If you have the space for it, a 65-inch TV can seriously improve your entertainment space. This size provides plenty of space to enjoy viewing it from various angles, and you won’t have to worry about straining your eyes. However, size isn’t the only factor that you should consider. Keep reading to discover what else you should think before you pull out your credit card.
Specs to Consider
Screen Resolution
On a 65-inch screen, image clarity—or lack thereof—becomes more apparent. A screen’s resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the picture you see. Carl Prouty, a technologist at independent electronics retailer
Abt Electronics in Illinois, recommends investing in a 4K model. Manufacturers are trending away from 1080p screens for 65-inch TVs, but if you do find one, only buy it if you’re on a budget. “And 8K TVs, although great, are a little overkill at this size because you won’t see enough of an improvement to justify the difference in cost,” Prouty warns. On top of that, 8K content, including for gaming, is still limited.
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Display Technology
Next, you need to consider the display itself. The most common type is LED, but you’ll also find QLED, mini LED, and OLED. LED, QLED, and mini LED displays rely on backlighting to project images, whereas OLEDs have pixel-sized diodes that each emit their own light.
“LED provides a bright, colorful picture and is the most cost-effective option,” Prouty says. The downside is LED TVs offer less contrast and depth than other displays for scenes with a lot of black. This color blooming can be an issue for some content (think the Battle of Winterfell episode from Game of Thrones).
Another option is QLED, or quantum dot LED. These displays provide more vivid colors—a great thing for bright scenes like in video games—with the benefit of being cheaper than OLEDs. Samsung is the main player in QLED, but TCL and Hisense also offer sets with this display tech.
“Mini-LED TVs are new to the market and have improved local dimming capabilities, which provide a more realistic picture than standard LED TVs,” Prouty says. However, he adds that they tend to have a much higher price tag because they’re so new to the market.
Finally, there is the premium OLED—that is, organic LED—display. “OLED TVs produce the deepest black levels, richest colors, and best contrast but can suffer from image retention if there is a static image on the screen for prolonged periods of time,” Prouty explains. OLEDs have grown in popularity as the average cost has dropped over the past few years, though the high-end tech still isn’t cheap, especially for larger TVs.
Where to Hang Your New TV
When you’re spending several hundred to a few thousand dollars on a new TV, don’t just install it anywhere. You should factor in the viewing distance and the hanging height.
To calculate the viewing distance, Allen Conrad, a chiropractor at Montgomery County Chiropractic Center in Pennsylvania, explains the basic rule of thumb: multiply the TV size by 1.67. “This number represents how far away is ideal to get the best viewing for the TV,” Conrad says. For a 65-inch TV, that comes out to 108.5 inches, or about 9 feet, between the screen and your couch. If your room size doesn’t allow for that, consider a smaller set.
Regarding the most ergonomic viewing height, Conrad recommends 65 inches from the ground to the middle of the screen. “This will provide an ideal viewing experience so that you can enjoy watching TV without having to look too far up or down, which could cause neck strain,” he says.
How We Evaluated
I’ve tested and written about tech and home products for a variety of digital publications, including Architectural Digest, Tom’s Guide, Bob Vila, Popular Science, The Spruce, Realtor.com, Apartment Therapy, and The Daily Beast. For Popular Mechanics, I also recently reviewed the best 55-inch TVs and the best 4K TVs. This list of the best 65-inch TVs includes models that I’ve tested, recommendations from Carl Prouty, and options I’ve selected after extensive research of their specs and other online reviews. I evaluated each TV’s design, performance, and value for the money. Below, you’ll find a variety of TVs at different price points because everyone deserves a big screen that suits their viewing habits.
