Screen size, ultra high definition, connected TV,
Time Shift, curved screens, OLED. Choosing a TV is not easy. The profusion of
models and technologies often push uninitiated consumers to rely on the advice
of a seller, necessarily interested and not always very knowledgeable. Some
tips to help you make your choice.
TV Screen Type:
Manufacturers highlight screen technologies such
as UHD, HDR, Quantum Dot backlighting and OLED displays. What are the
technologies to consider when making your choice?
UHD screens
Ultra High Definition (UHD) is no longer a
novelty. Appeared in 2013 first on very expensive models, it quickly became
widespread on all TVs over 40 inches (1 m) from the mid-range. Remember that
UHD is not, strictly speaking, a novelty or a technological advance. It is
always an LCD screen with LED backlight. Only, compared to Full HD, the number
of pixels has been multiplied by four, from 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160 (more
than 8 million pixels against 2 million). It is for this reason that UHD TVs
are sometimes also sold under the name "4K". Contrary to what can
sometimes be heard around the shelves of high-tech products, the UHD resolution
is far from being a major evolution, as shown our test conducted with 26
panelists. Likewise, the observation we made three years ago about the lack of
content is still relevant today.
In addition to the OLED models, most of the
"Best Choices" tested in our comparison are UHD models. However,
beware of entry-level devices offering a UHD panel. They are equipped with often
undersized processors and sometimes have a hard time offering a correct
interpolation of Full HD images from the TNT HD or a Blu-ray player. In fact,
this can result in a very degraded image.
OLED screens
The OLED , for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, had
convinced us in our first tests in 2013. At present, only the manufacturer LG
offers several OLED models. They are part of the high-end references of the
South Korean manufacturer. Although their prices have dropped significantly in
the last two years, they remain quite high. Count more than € 2,000 for a
55-inch OLED TV!
Remember that the OLED, as opposed to LCDs, does
not have backlighting and therefore offers very low black levels and very high
contrast. These devices are usually capable of delivering a high level of
detail in all light levels from the deepest black to the most exposed scenes.
Given the good results obtained by all OLED models in our last tests, they are
undeniably an interesting choice if you have a large budget.
The so-called "Quantum Dot" diodes
These diodes are used to provide backlight for
some LED LCDs. The name is not very seller, the manufacturers use their own
name to designate this new technology: "
Triluminos" at Sonyand "Quantum Display" at LG, it
becomes "Nano Crystals" at Samsung. Without going too much into the
details, we will be content to specify that it is supposed to bring a clear
improvement in the rendering of colors, especially for all those approaching
green or red. The results obtained in our tests by the devices equipped with a
backlight "Quantum Dot" are generally good or very good. Our
panelists remain quite divided on the final result. They recognize, however,
the evolution brought by this technology in the return of colors.
This technology is being democratized, but it is
generally found on the most high-end models of major manufacturers. And while
it can make a real difference in terms of color reproduction, it is not enough
to guarantee the image quality of a TV. Some "Quantum Dot" models
tested in recent months have very average results, despite prices often
exceeding € 1,500.
HDR
Appeared in 2015, it is especially in 2016 that
the HDR (High Dynamic Range)has really made a name for itself, especially with
the arrival of the first UHD-HDR Blu-ray players. This technology consists in
quantifying the luminance and colorimetric information over a higher number of
bits, thus guaranteeing a much more nuanced image, especially in areas of low
and high brightness. HDR also influences the color level. The first devices
that we could test with short sequences proposed by some manufacturers have
really bluffed us, even if the image sometimes seems unreal. The problem is
that we had to borrow these sequences from the manufacturers. The reason ? They
are for the moment nonexistent. If there is no doubt that HDR TVs, only
available in the highest price ranges, will broadcast a very beautiful image,
we may have some doubts about the upcoming arrival of adapted content. If you
can afford a TV with more than € 1,500, it is likely to be UHD HDR. But if your
budget is more limited, it does not seem relevant to us to make it a criterion
of purchase.
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