Some models have dedicated game modes which automatically adjust the screen’s refresh rate and lower input response times for smooth motion and virtually lag-free gaming. Samsung’s newest line of televisions use dual LED panels to produce cool and warm colors simultaneously for more brilliant colors. With features like Dolby Atmos audio technology and Bluetooth connectivity, you can get crisp, clean, room-filling sound with or without extra audio equipment like soundbars or subwoofers; which is great for studio apartments and dorm rooms where every inch of space is accounted for. We’ve broken down our top picks for small-format televisions to help you decide which is right for you and your space. With voice commands built into the remote control, you can integrate your Alexa or Google Assistant-enabled devices for hands-free controls. The TV uses the AndroidTV operating system for automatic updates and to keep all your favorite streaming apps in one convenient place. It supports over 5,000 different apps for streaming music, movies, and shows as well as AirPlay 2 and Chromecast connectivity for screen mirroring with your smartphone or tablet. It supports 71 languages and closed captioning so everyone can enjoy movie night or binge watch parties. If you’re a movie buff, this TV has a filmmaker mode that automatically adjusts the picture and sound settings to let you watch your favorite movies as they were meant to be seen. You also get access to LG Channels: 180 free live and original content channels to stream sports, news, and more. The WebOS operating system lets you download your favorite streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu right to the TV. With text-to-speech capabilities, those who prefer audio cues or who are visually impaired can easily navigate menus. With the Roku app, you can turn your smartphone or tablet into a remote control for easier browsing and searching. You can also set up voice commands with Alexa and Google Assistant. If you’re a gamer, this TV has an automatic game mode that enhances the refresh rate and contrast for smoother motion and greater detailing. The TV also has three HDMI ports, a USB port, and RF and composite video inputs so you can quickly and easily set up your home theater system. It also has a headphone jack for private listening while you watch movies and shows or play video games so you won’t disturb roommates or neighbors. The screen uses dual LED lighting that produces warm and cool colors simultaneously for better color volume and saturation. With Dolby Vision HDR support, you get enhanced contrast and sharpness. There is also an automatic game mode that takes advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate for smoother action. The minimal bezel around the screen gives you a fuller picture for a more immersive viewing experience. The dual 10 watt speakers use Dolby Audio technology to produce rich, room-filling sound. Like all newer Samsung televisions, the Q60T has an ambient mode that turns your TV into a work of art to blend into your home decor when not in use. This TV has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity to give you automatic updates so your television always has the latest versions of apps and the Fire TV platform. It comes in both 24 and 32-inch sizes, so it can fit just about anywhere. This TV has three HDMI inputs, including one ARC input for connecting soundbars and other audio equipment, a USB port, a composite video input, and RF inputs for cable and satellite connections or an over-air antenna. Mark Harris is a former digital music writer for Lifewire. He has experience covering digital music formats, players, and streaming services. Robert Silva has been reporting on consumer electronics since 1998. He has written for Dishinfo.com and made appearances on the YouTube series Home Theater Geeks.
The Ultimate Dorm and Small Apartment TV Buying Guide
If you’re looking for a TV for your dorm, small apartment, or condo, chances are you’re going to want something relatively small, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go cheap — you can find great options to fit within whatever your budget may be, whether it’s a simple low-res TV to stick in a corner for casual watching or an ultra-high resolution 4K UHD screen to be able to watch the latest movies in all of their HDR glory. Beyond where you’re going to put it, you’ll want to consider questions such as what you’ll be using it for and what kind of devices you’re going to want to plug in. If you’re a gamer, for instance, you’ll want something higher resolution with a better refresh rate, but on the other hand if you’re on a budget or have a limited internet connection, a good digital tuner may be far more important than streaming features.
