How to Choose a TV: A Simple Buyer’s Guide in 2025
Buying a new TV can be overwhelming — there are so many brands, screen types, features, and sizes to choose from. But don’t worry. In this simple guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know before buying a TV in 2025.
Whether you’re upgrading your living room setup, building a home theater, or just want a reliable Smart TV for streaming — this guide will help you make the right choice.
1. Choose the Right Screen Size
Both OLED and QLED TVs support the latest smart platforms:
LG OLED TVs: Run on webOS with excellent app support and AI features.
Samsung QLED TVs: Use Tizen OS, known for smooth navigation and Smart Hub.
Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby are integrated in most models, making it easy to control your TV and smart home devices.
The screen size depends on two things:
The distance between your couch and the TV
The resolution of the screen
Here’s a simple rule:
Sitting 6–8 feet away? Go for 55–65 inches
Sitting 8–10 feet away? 65–75 inches is great
For smaller rooms (bedroom, kitchen)? 32–43 inches is enough
Popular choice:
Check best-selling 55″ TVs on Amazon
2. Understand Display Types: OLED vs QLED vs LED
OLED (Organic LED): The best picture quality, perfect blacks, and infinite contrast. Great for movies and gaming. Expensive, but worth it.
QLED (Quantum Dot LED): Brighter than OLED, excellent colors, usually more affordable. A good balance.
LED / LCD: Budget-friendly, decent quality, but lacks deep blacks and contrast.
Summary:
Best quality? → OLED
Bright rooms? → QLED
Tight budget? → LED
See top OLED TVs on Amazon
See top QLED TVs on Amazon
3. Resolution: 4K is the Sweet Spot
4K UHD is now the standard in 2025 — sharp, detailed, and perfect for streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.
8K sounds impressive, but there’s very little content yet. Also expensive.
1080p (Full HD) is okay for smaller screens, but outdated for larger ones.
Tip: If you’re buying 50” or bigger, stick to 4K.
Explore top-rated 4K TVs here
4. Smart Features and OS
Most TVs today are “Smart TVs” — they connect to the internet and stream content directly.
Popular Smart TV platforms:
Tizen (Samsung) – Smooth, fast, lots of apps
webOS (LG) – Clean and easy to use
Android TV / Google TV (Sony, TCL) – Great app selection and voice control
Roku TV – Super user-friendly and reliable
If you already use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit, make sure the TV supports it.
Smart TVs compatible with Alexa
5. Gaming Features (If You’re a Gamer)
If you use your TV for gaming (especially with PS5 or Xbox Series X), look for these features:
HDMI 2.1 – for 120Hz gaming at 4K
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
Low Input Lag – under 15ms is best
Best gaming TVs on Amazon
6. Sound Quality: Built-in vs Soundbars
Most modern TVs are super slim — which means sound quality isn’t always great. For a better experience:
Look for Dolby Atmos support
Consider getting a soundbar (even a basic one makes a big difference)
Best gaming TVs on Amazon
7. Connectivity and Ports
Make sure your TV has:
At least 3 HDMI ports
eARC support (for sound systems)
USB port for media
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
If you plan to connect many devices (console, soundbar, streaming box), you’ll need the ports.
8. Budget Breakdown: What You Can Expect
Under $300 – 32″ to 43″ LED TVs, good for small rooms
$300–700 – Mid-size 4K TVs, Smart features, great value
$800–1500 – Larger screens, QLED/OLED, gaming-ready
$1500+ – Premium OLED, 8K, top-tier features
Explore TVs by price range
Final Thoughts: Key Takeaways
No matter your budget, there’s a TV that fits your needs. Use this guide to shop smart — and if you’re ready to explore options:
Shop best-selling TVs on Amazon now