Choosing a TV: the right size, the right resolution and the right price

Step 1: work out the size from the viewing distance

A common mistake is to choose the screen size from the width of the wall or from the budget. What matters is how far away you sit. The higher the resolution, the closer you can sit to a large screen without seeing the pixels.

For reference, one inch is 2.54 cm, so a 55-inch screen measures about 140 cm diagonally. Also check the width of the TV stand, or the strength of the wall if the set will be wall-mounted.

Step 2: choose the resolution you will actually use

Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels) is still enough for small screens up to about 40 inches, especially in a bedroom or kitchen. Above that, 4K (3840 × 2160 pixels) has become the norm, and the price gap with Full HD has narrowed sharply. Bear in mind that the quality of what you watch limits the quality of the picture: a channel broadcast in standard definition will not become sharp on a 4K screen, even if the TV improves it a little.

The marketing labels (LED, QLED, OLED, Mini LED) describe the panel technology. For family viewing in a bright room, peak brightness matters more than the technology's name. For watching films in the dark, contrast comes first. Ask to see the screen switched on in the shop with a picture you know, rather than the demo video.

Step 3: check reception and connections

In Tunisia, many households watch television by satellite, through a separate receiver or a satellite tuner built into the TV. So check what you will plug in: the number of HDMI ports (receiver, console, soundbar), whether there is a tuner suited to your setup and, for a soundbar, HDMI ARC or eARC support. A TV that cannot receive your channels directly means keeping an extra box and an extra remote.

Step 4: look closely at the smart TV system

A connected TV gives you streaming services without an extra box. But not all systems are equal: some get updates for years, others stop being supported quickly, and apps can disappear. Check that the services you actually use are available on the system of the model you want. Otherwise, a cheap, replaceable external streaming stick extends the life of a TV whose software is ageing.

Step 5: work out the real price of a promotion

TVs are among the most heavily promoted products. Our archive has two examples. In January 2014, a 32-inch Sunny TV was listed at the same price, 599 DT, by eleven retailers: a price that uniform leaves no room for negotiation and moves the comparison to services. The same year, a 46-inch Samsung Smart TV dropped from 2,000 DT to 1,699 DT at one retailer, for an offer valid for twenty-one months. A discount that lasts that long looks more like a normal selling price. Both are detailed in our history of promotions listed between 2012 and 2015.

To compare two offers, add delivery, installation or wall mounting, the cost of paying in instalments and the cost of any extended warranty to the listed price. Then compare the length and content of the warranty: the panel, which is the most expensive part, must be clearly covered.

Step 6: inspect the TV on delivery

Open the box in front of the delivery driver if you can, or as soon as it arrives. Check the panel and packaging for damage, switch the screen on to a plain colour to spot dead pixels, and keep the invoice and packaging for the warranty period. If you ordered remotely, the law gives you time to return a product that does not match your order, as our guide to buying online in Tunisia explains.