5 Key Specs That Matter When Buying TVs

5 Key Specs That Matter When Buying TVs

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Hello, a while back we talked a bit about TV specs. If you missed that, it’s still on this site, so feel free to read up on TV specs here. Now when it comes to buying TVs, let me cut through the noise for you. In my book, there are 5 Key Specs That Matter When Buying TVs. They are:

  1. Size
  2. Display Type
  3. Resolution
  4. Software/Processor
  5. Connectivity

Everything else—contrast ratios, peak brightness, dynamic backlighting, marketing gimmicks like “Crystal Display” or “X-Motion”—is just noise. These five are what you need to focus on.

And please, let me say this now: You get what you pay for with TVs. So have your priorities set in stone before spending a kobo.

5 Key Specs That Matter When Buying TVs

What Do You Really Want?

One issue I constantly see with people is that they don’t know what they want. Worse still, if they’re in a group, herd mentality takes over. That’s something I actively discourage on my platforms. You need to know what you want. Not your friends, not the shop attendant, and certainly not some sales agent on Jumia.

Before you even start saving up for a new TV—before your debit card enters your wallet—you must know your priorities. And for most people, it boils down to two things:

  • Do you want size?
  • Or do you want display quality?

Here’s my real-life experience. Last year, I wanted to upgrade from my trusty 32″ LG HDTV. After some hunting, two options stood out:

  • A 50″ TCL C645 QLED 4K Smart TV
  • A 55″ TCL P635 LED 4K Smart TV

Now I had to ask myself: Do I go for the smaller but better QLED or the larger but regular LED? That’s the kind of decision you must make clearly and rationally.

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Let’s Break Down the 5 Key Specs That Matter When Buying TVs

1. Size

Straightforward. Buy what fits your space. Don’t go putting a 98″ TV in your 2-bedroom apartment’s living room—it won’t make sense. You’ll need to sit too far back to see the whole screen. So please, be practical.

2. Display Type and

3. Resolution

Most TVs in stores are basic LCDs, typically 720p or 1080p. Some brands even try to sell 1080p as “2K”. Hmm.

Now some outliers exist. TCL, for instance, sells large LCDs with 4K and smart features under its P-series. Hisense even has a 32″ 4K TV (though who’s watching 4K on 32 inches?).

If you want better visuals, step up to QLED. QLEDs add a layer of quantum dots over regular LCDs for brighter and more vibrant images. They always come with 4K. I’ve never seen a QLED that isn’t 4K. However, QLEDs cost more.

If you want the best LCD tech, you go for Mini-LED. But those ones are for the big spenders—65″ and above, usually.

Then we get to OLEDs—the top-tier stuff. With OLEDs, blacks are black (not grey pretending to be black), colours pop, and the entire viewing experience is silky smooth. There are two kinds: white OLED and QD-OLED (quantum dot OLED). QD-OLED is the best, but rare in Nigeria. White OLEDs are available but expensive—over ₦1 million ($625+) depending on size.

That said, you don’t need 4K unless you can afford it. Let me explain.

Most terrestrial and satellite channels still broadcast at 480i (SD). A few cable channels offer 720p. Most YouTube and streaming content? 480p or 720p. DVDs are 480p-720p. Blu-ray discs offer 1080p or 4K, but who still uses Blu-rays here?

Even today, some people download movies at 360p just to save data. So honestly, having a 4K TV is often overkill. And let’s not even talk about 8K. We’re not there yet.

4. Software / Processor (Smart TV)

These days, every new TV is “smart”. The only “dumb” TVs left are from 5+ years ago.

Smart TVs are essentially big Android devices. They run on ARM-based chips, same as phones.

Problem? TV makers rarely tell you what processor they’re using. Some run on single-core Cortex A35 CPUs with Mali 400 GPUs. That’s ancient tech.

And once the OS updates? Boom. The TV starts lagging and acting up. Especially entry-level models.

The so-called “smart” features are just bait to get you into the ecosystem. Once the lag begins, you’re more likely to upgrade again. See the cycle?

5. Connectivity

Standard connectivity includes:

  • 2x HDMI ports (usually HDMI 2.0a)
  • 1x USB port
  • Bluetooth
  • WiFi
  • Ethernet port

Some TVs also offer AV input, RF in, aux out, and optical audio out. These are all important if you plan to use external audio systems, satellite boxes, or antennas.

Final Thoughts

If you’re buying a TV today, keep your focus on these 5 key specs:

  • Size
  • Display Type
  • Resolution
  • Processor/Software
  • Connectivity

Don’t get distracted by fancy marketing terms or gimmicks. Know what matters to you, know your space, and buy what fits your needs—not your ego.

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