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20 Best TVs and home entertainment options to watch the NFL playoffs

Find the perfect centrepiece to your living room just in time to watch some play-off football.

Friday 04 January 2019 20:56 GMT

Wether it's the NFL play offs, a new movie, or your favorite show, home entertainment in the modern age revolves around your TV or media player. But it’s more than the technology inside. It’s what you want to use it for, how it looks in your room, and personal eye preference.

To make things easier, here is a round up of the best TV/home theatre options. That means Smart TVs, projectors, gaming monitors, and low budget options.

Each piece of technology does specific things better than others. For instance, a gaming monitor is small and concentrates on input lag/refresh rate, some TVs are built to capture motion for sports, and others have different colors they do best. No matter what you like, there is a perfect option for you on this list!

Samsung Q8F 75”: $3499.99, Samsung

If money isn’t an object in your pursuit of the ultimate flat screen TV experience, the Samsung Q8F series is where it’s at! Boasting 4 HDMI ports, 4K resolution, UHD, built in Wi-Fi, and a 240 hertz refresh rate this slim beautiful piece of technology does everything you want it to do. Plus, it comes with voice control, its Bixby…but it’s still neat. With its eye-catching image display, the Samsung Q8F deserves to be the center piece of any new sleek modern-day living room. All around the best for the price.

Samsung Q9F 88”: $19999.99, Best Buy

In terms of pure quality and breath-taking display, the Q9F wins hands down. 4K UHD smart TV-all of it is here. However, while absolutely jaw dropping, the screen will definitely be too big for most homes, and the price is ridiculous. 75” should be the highest, both because of space and price, you should go. The price increase from the 75” Q8F to this, considering the marginal difference in quality, not worth it…to most, but I’m speaking through the eyes of an average man! If you have the space and the money, by all means, impress us all with this purchase!

Sony A9F 65”: $4499.99, Sony

This TV stood out. Not only was its picture; beautiful, clean, and sharp, but it’s physical design might be the best. Slim and sleek, almost like a piece of modern art, this is a statement piece for the living room. It’s a lot of money for a 65” TV, but its physical beauty, vivid pictures, and gorgeous dark colors will keep you infatuated. Plus, it's Sony which means it's great option for this years NFL play-offs! Other TVs on this list have style, but none of them come close to touching this.

Sony X850f 75”: $2299. 99, Sony

If you are a lover of sports Sony is your best bet. Enjoy a couple of cold ones with the boys, or girls, with Sony’s impressive X1 processor and exceptional image in motion. Of course, 4K UHD and smart TV functionality is a part of the deal, and with Alexa voice control you don’t even need to move! Other TV’s do some things better, but Sony still reigns supreme when it comes to sports. The perfect TV to cheer against the Patriots!

Toshiba 55” 4K smart TV- Fire Edition: $449.99, Amazon

Not as big or sharp or as powerful as some of the higher end options on the list, but for those sticking to a respectable budget of around $500, this is the best. You still get 4K UHD and smart TV capabilities and vivid colors. With additional Fire stick capabilities built in, this truly is one of the best options for the price range.

LG lK5700 43”: $259.99, Best Buy

Okay, Okay, I hear you. You don’t care about the numbers or the stats or all the crazy features you’re never going to use right? So, you want something simple at a size that isn’t miniscule, with HD, while not completely going broke? Look no further! This LG will get the job done at a decent 43.”

Vizio D series 24”: $139.99, Best Buy

Need something small? Maybe for a dorm, a small guest room, or maybe you just don’t want something so big. Vizio’s D series keeps the smart TV and HD features in its small 24” frame at a decent price. Nice dark vivid colors and surprising sharpness only add to its value.

Insignia 22” LED 1080p HDTV: $99.99, Best Buy

Going any smaller or cheaper than this isn’t worth it. At that point, save up $100 and get the Insignia 22” HDTV. Saving money at the cost of smart TV functionality isn’t the worst thing in the world. You won’t even feel too bad once you see how good the picture quality is. This one’s for the smallest budgets, or the most frugal pockets.

