Time for a new TV? How to decide whether to go Black Friday TV shopping

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Staying at home has never been more entertaining.

You can tap into a virtually endless supply of music and put your feet up to watch entire seasons of The Walking Dead, or your favourite movies.

And, not counting the cost of your online or TV connection, the monthly tab forall that entertainmentcould be less than you spend going out for a movie and a popcorn.

Of course, that’s after you shell out for your new $4,500 65-inch curved 4K TV.

Is it time to upgrade your TV? How do you choose the streaming service that suits you best?

So you’ll have a chance to prepare before the shopping frenzy that is Black Friday, we bring you some answers to those questions.

When do you know if it’s time to change your TV?

First, how old is it? If you bought your TV before 2000, you’ll see a striking difference in today’s models, even if you buy at entry level.

What is the resolution of your TV? If it is 1080p, you may be OK to stay with that for a while longer before upgrading to 4K. But if your screen resolution is 720p or less, you’ll probably appreciate an upgrade. With the price of 4K TVs dropping, you may find one as low as $1,000. However, if your home theatre requires a 70-inch-plus screen, get ready to shell out upwards of $10,000 or more.

Is your TV fat or super skinny? Even if it has a flat screen, if you can’t hang it flat against a wall, chances are it’s an older model that has seen better days.

How big is it? If you bought a 32-inch because it was so cheap, but you need binoculars to see the puck when the Canucks play, perhaps it’s time to upsize. The THX, which sets standards in audio visual entertainment, recommends you find the optimum size by dividing the size of your screen by .84. That means you’d have to sit just over three feet away from that 32-inch TV (the measurement is on the diagonal). If your couch is just over six feet away, THX recommends a 65-inch TV. That’s probably larger than you expected and price may play a part in your decision to buy smaller than optimal. The good news is that TV prices are always going down, so that 4K TV that is outside your budget this year may come within reach next year.

How smart is your TV? Smart TVs can connect directly to the Internet, although there are lots of set top boxes, such as Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and others that will let you connect to online services such as Netflix. Also if you have TV service such as Shaw or Telus Optik TV, they’ll offer streaming services as part of their menu.

Curved or flat screen? We had Samsung’s 65-inch SUHD curved TV to try out for a couple of weeks, and felt it was a much more immersive experience than a 55-inch model. Viewing was better at extreme angles than with our a TV, although some critics say the difference isn’t enough to pay a premium for the curve.