LCD, LED & Smart Televisions

Televisions have been the center of family entertainment for decades, with recent advances in technology taking them beyond just moving images on a screen. Higher resolutions, enhanced color processing and larger screen sizes combine to turn the average living room into a home movie theater and game arcade in one. At Staples you'll find a large selection of televisions for sale to choose from.

What’s the Difference Between LED and OLED TVs?

The panel technology is an important factor to consider when shopping for a television set for your home or office. The choice used to be between LCD and plasma screens. However, with recent advancements in display technology, plasma units are now obsolete and LCD is the new standard. LED flat screen televisions are LCD models that use light-emitting diodes to illuminate pixels. They are more energy-efficient than regular LCD sets, display deeper blacks, produce sharper images and are available in slimmer models.

OLED models are even higher quality than LED televisions, which use organic light-emitting diodes. Each diode creates a pixel while serving as its own light source. This dual capability gives OLED sets faster refresh rates, higher contrasts and better colors. Since they do not need backlights, OLED units are slimmer than LED models.

What Television Screen Size and Resolution Is Right for You?

Flat screen televisions typically range in size from 19 inches to over 75 inches. Although bigger television sets look impressive, it is important to get the right size TV for your room to fully enjoy the images on the screen. The ideal screen size depends on the viewing distance.

To find the sweet spot in your living room, divide the viewing distance in inches by two. So, if you sit 100 inches away from where your television will be, your ideal TV size will be 50 inches. However, you can sit closer to a 4K TV. A unit that is too large can look overwhelming in a small space and you may have to move your head to see images at both ends of the screen.

The right image resolution depends on the size of your HD television. Sets that are 32 inches or smaller look good with 720p displays. While it is hard to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p displays on small sets, the difference becomes clear for units with screen sizes between 40 and 65 inches. For bigger sets, go for 4K or Ultra HD displays. These have four times the pixel density of a 1080p screen and boast image-enhancing features like HDR (High Dynamic Range).

What Brands of Televisions Are Available?

Staples sells televisions from a variety of popular consumer brands, including Samsung TVs, LG TVs, Vizio TVs, and more.

Should You Get a Smart TV?

It depends on your exact needs, but more and more people are choosing a smart TV when they purchase a new television for their home or office. A smart TV runs on a more robust software operating system and features a better interface than a regular television set. It also features apps, connects to the internet and plays content from online video streaming services.

What Are the Merits of Curved Televisions?

A curved display provides a wraparound viewing experience that improves immersion through an enhanced sense of depth. The concave shape of the television screen also reduces glare and delivers better contrast.

What Accessories Should You Consider Adding to Your TV?

To enhance sound quality and the overall television viewing experience, you could add a soundbar or other sound system to your TV setup. Choose a model with a separate subwoofer to enjoy deep bass and add depth to the sound filling your living room. Other items to consider include TV wall mounts and stands, wall anchors to avoid tipping and cables to connect it all together.