Buying a new TV can be a tough decision because there are countless models and brands to choose from. It’s also hard to keep up because TV tech is advancing at a staggering rate with new display types and connector speeds dropping every year. Brands often hype the latest features and specs, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing TV myths. These myths can cost you money, or leave you with a TV you don’t want.

Some TV myths are marketing hype, while others are based on outdated perceptions that might have been true at some point, but aren’t relevant today. I’ll clear some of these up with a list of five TV myths you should stop believing.

You can judge a TV by its spec sheet

Spec don’t tell the whole story

If you like shopping for TVs online, you’ll know each listing is packed with impressive features and specs to entice you into buying. You’ll see terms, like 4K resolution, 120hz refresh rates, and HDR, which might sound good on paper, but don’t tell the whole story and shouldn’t be the only thing you look at when making a buying decision.

The truth is that TVs vary and specs alone can be misleading. For example, I’ve seen some TV models which offer the latest mini-LED screen technology, but don’t match the image quality of a higher-tier LED TV. You’ll find massive differences in the image quality of TVs marked as 4K with HDR because brightness, dimming zones, and contrast affect their performance.

It’s worth seeing the TV you’re thinking of buying in the store to see how it actually looks. If that’s not possible, you can try watching video reviews before buying online.

8K TVs are coming

It seems unlikely now

8K TVs were once the next big thing. However, they’ve now fallen by the wayside and most brands have stopped making them and are now focusing on other tech. So what happened to 8K TVs? The truth is that 8K TVs were very expensive and there weren’t enough reasons for buyers to upgrade over their current 4K models.

The lack of 8K content was a prohibiting factor which didn’t show promise of being resolved anytime soon. Streaming 8K content requires huge amounts of data and a wide bandwidth that wasn’t practical. Another factor was that the difference between 4K and 8K isn’t as perceivable to the human eye, and only makes a difference on the biggest screens. For now, 8K is dead, and you can check out the new MicroLED or RGB mini-LED models if you’re interested in the latest tech.

You need to worry about OLED burn-in

Not as much as you think

OLED Burn-in is technically possible and occurs if a static image is displayed on the screen for too long and the organic pixels get worn down. However, the risk has been drastically reduced on new models with built-in protection systems.

They now include features like pixel shifting, screen savers, and automatic logo detection to mitigate burn-in. Modern OLED TVs also have improved heat management and better quality materials to prevent it occurring.

You don’t need to worry about OLED burn-in if you use your TV for normal mixed use, like gaming or shows. You could potentially increase the risk if you’re using it as a computer monitor with static icons on the desktop. Even then, it could take years and would depend on your brightness and prevention settings.

Bigger is always better

Quality has its place

This is a myth I’ve often fallen for because it seems logical to go bigger when upgrading. Now I’ve learned not to look at screen size alone and consider other factors, like processing, dimming zones, and contrast, which affect the image quality.

The size versus specs issue is pretty common when buying on a budget, and it comes down to your preference. These days, I’d rather get a high-end 65-inch TV than an entry-level 75-inch model due to the improved visuals.

That said, the available space and viewing distance can be the overall deciding factors that affect my choice. A 75-inch TV is probably the maximum size I could go for in my apartment, but the viewing distance could be uncomfortable due to the lack of space. The bottom line is that it’s nice to have a bigger TV if you aren’t sacrificing image and sound quality to get it.

Expensive HDMI cables improve picture quality

Specs and speed are worth considering

We’ve all seen those impressive-looking gold-plated HDMI cables, which cost more because they promise smoother connections and greater durability. The truth is that gold-plating doesn’t affect performance and shouldn’t be a factor when choosing an HDMI cable.

The cables don’t have any intricate moving parts and either work or don’t. You’ll find cheap cables from reliable brands that work better than pricier options from dubious suppliers.

However, you should still use HDMI best practices, like buying cables fast enough to support your TV’s capabilities and sticking to shorter cables when possible. HDMI cables are backward-compatible, and it’s worth getting the latest HDMI 2.1 versions as they’ll also work on your older devices.

Display Size

42, 48, 55, 65, 77, or 83 inches

Operating System

webOS

Display Type

OLED

Display Resolution

4K (2160p)

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

36.6 pounds