Yahoo News The best TVs for watching the World Cup 2018
Ah, the World Cup. Your quadrennial opportunity to sit indoors watching TV while it's nice outside, so you better make the most of it.
But that old thing you were thinking of watching it on is so old it probably remembers Gazza's tears. Time for an upgrade, don't you think? Here's our starting line-up of World Cup-worthy TVs and projectors...
1. Best for watching football: LG 55C8PLA (£2999)
Not only is LG's 55C8PLA an absolute stunner of a 4K OLED telly, it also comes packed with all kinds of clever tech that makes it a worthy of a winners' medal. The main one is ThinQ artificial intelligence, which means you can ask it to show you England goals, or switch Sport mode on, and it'll do it without you even having to touch the remote.
2. Best for parties: Epson EH-TW6700 (£1300)
Don't invite people round to watch the first England game and then expect them to gather around your old 37-incher. That's not cool. Instead, clear a wall and point this Epson projector at it. With a maximum Full HD image size of 300in your guests could probably still see it from the garden, plus there's even a stereo speaker built-in.
3. Best for brightness: Samsung QE55Q9FN (£2799)
Unlike OLEDs, Samsung's QLED pixels don't emit their own light, but that doesn't stop them from being dazzlingly bright, and that's what gives the QE55Q9FN a picture that really packs a punch. It's not quite as thin as an OLED but that also means there's a bit more space for speakers, which makes it sound better than many super-slim TVs.
4. Best for HDR: Philips 55POS9002/05 (£1499)
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, which in layman's terms means the bits of the picture that are supposed to be black are very black, and the bits that are white are very white. That makes everything in between look better too, so you get more detail overall. This 55in 4K Philips set is an absolute master of it.
5. Best for OLED on a budget: LG OLED55C7V (£1599)
It wasn't all that long ago that LG's OLED55C7V was the best TV on the planet, but back then it would've cost you way more than £1600. Sure, you can get better now, but that doesn't stop it being an absolute bargain – and with a 4K screen that supports multiple HDR formats, it'll last you until the next World Cup and beyond as well.
6. Best blow the budget: Sony KD-65A1 (£3599)
Whether it's the eye-catching easel design, the incredible picture or the fact that the A1's screen also doubles as the speaker, there's no doubting that sticking one of these in your lounge is sure to attract admiring comments from any visitors. Just make sure they're quiet while the game's on, eh?
7. Best for 4K in a small package: Samsung UE40MU6400U (£429)
There's no doubt that you'll notice the biggest difference with a 4K picture if you plump for a bigger screen, but if you're short on space and still want to see those extra pixels, Samsung's 40in UE40MU6400U offers a noticeable jump in quality from Full HD, plus it supports HDR too.
8. Best for going big on a budget: Toshiba 49U7763DB (£379)
Looking for a decent-sized TV but not fussed about it having all the latest bells and whistles? Toshiba's 49in U7763DB offers a decent amount of screen real estate, supports 4K resolutions and offers access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer et al via the Toshiba Smart Portal. All it's really lacking is HDR.
9. Best for a half-time light show: Philips 55PUS6753/12 (£700)
If you've never experienced an Ambilight TV in action it can be difficult to appreciate what it adds to your viewing experience, but one night in with one and you'll be a convert. The back of this 4K 55-incher has three sets of lights that illuminate the wall behind it in response to what's on screen, giving you a more immersive telly experience.
10. Best under 40in: Samsung UE32M5520 (£299)
Not everybody has space to turn their lounge into a mini multiplex, but that doesn't mean you can't give your eyes a treat. Samsung's UE32M5520 has a nice slim bezel, a Full HD screen and Wi-Fi, so you can access Netflix and Amazon Prime without having to plug in any extra boxes. Best of all, it's just 32in, so will squeeze into almost any gap you've got to fill.
11. Best for not missing a moment: Apple iPad 9.7in (from £319)
Apple's latest iPad has everything you need to make sure you never miss a moment of World Cup action: a slim, light chassis; nice, sharp 9.7in screen; and a 10-hour battery life. If you want to watch wherever you are without worrying about Wi-Fi, you'll want to opt for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, which allows you to install a SIM card and use 4G instead.
You Might Also Like
