Televisions: The Ultimate TV Buying Guide 2022
Buying a new TV can be complicated, stressful and expensive. That’s why we made this guide to help you narrow down exactly what you want and what you can get for your money.
From small 24-inch and 32-inch TVs to 65-inch models, we cover a range of options regardless of whether you want to hook up your PS5 or simply stream Netflix.
In this guide:
- Best TVs Under £500 in 2022: Big Brand Discounts
- Best 120Hz 4K TVs for Gaming in 2022
- Best Small TVs in 2022: 24-inch to 32-inch
- Best 32-inch TVs 2022: Small Televisions for Bedrooms and Kitchens
- Best 50-Inch TVs 2022
- The Best 65-Inch 4K TVs in 2022
- The 6 Best Hisense TVs 2022
- The 9 Best 4K TVs 2022
- The 5 Best TVs For PS5 in 2022
- Best Smart TVs for Streaming 2022: Budget and Premium Options
How to choose a TV
If you’re wondering what to look for when buying a tv, you’ve landed in the right place. These are the 10 most important considerations when it comes to putting money down for a new telly.
Price
This is the most obvious thing to consider, especially because you need to think about what screen size, features and warranty your budget will get you. Better known brands like Sony, LG and Samsung will obviously be more pricey, but they also offer stronger build quality and richness of colours – generally speaking.
Picture quality
Resolution is important, but if you don’y consider yourself much of a tech-enthusiast, our advice would be to go for a TV with 4K (aka Ultra HD) and make sure it has HDR.
TV sizes
TV size is the main factor affecting the price of a television, but it also has a huge impact on the picture quality. This will depend significantly on the how far you’ll be sat from the TV. Television sizing typically goes something like this: 19-32 inch TVs (small, cheapest), 33-43 inch TVs (everyday telly, popular sizes), 44-50 inch TVs (more premium, usually for sport and movie lovers or gamers) and 55+ inch TVs (top-of-the-range, ideal for large spaces).
TV screen types
The majority of TVs include full HD (high definition) and LED (light-emitting diode) tech as a standard. 4k TV screens are getting much more popular as they incorporate both LED and HD, offering 4x greater than full HD. If you want extremely sharp and crisp image and colour, a 4K TV might be for you.
Warranty
Okay so this one’s a bit dull but it has to be said, pay attention to the warranty! If you’re going to drop a few hundred pounds on a television, make sure you have the right documentation in case something goes awry.
Best TVs Under £500 In 2022: Big Brand Discounts
In 2022, pretty much every new TV on the market is a smart TV, meaning you can easily access and download apps to enjoy on-demand content. You might think that you’ll need to spend a fortune to be able to enjoy a smart TV with a 4K display, but there are plenty of TVs under £500 from well-known brands such as Samsung, LG or Toshiba that support these features.
There are also plenty of big-screen TVs under £500 – between 43-inch and 55-inch – that can take centre-stage in your front room. Check out our best buys when it comes to televisions under £500.
Best TVs Under £500 in 2022: Big Brand Discounts
Best 120Hz 4K TVs for Gaming in 2022
More and more gamers are turning to 120Hz TVs for games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Apex Legends and other Battle Royale games. A 120Hz refresh rate not only delivers faster and smoother imaging, but it can also give you a competitive edge over other gamers who play on a standard 60Hz monitor.
Plus, if you have the latest generation console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X, then you’ll greatly benefit from the HDMI 2.1 slots that come with many 120Hz TVs because 4K at 120Hz requires a TV that supports the HDMI 2.1 standards. Take a look at the link below to see which 120Hz 4K TVs we recommend at different price points, including Samsung, Sony and LG TVs.
Best 120Hz 4K TVs for Gaming in 2022
Best Small TVs in 2022: 24-inch to 32-inch
The best small TVs might not be the top of the range, but the ones we’ve picked out pack a punch. All offer impressive displays and some excellent features that you might expect exclusively on larger models. Small TVs are also ideal for student housing as they’re little enough to move around and won’t take up too much space.
Below are some of the best small TVs in 2022 from 24-inch to 32-inch, including brands like Sony, TCL, SuperSonic, LG and more.
Best Small TVs in 2022: 24-inch to 32-inch
Best 32-inch TVs 2022: TVs for Bedrooms and Kitchens
If you’re thinking about buying a secondary TV, many people agree that 32-inches is the best size to purchase if you’re looking for a smaller option for a bedroom or kitchen.
32-inch TV prices vary, but you can expect to be paying around £180-£400 maximum. For all our advice on what to look for if you’re after a small telly, check out the link below.
