Assessing the Different TV Options: Curved, 4K, and More
These days, you no longer need to go out on the town for a night of high-quality film entertainment. Today’s television technology is so good–and the content so readily available–that heading out to the cinema just isn’t as necessary as it used to be. That said, there are tons of choices when it comes to picking the right TV. Here are some of the trends that are big, and not so big, in TV technology.
4K Televisions: The Best Quality You Can Get
Every few years, a new buzzword comes along to describe the newest fad in television. Flat-screen, LCD, HD, 1080p – sound familiar? Usually, this term refers to either the television’s build or its screen resolution. The newest trend, 4K (also known as ultra-high definition, or UHD), follows this practice, describing the number of pixels packed into those top-of-the-line televisions. Is 4K worth it? Absolutely, as prices on these TVs are just now becoming affordable enough for the average household. Just be on the lookout for the newest TV trend, 8K, which you’ll start seeing in the next few years.
Curved Televisions: The New Future of TV?
If you’re old enough, you’ll remember a time when TVs had a bit of curve to them. We’re talking, of course, about cathode ray tube televisions, those boxy, heavy sets that gave off static electricity whenever you turned them on. While TVs had slimmed down over the years, the curve is in vogue again, with new screen technology allowing manufacturers to produce screens with a slight concave flex to them. Those who’ve watched them say that curved TVs create a more immersive, more natural watching experience. Unfortunately, these televisions tend to be about twice as expensive as their flat counterparts, so you might want to wait until you bite the bullet.
3D Televisions: Fad That Never Caught On
Remember 2009? It was the year when sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar” came to theaters, shocking audiences with its innovative uses of 3D. As a result, 3D was the big thing for a year or two, prompting television manufacturers to release televisions with 3D viewing capabilities. Too bad that it just never caught on. Not many other films took full advantage of 3D, leading to a lack of content to make purchasing a 3D TV worth it. Plus, audiences didn’t like putting on special glasses in the first place. Accordingly, 3D TVs aren’t really being made anymore. On the flip side, you can probably find a used set for pretty cheap!
Home Theater Projectors: An Alternative to TV
If you’re serious about your movies and you want the biggest screen you can get, you would do well to looking into home theater projectors. They cost just as much as televisions, but they’re capable of creating a much larger picture. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need total darkness for good picture quality; today’s projector bulbs are strong enough to work pretty well during the daytime. One downside to projectors is that their bulbs are rated for only so many hours. That means, in the long run, you might end up paying even more for your projector than you would for a nice TV. That said, the life-sized picture might make that tradeoff worth it.