Question 1

What screen size TV should I buy for a typical UK living room?

Accepted Answer

For most UK living rooms with a sofa distance of 8–10 feet, a 55-inch or 65-inch TV is the ideal choice. A 55-inch works well from around 7 feet; a 65-inch from 8–9 feet. Anything larger than 75 inches in a standard-sized room risks being overwhelming and can cause eye strain. If you're unsure, err on the side of slightly larger — most buyers who go bigger don't regret it, but those who go smaller often do.

Question 2

Is OLED really worth the extra cost over QLED?

Accepted Answer

For dark room viewing and cinematic content, yes — OLED's infinite contrast ratio and perfect blacks produce a genuinely different viewing experience that QLED cannot replicate. However, if your living room gets a lot of natural light, a bright Mini-LED QLED set will often look better in practice, as OLED panels can appear washed out in high ambient light. OLED also carries a small burn-in risk if you display static content (news tickers, game HUDs) for extended periods. For most mixed-use households, the LG C-series OLED represents the best balance of performance and price.

Question 3

Do I need HDMI 2.1 on my new TV?

Accepted Answer

If you own or plan to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X, yes — HDMI 2.1 is essential to get 4K at 120Hz from those consoles. Without it, you're capped at 4K/60Hz or 1080p/120Hz. Most TVs priced above 979 £ now include at least one HDMI 2.1 port, but budget sets often don't. Check the spec sheet carefully, as some manufacturers label ports as HDMI 2.1 but with bandwidth limitations that prevent true 4K/120Hz passthrough.

Question 4

Which smart TV platform is best in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Samsung's Tizen and LG's webOS remain the most reliable and well-supported platforms in 2026. Both offer fast interfaces, all major UK streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4), and strong update commitments. Google TV — used by TCL and Hisense — has the broadest app library but update consistency varies. Avoid TVs with obscure proprietary platforms, particularly on budget sets, as app support can disappear within a couple of years, forcing you to rely on an external streaming stick.

Question 5

Are cheap TCL and Hisense TVs actually any good, or should I stick to Samsung and LG?

Accepted Answer

TCL and Hisense have genuinely closed the gap on Samsung and LG at the budget and mid-range level — their 4K sets with Google TV offer strong value, and the TCL C855's Mini-LED performance at its price point is hard to argue with. Where Samsung and LG still lead is in picture processing quality, smart platform polish, long-term software support, and after-sales service through UK retailers like Currys and John Lewis. For a bedroom TV or a tight budget, TCL or Hisense is a sensible choice. For a main screen you'll use for five or more years, the premium for Samsung or LG is usually justified.

Question 6

What's the best time of year to buy a TV in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Black Friday (late November) and Boxing Day are consistently the best periods for TV deals in the UK, with Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon all running significant discounts. Amazon Prime Day (usually July) is also worth watching, particularly for Samsung and LG models. New TV ranges typically launch at CES in January and arrive in UK shops from March — meaning last year's models see their sharpest price drops from October onwards. Use price history tracking to verify whether a "sale" price is genuinely lower than the recent average.

Question 7

Should I avoid buying a TV without Dolby Vision support?

Accepted Answer

We'd strongly recommend avoiding sets that lack Dolby Vision if you stream regularly from Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+. Without Dolby Vision, you'll receive standard HDR10 at best, which produces noticeably less dynamic and impactful images on compatible content. The exception is Samsung TVs, which use HDR10+ instead of Dolby Vision — Samsung's format is supported by Amazon Prime Video and is technically comparable, though the content library is smaller. If you're buying a Samsung, HDR10+ is fine; for any other brand, Dolby Vision should be a non-negotiable.

TVs Price Comparison

LG OLED55C56LB.AEK TV 139.7 cm (55") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Brown

LG OLED48G56LS.AEK TV 121.9 cm (48") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

LG OLED48C56LB.AEK TV 121.9 cm (48") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

LG 32LQ630B6LA.AEK TV 81.3 cm (32") HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

TCL C6KS 55C6KS-UK TV 139.7 cm (55") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic

TCL C6KS 75C6KS-UK TV 190.5 cm (75") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic

TCL C6KS 65C6KS-UK TV 165.1 cm (65") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic

Samsung HG32T5300EZ 81.3 cm (32") Full HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

Samsung HG43BU800EE 109.2 cm (43") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

TCL 75T8C-UK TV 190.5 cm (75") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 350 cd/m²

TCL 65P7K-UK TV 165.1 cm (65") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 350 cd/m²

Sony U.K. K65XR80U TV 165.1 cm (65") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

TCL 65V6C-UK TV 165.1 cm (65") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 280 cd/m²

TCL 75V6C-UK TV 190.5 cm (75") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 330 cd/m²

TCL 50V6C-UK TV 127 cm (50") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 260 cd/m²

TCL 55V6C-UK TV 139.7 cm (55") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Metallic 270 cd/m²

Samsung UE98DU9000UXXU TV 2.49 m (98") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

Samsung Series 8 UE55DU8000KXXU TV 139.7 cm (55") 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi Black

Samsung The Frame QE32LS03CBUXXU TV 81.3 cm (32") Full HD Smart TV Wi-Fi

TVs Price Comparison