A Smart TV is one of the few tech products that brings the whole family together. While content consumption has become quite personal these days, many still aspire to get a large-screen smart TV that acts as a family entertainment unit. When it comes to buying a smart TV, there is definitely no dearth of choice; However, it’s quite easy to get the wrong product, as most modern televisions, at least from the front, look very alike.
To steer away your worries, here is a detailed smart TV buying guide reference that will help you choose the right product at the right price.
Always look for a brand that you can recognize, and be cautious
Large screen smart TVs have gotten a lot cheaper in the last couple of years. (Express Photo)
While considering a budget smart TV, many brands might try to woo you with excellent hardware, which makes it look like a steal deal. Always be cautious while buying a smart TV, and we recommend going with a brand that’s been in the business for a while. Again, you also have to be careful about the fact that the name of the product might be familiar, but the device could come from a new player as a result of brand licensing.
Most of us are aware of brands like Sony, LG, and Samsung in the world of smart TVs. Similarly, brands like Xiaomi, Hisense, and Panasonic are also known for producing some of the best-value smart TVs. Do note that brands like OnePlus and Realme recently stopped selling TVs in India, and we don’t recommend getting a TV from either of them.
Choose the right-sized model
Viewing distance plays an important role while consuming content, and there is a set minimum viewing distance for the most popular sizes.
According to Samsung, there should be at least 1.7 meters of distance between a 55-inch TV and the user for the best experience, and for a 65-inch TV, it is 2 meters. As the size of the television increases, the distance also increases. Similarly, if you are getting a 32-inch TV, make sure the distance between the TV and your sofa is around 1.2 metres.
Also note that the size difference between a 32-inch smart TV and a 40-inch smart TV is massive, hence, don’t take it lightly. As a smart TV will permanently occupy a lot of space, make sure there is enough space to place it well.
The resolution plays a key role
Most smart TVs come in either 720p (HD Ready), 1080p (FHD) or 2160p (UHD). While there are also some 1440p televisions, they aren’t that common, and if you want to get an 8K smart TV, you have to spend a lot more than Rs 40,000. Also, don’t just get a high-resolution smart TV just because you can, make sure you also have access to the content that makes use of the high-resolution display.
If you don’t have access to high-speed internet, and if you are just going to use it like a regular TV, then it is best to get either a 720p or 1080p smart TV. Similarly, if you have access to high-speed internet along with OTT subscriptions, then go for a 4K television. At this price, most products will offer an IPS panel, and if you are lucky, you can also manage to get a QLED, which will offer slightly higher brightness, contrast, and colour accuracy.
More than hardware, focus on software
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 4K comes with 24W speakers. The audio quality is fine and complements the visual output. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
Hardware on smart TVs is as important as software. However, unlike buying a smartphone, there is no need to focus on the CPU clock speed, RAM type, or storage, as most devices do include everything that’s needed. Always look for a TV that offers the latest software experience, it could either be Android TV OS, Samsung’s TizenOS, or LG’s webOS, just make sure that the product is running on the latest version of the company’s operating system while purchasing a smart TV.
Based on these recommendations, here are some of the best smart TVs, all priced under Rs 40,000, that one can buy in 2024:
Redmi F series 32-inch Fire TV
This smart TV, priced at Rs 11,999, is a 32-inch smart TV powered by Amazon FireTV OS. This specific product has a bezel-less display and also comes with a smart remote, which gives one-touch access to Alexa. On top of that, it also supports all the major OTT platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema, and more. If you are looking for a compact smart TV, this is definitely the one to choose.
Mi A series 40-inch TV
Available for Rs 19,990, this smart TV runs on Android OS and offers Android TV OS. It offers a slightly higher resolution of 1080p, which makes everything look a bit sharper compared to an HD Ready smart TV. On top of Android TV OS, Xiaomi’s PatchWall+ also offers curated content recommendations, which makes it easy to discover and consume content on this product. If you are looking for a big-screen TV with a 1080p resolution, this is the product to consider.
Samsung (43 inches) Crystal iSmart 4K smart TV
Samsung offers smart TVs that are as expensive as one crore, and the company also makes devices like the Samsung Crystal iSmart 4K smart TV, a 43-inch 4K television that costs Rs 28,990, making it one of the most affordable 4K smart TV from Samsung. Like all the other smart TVs from the company, it runs on TizenOS. While the app library on this television might not be as vast as a TV with Android TV OS, it does support all the major OTT platforms.
Hisense (50 inches) 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV 50E7K
This 50-inch 4K smart TV by Hisense costs Rs 28,990 and it comes with a comprehensive warranty of four years. This is also a QLED panel, which helps deliver a brighter and clearer picture. On top of that, it also has a dedicated gaming mode that offers an enhanced experience when connected to a console, and for the audio, it has a 24W speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support.
LG 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV 55UR7500PSC
This one costs Rs 42,999, and it is clearly one of the best-branded 55-inch 4K resolution smart TVs in the market which comes with the goodness of AI Thinq capability that helps deliver better picture and audio quality. The television comes with the custom webOS and the device is compatible with Apple AirPlay, which allows users to stream content wirelessly from Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.
Children watching a cartoon on a smart TV (Image credit: Vika_Glitter/Pixabay) 
Large screen smart TVs have gotten a lot cheaper in the last couple of years. (Express Photo)
The Redmi Smart Fire TV 4K comes with 24W speakers. The audio quality is fine and complements the visual output. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
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