How to buy a TV at a good price: size, panel, warranty
Start with the room and the distance
Don't pick a screen size on the "bigger is better" rule. Pick it by how far you sit from the screen. With a 4K TV you can sit closer than with Full HD, so you can go for a wider screen without losing sharpness. In a small room 43–50 inches is often enough. In a living room you can watch on 55–65 inches.
Also think about where the TV will go: on a table or on the wall, and whether you have space for the stand.
What to put in your request
- screen size, for example 55 inches;
- model, if you have already chosen, for example Samsung QE55Q60C;
- panel type: LED, QLED, OLED, Mini-LED;
- resolution: Full HD, 4K or 8K;
- smart features: platform (Google TV, Tizen, webOS), 120 Hz, HDR, and the inputs you need for your DTH or cable set-top box;
- new or used;
- warranty: from the brand or from the shop;
- delivery: in your city, courier delivery, or pickup;
- budget, if you want to name it.
Example: “I need a new 55-inch 4K QLED TV with Google TV. Brand warranty, delivery in Johannesburg. Budget up to R 9,900.”
Panel: which one to choose
LED is the most common and most affordable option. QLED adds quantum dots for brighter colours. OLED gives deep blacks and great contrast in a dark room, but in a brightly lit room it can lose out on brightness, and with static images shown for a long time burn-in is theoretically possible. Mini-LED is a compromise between brightness and contrast. If you mostly watch in the daytime, look at brightness. If you watch films in the evening, OLED usually wins.
Details that are costly to forget
For consoles and gaming, check that there are enough HDMI ports and that 120 Hz is supported. Also ask whether the model is a grey import: firmware and language packs can differ from the local version, and so can the warranty. Ask the seller to confirm that it is a brand warranty, and find out where the service centre is.
When you compare offers, look at the total: the price itself, delivery, whether the screen is unpacked and checked on receipt, and whether a wall bracket is included.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write your request on BlaBlaPrice once. Sellers check what they can offer and reply in the chat with price, terms and delivery. They see where their offer ranks, so they compete for your choice, and the price often comes out better. The offer that is best on substance is shown first, with reviews of the seller next to it. Contacts stay hidden and are opened only to the seller you choose. More on the page “How it works”.
With a new TV you will need a bracket or cables. And if you already have a screen but it lacks smart features, look at TV boxes.
