! For $648 it is definitely a bargain

Check it Out Here>>> Panasonic VIERA TC-L42E50 TV

If you are looking for a higher end model with better refresh rates with full high definition picture quality (1080p) then this LG 42 inch LED TV is for you. It has all the slim built features of an LED TV and is very energy efficient. This is a better TV in the sense that it has more Internet features that make it a "SMART" TV.

The good thing is that its picture quality is crisp and clear. Watching fast moving clips or movies is a real joy. If you are buying this for a new home or as an added TV set to your home you won't regret it!

You may have to dig in a little deeper to find some of the SMART features on this TV. But otherwise, this LG LED TV is a great buy

See it here: LG 42LS5700 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV

This 42 inch LED HDTV from LG is a winner in the sense that it is cheap. Don't be fooled by the price as it has very vibrant colours and nice blacks. The refresh rate might not be as good but I think the picture quality compensates for that. the LED TV makes it very slim. It is great for those who don't want to spend too much on a brand new TV and not too bothered by cooler features like 3D capability.

The few issues that you may be concern of is the inability to play movies on USB and the sound quality may not be great. Otherwise you are in for a bargain with this TV.

See it here: LG 42LS3400 42-Inch 1080p