TV's & Smart Technology, what does it all mean?

We've demystified some of the most common TV acronyms and apps available in the market today.


High Dynamic Range (HDR) TV give you more colour and contrast allowing the picture to be as seen on a T.V as it would look in real life.

Full HD TV
Full High Definition (FHD) TVs equal to a total of 2.07 million pixels and is the current standard TV resolution. This resolution is what is currently broadcasted by FreeviewHD and Sky (with the HD upgrade). This is the minimum resolution we recommend for a TV.

Ultra HD TV
Ultra High Definition (UHD) TVs are also referred to as 4K TVs. Ultra HD TVs offer the greatest resolution currently available. It is a resolution that has over 8.29 million pixels (3840 x 2160) which is equal to four times the size of standard full high definition television. The increase in resolution allows you see more detail and clarity than ever before.

Quantum dots are tiny nanocrystals that are added above the backlight layer on an LED TV. These break down the light to produce a richer white that contains all the colours of the spectrum. This allows for a more vibrant and life-like range of colours on your TV.


LED TVs use light-emitting diodes (LED) as the source of illumination. This is now the most common of source of illumination in TVs.

Unlike other displays that require backlights, OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays generate their own light. This results in an infinite contrast ratio with absolute blacks and brilliant whites. Shop the range of OLED Televisions here.

Curved TV
As well as being aesthetically pleasing, curved TVs are designed to match your field of view, helping increase the sense of immersion and depth.

A TV’s refresh rate is the number of frames per second the TV can display. This is measured in Hertz. The faster the refresh rate, the sharper the image. We recommend a rate of 100/200Hz for sports and games.

HDMI is the first and only industry-supported, all-digital audio/video interface. This allows you to connect Blu-ray players, gaming consoles and sound bars to your TV.

Smart TV
Smart TVs connect to the internet via a cable or built-in Wi-Fi to give you access to apps and other web services.

Android TV
Android TV is a smart TV platform developed by Google, running the Android 5.0 operating system. It creates a more interactive television experience

A TV with built-in Wi-Fi lets you connect with your existing broadband modem or router.

A Google Chromecast is a popular media streaming device. A ChromeCast allows you to stream music, photos, video and apps such as Netflix and YouTube right to your TV by plugging into the HDMI port in your TV. The Chromecast works with android phones, iPhones, tablets and laptops. Buy a Chromecast here.

Google Play
Google Play is Google’s official store for apps, games and other content. Perfect for any Android TV.

GoogleCast allows you to share your favourite entertainment and apps from your phone, tablet or laptop, straight to your TV.

Enjoy Freeview channels Live & On Demand together on your TV, subscription free. FreeviewPlus requires a UHF Aerial and broadband connection. Check out the range of Freeview receivers and satellites here.

Netflix is a popular streaming service that allows you to watch great movies and TV series, ad-free from any Wi-Fi enabled device. Netflix can be streamed to your TV using a ChromeCast. Subscription charges apply.

Lightbox is a New Zealand streaming TV service that offers you an incredible choice of global and local TV shows to watch ad-free. Subscription charges apply.

Check out our complete TV Buyers Guide here