Samsung KS9500 Curved UHD 4K Smart TV: From $1599-$6796, Amazon

Curved TVs have lost a lot of popularity on the market, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t great. Samsung is the only true reliable option on the market. It’s going to be spendy, but as long as you can set up your TV room properly, this is the most immersive TV on the market. With the right movie you will feel surrounded. All the same functions as the Q8F, only difference is the curved screen. I took a particular liking to the 78” version of the series, with curved TVs bigger is definitely better.

LG B8 65”: $2599, LG

There are two types of gamers, gamers who play for the experience as a whole and those who play competitively. The LG B8 is the ultimate TV for gaming as a cinematic experience. A great refresh rate makes the response time from control to TV feel better than any other big screen option. 4K HDR, smart TV functionality, and the perfect blacks/dark colors fit with modern gaming’s graphics trends.

Vizio P series 55”: $799, Vizio

A less expensive option for the cinematic gamer. Vizio has always been a great reliable option for gaming. The response time and refresh rate aren’t quit as sharp as the B8, but they are still great. Like any good gaming set up, the blacks and dark colors are deep and compliment a dark room. You could upgrade to the 75” version for $1000 more, which is a great price for a TV of that size and capability, but 55” is perfect for the P series and the comparatively condensed screen hides some of the differences between the P series and the higher end options.

TLC S405 55”: $349.99, Amazon

The low budget gaming TV. It doesn’t have the deep dark colors as the higher end options, but it does have decent motion and a more than decent input lag. You’ll still get a good cinematic experience and a nice smart TV with 4K capabilities.

BenQ ZOWIE 27”: $279, BenQ

1ms GTG response time, great resolution, incredibly low lag, and capable of displaying a high amount of color and brightness. The ZOWIE is the quintessential competitive gaming monitor. BenQ is the master of gaming monitors and this is the best they got.

Asus VG245 24”: $188.99, Amazon

A little lower on every spec and a little smaller for around a $100 savings, but it still keeps the same response time. A great middle of the road option, and specifically loved by fans of FPSs.

Acer R240HY 23.8”: $109.99, Amazon

Clocking in a response time of 4ms, a 60Hz refresh rate, and low on the color range. Definitely not the best of the best, but if you are a competitive gamer with little to no money, the Acer will provide a decent advantage over gaming on a regular TV.

Optima GT1080Darbee Gaming Projector: $739.99, Amazon

On to projectors! The GT1 is specifically crafted with gamers in mind. A .49 throw ratio, up to 16ms response time, and great gaming picture. That means you can take advantage of the projection no matter how little space you have. On a TV some of the specs might not impress, but for a projector, there is no reason to game with anything else.

BenQ HT9050: $8999.99, Projector Central

If you’re looking for the ultimate home theatre experience. If you’re ready and willing to recreate going to the movies on a nightly basis, and money is no object, BenQ has you covered. 4KHD projection, 2,200 Lumens, and a 7.4’-29.7’ throw distance ensures you’re getting the best of the best.

Optoma UHD50: $1250.99, Amazon

The more affordable, but still high-end option. Touted for it’s incredible dynamic blacks and contrast ratio (500,000:1), this is the best option for the living room theatre you’ve always dreamed of.

Vankyo Leisure: $89.99, Amazon

The portable Projector. It’s small, cheap, and can create a mini theatre anywhere. 4.9’-16.4’ projection distance, 2000:1 contrast ratio, and decent image quality for the price. If you don’t know much about projectors start here and work your way up.

Sony X800E 55”: $899.99, Best Buy

Another 4K, UHD, smart TV, and 2160p picture quality? What sets it apart? The energy efficiency, that’s what! You still get Sony’s incredible image in motion as well as all the other standard TV features, but you sleep better knowing that your carbon footprint is at least better than it was before. All while retaining excellent quality of product.

The Verdict: Over all, the best TV that will satisfy the most needs at a price smaller than a down payment on a home, the Samsung Q8F is the best. If it costs too much, you can always go for smaller sizes.

For sports, especially the NFL, the Sony X850f 7 is amazing, especially at 75" and the price point only ads to it's greatness.

For competitive gaming the BenQ Zowie is everything you need!

For a decent TV under $1000, look no further than the Vizio P series. Great for gaming experiences and a sharp vivid display of colors make it a great option.

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