Screen Size & Resolution
If you’re trying to get a TV to fit into a specific space in a dorm or small apartment, you’ll want to keep in mind that TVs are measured diagonally, from one corner to another. This means that the width of your TV will normally be slightly less than that, so you may not need to go as small as you might think. For example, a 43-inch TV typically measures between 37 and 40 inches wide, depending on the size of the bezel. Determining the ideal resolution is a much trickier question when purchasing a TV for a smaller space, because there’s really a point at which you could be wasting your money by paying for higher resolutions on smaller screens. For example, unless you’re going to be sitting within about 2-3 feet of your TV, you likely won’t notice much of a difference between 1080p and 4K on a screen that’s under 40 inches, so the smaller you go, the less reason there is to pay for 4K UHD, at least for a television (computer monitors are a different story, since you typically sit much closer to your computer). That said, however, buying a 4K TV does mean you’ll be able to get closer while still seeing the same level of detail, so you really have to ask yourself where you’re going to put it and where you’ll typically be sitting. A good rule of thumb is that for a 4K TV your viewing distance should be between 1x and 1.5x the width of the screen, while for 1080p HD, that jumps to 2x to 2.5x. So for a 40-inch screen, that means 40-60 inches away for 4K, or 80-100 inches away for 1080p HD.
Smart TV Features
Almost all TVs these days come with support for built-in streaming services, with Netflix as a common standard. However, if your streaming tastes are a bit more varied, you’ll want to make sure to look for a TV that has the apps to match your preferences. For example, while most smart TVs also include other mainstream services like Hulu, not all do, and even fewer include things like Disney+ or Apple TV+. Of course, you also always have the option of adding a set-top streaming box like a Roku or an Apple TV, which will give you a wealth of additional options, but those are an additional expense, and although they’re pretty small, they also still take up some space as well as requiring additional inputs and power connections. Note that you can also get TVs that have Roku capabilities built-in. Keep in mind as well that smart TV features work over the internet, so you’ll need to have a decent internet connection to support them, and a good wireless router to match. For example, 4K Ultra HD Netflix streaming typically requires a minimum 25mbps internet connection, and if you have data caps, it can burn through them pretty quickly too — at a rate of around 11-12GB per hour of streaming. HD quality streaming, on the other hand, is considerably more lightweight at around 5mbps. You also shouldn’t expect to get reliable 4K streaming if you’re using Wi-Fi in a dorm, since it will often be slower and much more congested.
Connectivity
Smaller TVs often have more limited inputs, so you’ll need to think about what you want to plug into your TV before buying, and of course exactly how you’ll be using it. The good news is that this is probably a little bit less complicated than buying a TV for a home theatre system, since you won’t likely be hooking up sound bars or AV receivers, but you’ll still need to have a few free HDMI inputs if you want to add a Blu-ray player, game console, streaming box, or have your TV double as a monitor for your computer. If you’re on a tight budget, having a good QAM tuner may be preferable to paying for a bunch of streaming services and the internet connection needed to support them. In many places, you can pick up many over-the-air HD signals for free, and while you’re not going to get premium movie networks, if you’re willing to hook up an inexpensive antenna, you can bring in most of the major networks in good stable quality.
Audio
While you’re probably not going to be setting up a thundering 5.1 channel surround sound system in your dorm, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for second-rate audio. Many smaller TVs still provide pretty decent built-in speakers, but if getting good audio is important for you, you’ll want to make sure that the TV has either analog or digital optical audio outputs so that you can hook up your own speakers. Some TVs even include Bluetooth support, which can be valuable for pairing up a set of headphones if you’re sharing a small space and want to avoid disturbing your roommates or neighbours.
Brands
There are dozens of companies out there making TVs, and you can actually find some pretty good “off-brand” sets, especially if you’re on a budget. While mainstream companies like Sony, Samsung, and LG make some absolutely great TVs, lesser-known brands like TCL and Hisense still deliver quality sets with lots of smart features at some pretty great prices, and often even include built-in support for well-known streaming platforms like Roku.
Future Needs
Just because you’re buying a smaller TV for your dorm doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t think ahead a bit. Since TV technology doesn’t change all that often, chances are that whatever TV you buy right now could still be serving you well years down the road. So if you have the budget, consider what you may want to use your TV for in the future. For instance, even if you don’t need 4K streaming capabilities now, there’s a good chance you might someday, so it’s a good idea to try and find a TV today that can still give you what you need tomorrow, even if it’s just something you can put in a secondary room when you move into a larger space.