Best 32-inch TVs 2022: TVs for Bedrooms and Kitchens
Best 50-Inch TVs 2022
The best 50-inch TVs out there are simply perfect for most rooms, including your student dorm room. Yes, they’re quite big, but with the release of much larger TVs these days, they’ve now considered the halfway point when it comes to sizing.
Plus, a 50-inch TV will offer an immersive experience whether you’re gaming or streaming your favourite shows. There are a lot of TV models that come in this size, so you aren’t short on options either. Take a look at the best of the best in our guide.
The Best 65-Inch 4K TVs In 2022
If you’re looking at 65-inch TVs, bets are that you want a cinematic experience at home. 65-inch TVs are big screens, which means there also on the more expensive end spectrum.
Fortunately, TVs with a bigger screen tend to boast better features than smaller TVs thanks to the higher price tags. If you’re looking for a 4K FHD TV that’s 65 inches to put in your front room, check out our top picks to suit every budget.
The Best 65-Inch 4K TVs In 2022
The 6 Best Hisense TVs 2022
Hisense TVs are becoming increasingly popular over big brand names such as Samsung and LG. Whether you’ve heard of the Hisense brand or not, the models — which are available on Amazon — make great TVs for both watching and gaming.
If you’re thinking about buying a Hisense TV, here’s everything you need to know about the budget brand and how it compares to bigger-name rivals.
The 6 Best Hisense TVs 2022: Can The Budget Brand Compete With Rivals?
The 9 Best 4K TVs 2022
If you’re looking at 4K TVs, there are a few factors that you’ll want to consider. These considerations can make sure that you’re getting the best 4K TV for your budget and you’ll be satisfied with your new purchase, which should helpfully fully elevate your home.
Some things you’ll want to keep in mind when considering purchasing 4K TVs are the screen size, price, display type, operating system (OS) and smart features you’ll get. Luckily, there are loads of 4K TVs out there, suitable for all budgets.
The 5 Best TVs For PS5 in 2022
The best TVs for PS5 have 120Hz refresh rates and a 4K resolution. These settings match the capabilities of a PS5, meaning you’ll get the best out of your gameplay. Sony has also released a firmware update to add variable refresh rate (VRR) support to the PS5, so you’ll also want to get a TV with VRR which can help reduce the risk of screen tearing.
However, you don’t need to worry if you can’t afford a TV with HDMI 2.1 as your PS5 will still run with a 1080 display. The good news is that all modern 4K TVs of note have HDMI connectivity supporting 4K at 60fps. We do recommend 120fps though, especially if you’re an online competitive player.
The 5 Best TVs For PS5 in 2022
Best Smart TVs for Streaming 2022: Budget and Premium
When it comes to smart TVs for streaming, you may be bewildered by how many options there are – which TVs have which apps, which remotes come with your favourite streaming sites… it can get overwhelming!
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best smart TVs for streaming to suit all budgets, including brands like LG, Samsung, TCL, Hisense and much more. Read on to find out which TV could be right for you, along with the various price points and our exclusive discounts available.
Best Smart TVs for Streaming 2022: Budget and Premium Options
Accessories
Sounds bars
In recent years, internal speakers have been resized within TVs to ensure they can be as slim as possible. However, if you want to improve your audio experience, a good sound bar is the cheapest and easiest way to go.
But what is a sound bar? It’s simply a type of wide loudspeaker that can be fitted above or below your TV for a more cinematic experience without needing to fit multiple speakers around the room. We recommend a sound bar even more if you go for a cheaper TV as the standard television audio is typically not very good.
TV stands
TV stands and TV brackets are hugely common accessories, and for good reason. TV stands are easy to move and they’re perfect for storing DVDs, consoles etc.Your stand should be a few inches wider than your TV, but not so large that your TV looks small.
TV brackets
TV brackets come in four types, but all abide by weight limits – so make sure you buy the right type.
There are 4 types of brackets to help you securely mount your TV. Each of these will have a weight limit, so remember to check that your chosen bracket can support your TV’s weight. Flat-to-wall TV brackets sit flush against the mall without the ability to move or extend, while a Tilting TV bracket allows you to tilt your viewing angle depending on glare or preference.
Tilt and swivel TV brackets move horizontally and sideways to adjust viewing angle, often with a longer arm. Lastly, Multi-positional TV brackets are the most comprehensive; they’re slightly larger and allow the most movement.
Projectors
TV projectors are a great touch for those who love films or have kids. Projectors are a great alternative if you want additional TVs on a budget. They’re fairly lightweight and much less costly than another television, making them a smart buy. Oh, and if you want to host an outdoor movie night, a projector is an essential.
