4K Televisions

Also known as Ultra HD, 4K televisions offer four times the quality of Full HD televisions for a truly jaw-dropping picture with incredible amounts of detail. In order to take full advantage of 4K Ultra HD you will, of course, need 4K content that packs those all important extra pixels and 2015 should see much more content come to market through the likes of Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Ultra HD Blu-ray players.

Curved or Flat

More of a personal preference than a technological benefit, another consideration is whether you’d like your TV to have a curved or a completely flat screen. Fans of curved screens claim that the viewing experience is more immersive as the slight curvature to the screen wraps around your field of vision and the sense of depth to the picture is therefore enhanced. Those more in favour of flat screens argue that there is less distraction from the picture on screen due to less light reflection and the “sweet spot” for viewing the television is greater. It really comes down to individual taste!

Smart TV

Smart televisions connect to the internet either wirelessly or by a cable connected to your home broadband router, enabling you to access various online facilities. From internet browsing, to catch up television and on demand television, a smart TV will enhance your viewing possibilities. As you are connected to the online world, as with a PC or smart phone, you can access applications (apps) on your television and connect to social media sites as well as play online games.

3D TV

You can now watch the very latest blockbuster movies in stunning 3D TV in the comfort of your own home. Whether you have a 3D blu-ray player or have access to 3D broadcasts (satellite and cable at present) 3D is no longer just something accessible at the cinema. There are two types of 3D: passive 3D and active 3D. Passive 3D is much like the cinema style 3D – it uses polarised non-powered glasses which give the 3D effect. Active 3D uses powered 3D glasses which synchronise perfectly with the screen giving you a higher resolution and a more intense 3D experience.

Processor

The better the processor the faster applications will load and the more responsive the television will be during use. Televisions with slow or low-grade processors tend to stutter or pause after the user has issued a command. Quad-core processors offer the fastest experience but dual-core processors are generally adequate and offer a good overall experience.