A woman on a beanbag amazed at the TV picture quality.

Here's what to look for to get TVs with the top picture quality

Published 9th December 2022
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Picture and refresh rate are two of the most important factors when it comes to television viewing. Having a good picture quality and refresh rate can make all the difference in your viewing experience.

In this guide, we will discuss the different factors that affect picture quality and refresh rate, and how to get the most out of your TV.

A person on the sofa watching a HD TV.

What is picture quality?

Picture quality is essentially the measure of sharpness, clarity, and depth of the image on your television. It can be affected by many factors, including the resolution of the television, the size of the television, the type of lighting in the room, the type of picture format used, and the type of technology used. The higher the picture quality, the sharper and more vibrant the display will appear.

For everything else you need to know before you buy, check out our essential guide to new TVs!

Types of picture quality

HD (1080p)

HD, or 1080p, is common on most TVs today. It offers resolutions of 1920×1080 pixels, which means the picture is made up of 1,920 individual pixels horizontally and 1,080 vertically. It's a significant upgrade on standard definition TVs, but HD TVs are generally considered to be the more affordable option.

4K

4K resolution is becoming increasingly popular, with many newer TVs offering this feature. 4K is four times higher resolution than HD, with a resolution of 4096×2160 pixels. The image is incredibly sharp and detailed, and also allows for HDR (high dynamic range), which adds more colour and contrast to the picture.

8K

At the time of writing, 8K is the newest resolution available on televisions and is the highest resolution available. 8K features a resolution of 7680×4320 pixels, which is sixteen times higher than 1080p. The image is incredibly sharp and detailed and allows for HDR (high dynamic range) and DCI-P3 colour.

What is refresh rate?

Refresh rate measures how often the image on your television is refreshed or updated and is measured in hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate allows for smoother motion and a more fluid image. Refresh rate can be affected by the type of technology used and the image source.

60Hz

The standard refresh rate for most televisions is 60Hz, which means that the image is refreshed 60 times per second. This is usually fine for everyday TV viewing, but may not be adequate for high-action scenes such as sports or video games.

120Hz

120Hz is becoming increasingly popular with newer TVs, as it provides a smoother and more fluid image than 60Hz. The higher refresh rate allows for more detail to be displayed in fast-paced scenes and is great for watching sports and playing video games.

240Hz

240Hz is the highest refresh rate available on most TVs and delivers a highly detailed and fluid image. It is great for fast-paced scenes and is particularly well-suited for gaming or watching sports.

Which picture quality and refresh rate is best?

The optimal picture quality and refresh rate will depend on the type of content that you are watching and your individual preferences. For most people, 1080p with a refresh rate of 60Hz is perfectly adequate for everyday TV viewing. However, if you are looking for the best possible picture quality and refresh rate, then 4K or 8K with a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher is the way to go.

A woman holding a TV remote confused by TV settings.

Tips for improving picture quality and refresh rate

The most important thing you can do to get the most out of your TV is to make sure it is properly set up. This means ensuring that the TV is placed in a well-lit room, with the right angle and distance from the viewer.

You should also make sure the TV is calibrated correctly, which can be done with the help of a professional or through your TV's settings. Additionally, you should make sure that your TV is connected to the right type of input source and make sure that the HDMI cable is up to date.

The type of input source and HDMI cable can affect the picture quality and refresh rate, so it is important to make sure that you are using the best available option for your setup.

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