With millions of people cutting the cord, you have more opportunities than ever to watch the shows you love. However, that can leave you with some questions.
Are you having a hard time figuring out which TV to buy? And for that matter, which TV provider should you go with…or should you even pick cable at all?
To find answers to these questions and more, make sure to keep reading as we explore different TV types and options!
Cable vs Antenna vs Streaming
Despite its high cost, cable might not be a bad idea if you have other services bundled through a provider. If you have AT&T or Comcast for your mobile or Internet, you may get a discount when you bundle your cable package.
With that said, the average cable bill is high enough that it’s best to avoid it if you can help it.
You can also snag an antenna if all you care about is local channels. Be sure to do your research on which TV antenna is going to pick up the channels you love.
As a quick aside, if you do choose to go with a digital antenna, consider having it professionally installed. Hiring a local TV antenna installation company is easier and more affordable than falling off the roof and making a trip to the hospital, after all.
Of course, you don’t even need either to watch your favorite shows. Many people subscribe to streaming services instead, as they cost less. Which TV streaming service is best is a different article entirely, but here are a few to check out:
- YouTube TV
- SlingTV
- Fubo
- Hulu + Live TV
- Amazon Channels
Each of these services comes with a free trial, so be sure to check each one out.
HD vs 4K vs 8K
Whichever avenue you use to get your entertainment, you’ll want to make sure you have a great TV to enhance the experience. So what are the differences between the TV types, anyway?
It comes down to resolution, or how many pixels a set can display. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image, and the deeper the colors.
HD, or high-definition sets, broadcast in 1080. If you’ve purchased a new TV within the last 15 years or so, odds are you already have an HD set.
4K sets offer a 4,000-pixel resolution, allowing for a much clearer picture than an HD set. Likewise, 4K is great for gaming.
8K, as you can likely surmise, offers an 8,000-pixel resolution. However, 8K sets aren’t affordable enough to warrant a recommendation and it’s almost impossible to find 8K content.
What’s Right for You?
We can safely say that, unless you have a few thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, you don’t need to even consider purchasing an 8K TV set. While they look great, most companies are just starting to make the transition to 4K content, so it could be years before we see 8K content offered regularly.
On the other hand, you should be able to find a decent deal of a 4K set. Plus, companies like Netflix and Hulu already offer 4K content, so you can make the most of your new purchase.
With that said, 4K can get expensive. If you don’t care about resolution and all you want to do is watch your favorite shows, you’re more than okay with an HD set. By going HD, you’ll save hundreds of dollars.
Making Sense of Today’s TV Types
We hope you enjoyed this quick breakdown of the most common TV types!
If you’re interested in reading up on more tech news, make sure to visit our blog. We’re constantly posting helpful guides to aid you in making the smartest purchases.
