Technology can be slightly overwhelming, more so if it incorporates numerous acronyms that an average joe cannot wrap his head around. Customers shopping for new gadgets face similar problems, and sometimes have no idea what most of the jargon even means. Sure if it is a smartphone, you would have shortlisted a
few based on reviews from friends and first-hand experiences. The same goes for tablets and notebooks. However, when it comes to televisions it takes a fair amount of research and numerous trips over the creek to different shopping malls to find the right display and a good deal. The first thing you should think about when buying a new television is your budget. Prices for your average LCDs and LEDs start from Dh1,000 and can go up to Dh3,000. Plasma TVs are slowly phasing out, though OLED and ultra-HD TVs have entered to balance the demand, priced up to Dh35,000 for a curved OLED screen and from Dh20,000 up to Dh100,000 for an ultra-HD TV. If you feel like having something different, why not a mirror TV or something unique such as the LG Gallery OLED. The next step is to choose a screen size with the best viewing angle, resolution and a good image aspect ratio. A tip by Samsung makes the process easier: measure the distance in inches from where you plan to sit to where the TV will be located and divide this distance by 1.5. This number represents the largest TV you should buy. To determine the smallest TV that is comfortable to watch, divide the distance to the TV by 3. If you have decided on your budget and screen size and have a few thousand dirhams lying around, look at a few smart and 3D TVs just in case one of them catches your eye. When it comes to 3D televisions, keep in mind that passive 3D glasses trump active 3D glasses. With regards to smart TVs, I strongly feel that they still have a year or two to gain mass acceptance. For now, a smart stick, a smart TV convertor, a gaming console or even an HDMI cable can smarten up your TV. Regardless of what TV you choose, make sure you always have a spare one, so while the better half catches up on her Pretty Little Liars, you can finally finish that heist on GTAV
