When we decide to buy a television, we look at the size of its screen, its design, the resolution, the Smart TV system and its price. However, there is another feature that has spread rapidly in recent years. We are talking about the curved screen, which we now see as something normal but not long ago did not exist. In fact, many manufacturers have opted for curved panels. However, this year we have seen a certain tendency to return to flat screens, especially in the high range. This has led us to ask ourselves, what is better, a flat or curved screen? We will try to explain the differences and the reasons for choosing one or the other.
Design
The clearest difference when we compare a curved TV with a flat one is its design. There are many users who see curved televisions as an evolution of the television. Generally the curve is associated with modernity, a more current television . However, as we mentioned, many manufacturers have returned to flat panels.
The curved panels can look really good if we are going to use them with their base . That is, if we are going to place them on a piece of furniture. Generally, the support of these televisions also has a certain curvature, achieving a beautiful aesthetic.
Now, if your idea is to place the TV hanging on the wall, we recommend choosing a flat screen . Curved screen TVs can be hung up, but they take up much more space. The curvature leaves a lot of gap between the wall and the TV, which may not be very aesthetic. For this reason, most of the latest generation OLED televisions, such as the LG Signature, have opted for a flat panel.
Does a curved TV improve immersion?
When we go to a store to buy a television, one of the arguments most used by sellers to convince us to buy a curved television is immersion . A curved television "envelops" the viewer, thus causing them to be more immersed in the action.
Is this true? Yes and no. It is true that the curve can achieve a greater viewer immersion, but only if certain conditions are met . The first is the size of the television and the second is the viewing distance. A large television will offer us a greater immersion. However, if we see a 49-inch screen at a distance of 3 meters, the curve will not give us any advantage.
However, we will achieve greater immersion in very large screens or that we have at a short distance . This is why most cinemas have slightly curved screens. Something similar happens with monitors. By having them closer, if they are a good size, they can make the immersion much higher than that of a flat screen.
Disadvantages of a curved screen
The clear advantage of curved screens is, as we have seen, immersion. However, they also have some disadvantages . And not only when hanging the TV.
The first is found in the viewing angles. Generally the viewing angles of a curved screen will be worse than those of a flat screen . In curved televisions it is recommended not to place the viewer more than 35-40 degrees from the screen. If we do so, we will see the image with some distortion in colors and brightness.
Although this is generally the case, not all curved televisions are the same. Manufacturers are constantly working to improve the viewing angles of their televisions. So we will not have the same distortion in, for example, a high-end TV as in a cheaper TV .
Another problem that could be more pronounced on a curved TV is reflections. These actually depend on the type of panel rather than the curvature. For example, monitors are often made with a matte finish to avoid reflections. The same is not true of televisions. However, the curve in a television can cause reflections to stretch out and take up more of the screen .
Conclusions
A few years ago there was a kind of boom in curved televisions. It was practically impossible to find an upper-mid-range TV that wasn't curved. However, this has changed. We do not know for sure if by the users or by the manufacturers themselves, but the reality is that now we have many more options with a flat screen .
We just have to check the catalogs of the main manufacturers . Samsung's new QLEDs are available in both a flat and curved screen. Even the Q8 series that originally only launched curved now has a flat model. The Sony A1 OLED, the flagship of the Japanese manufacturer, has a flat screen. And the Panasonic EZ1000, another of the great TVs of 2017, also has a flat screen.
Thus, we could summarize the advantages of curved televisions in:
- More modern design
- Greater immersion if we are very close or have a large TV
- Bigger screen feel in sizes over 60-65 inches
As for the disadvantages , these would be the main ones:
- more limited viewing angles
- Larger reflexes
- They look worse if we are going to hang them on the wall
Finally, we do not forget the price. In general, curved-screen televisions tend to be more expensive than flat-screen televisions . As an example we can put the Samsung Q7F. This TV has an official price, in 55 inches, of 2,200 euros. The same model in curved format, the Samsung Q7C, has an official price of 2,350 euros. That is, we have a difference of 150 euros just because of the curvature of the screen .
Ultimately, curved screens provide few real benefits over flat screens . It is the consumer who will have to think carefully about how to use the television and choose correctly. It is true that many users love the aesthetics of the curve, but others hate it. What is your opinion?