Why Size Matters. How to Choose the Right Size TV For You

When it comes to choosing what size your next TV is going to be, there are a few things that need to be considered. The size of the room it’s going to live in, your budget, and most importantly, how valuable your viewing experience really is to you.

Most people tend to err on the side of caution. This means they like to play it safe and generally choose a TV that’s conservative in stature so that the TV doesn’t become the focal point of the room, doesn’t cost too much, and watching your favourite show doesn’t become an uncomfortable experience. 

However, if you want the fully immersive experience of watching movies and sports, and playing video games, then there is no question that when it comes to your TV, bigger is definitely better.

TVs shrink over time

Have you ever upgraded from a 32-inch 720p TV (which at one time was a pretty standard size for TVs) to a 40-inch 1080p Full HD TV and thought ‘wow that’s big!’ After a while though, that initial awe subsides as the more you view the TV, the size doesn’t seem to be as overwhelming as it initially was. Obviously, this doesn’t mean the TV has physically shrunk, but our perception of its size has adjusted. 

When we see a display TV in a large showroom amongst all the other TVs, it doesn’t seem that big until we bring it home and place it in a much smaller room. Although the dimensions are the same, the environment can make the TV seem deceptively bigger or smaller.

Getting that perfect cinematic viewing experience

Extra-large flatscreen TVs such as the TCL C825 Mini LED 4K Android TV have not only become more widely accepted as a legitimate lounge room option over the last few years, but technology has also advanced so much that viewing movies on a big display with so much clarity isn’t just something that’s exclusive to the local movie theatre. If we love the large screen experience at the cinemas, why are people so reluctant to replicate that at home?

A lot of it has to do with space and budget, but some of it also has to do with the legacy that our older, lower-resolution TVs have left behind, where sitting too close would reveal the fuzzy, distracting artefacts that ruined our immersion. But now, with higher resolution 4K panels available, you can sit much closer to your TV without being distracted by blurry images and imperfections. 

So, if you’re upgrading from a 1080p full HD TV to a brand new 4K one that has four times the pixel count, but you’re maintaining the same viewing distance, you should definitely be upgrading your TV size as well.

Too close?

The viewing distance recommended by the experts at the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for an 85-inch 4K TV is 3.5 metres, giving you a field of view of 30 degrees. However, THX, a company that’s all about the cinematic experience for movie enthusiasts, recommend a viewing distance of 2.6 metres giving you a 40-degree field of view. Therefore, it’s safe to say that anywhere in between that viewing range would be a sweet spot for a TV that size. That’s about the average viewing distance most people have with much smaller TVs.

It seems it’s not such a crazy concept that you can get pretty close to a considerably large TV before things start to get uncomfortable. A good point of measurement to remember is to get as close as you can so you can see the whole screen without having to move your head, and then you’re probably in optimal viewing range. 

Of course, the optimal viewing range will vary from person to person depending on their preferences and eyesight, but on average it’s a pretty good yardstick to help give you a more captivating experience. 

It can be a little intimidating for those who aren’t used to being so immersed in their viewing, but it doesn’t take long for your brain to adapt and stop focusing on viewing distance and instead start appreciating being engulfed in the presence of whatever you’re watching. 

Just like a high-quality sound system such as theTCL TS8132 3.1.2 Channel Soundbar adds to the element of immersion and presence, so does having your entire field of view filled with your favourite eye candy.

Big TVs eliminate viewing distance issues

For most people, once they’ve found their optimal viewing distance it’s hard to get used to anything less than ideal. However, with smaller TVs, depending on the content that’s being displayed, it may actually make you want to change up your viewing distance every now and then.

For example, for the best cinematic movie experience, having the majority of your field of view comfortably filled with content is ideal. If you love watching sports such as rugby or cricket, then you know that you can never be close enough to the action, especially when the matches get intense. 

Being able to clearly distinguish each individual athlete, each fine nick of an outside edge and clearly recognise a face in the crowd as if you were actually there, produces an impact only a true big screen TV can. It can also stop you and your friends from crowding around the TV when the action really heats up. 

If you’re a hardcore gamer who likes to compete online, whether it’s Call of Duty, Fortnite, League of Legends or PUBG, then you know moving closer to your screen gives you the advantage of seeing every minute movement, enhances precision and makes the tightest battles fall just enough in your favour.

Or if you’re hard of hearing, or visually impaired, then reading those subtitles can prove to be difficult on a smaller display at the wrong viewing distance, making watching your favourite shows feel like a chore rather than entertainment. 

These are all examples of why going bigger gives you a better experience regardless of what you use your TV for. 

Size does matter

Obviously, not everyone will have room for 85-inches or more. But if you have at least a couple of metres of space between you and where your TV sits, it’s recommended that you don’t go smaller than a 60-inch TV. Don’t be afraid to go up a size or two either, you’ll be surprised how fast you’ll adjust to the initial size shock. 

TCL has a range of plus-size TV options for you to choose from that won’t break the bank and deliver one of the most immersive viewing experiences you’ve had to date, especially if you’ve always played it safe when it comes to TV sizes. 

Whatever you use your TV for, it is always best to get the largest possible TV you can afford and fit in your home. In this case, size does matter, and once you get past the early, awesome unusualness of having a TV take up your whole wall, chances are you’ll never go back to anything smaller again.