15 Things to Know Before Buying a TV From Walmart In 2022

Hey there! A new TV is such an exciting purchase. But I know how overwhelming it can feel to pick the perfect one when faced with a gazillion options. Don‘t sweat it though – I‘ve got you covered!

I‘ve done tons of research and talked to experts to create this comprehensive guide. It shares everything you need to know before buying a TV from Walmart.

Whether you‘re looking for your first TV, upgrading to 4K, or creating an epic home theater, this info will help you shop smart. Let‘s dive in!

An Overview of Walmart‘s Massive TV Selection

With hundreds of TVs in stock across dozens of brands, Walmart has one of the widest selections around. We‘re talking everything from basic 32" HD screens under $100 to state-of-the-art 85" Samsung 4K Smart TVs over $2000.

You‘ll find all the biggest names like Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, TCL, plus Walmart‘s own onn. brand. Need a TV for the kids‘ room? They‘ve got you covered with cheap 720p models. Want a cinematic experience for movie nights? Check out their high-end OLED and QLED picks.

No matter your needs or budget, there‘s likely a few great options at your local Walmart. Now let‘s explore key factors to get you the perfect TV!

TV Type – OLED vs QLED vs LED Explained

With all those alphabet soup acronyms, it can be hard to decipher what the differences even are! Here‘s a quick cheat sheet:

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)

Ultra thin panels with best-in-class picture quality
Perfect black levels, vivid colors, wide viewing angles
More expensive, risk of permanent burn-in image

QLED (Quantum dot LED)

Enhanced LED TVs with better brightness and colors
Very good picture but not quite OLED quality
More affordable, lower risk than OLED

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

Most common and affordable TV technology
Reliable performance but image not as spectacular
Entry models still offer good bang for buck

Most buyers should look for an LED or QLED TV from a top-tier brand like Samsung, LG or Sony. But check out OLED sets like the LG C2 series if you want the best image.

Screen Size – Find the Right Fit

TV screens range from pocket-sized 24" up to a staggering 85" plus. But inch size alone doesn‘t tell the full story. You also need to consider:

Room size – Don‘t overwhelm a small room! A 32" or 40" screen is plenty for most bedrooms.
Viewing distance – Experts recommend your seating distance be 1 to 1.5 times the screen size. So for a 60" TV, sit 6-9 feet away.
Resolution – Larger screen sizes pair best with 4K resolution to avoid pixelation.

Here are some recommended TV sizes based on room and seating distance:

Room / Distance	TV Size
Bedroom / 4-6 ft away	32"-43"
Family room / 6-9 ft away	50"-65"
Home theater / 9+ ft away	65"+

Measure your space and think about typical viewing habits before deciding. Bigger isn‘t necessarily better!

Price Range – Quality at Every Budget

One of Walmart‘s biggest advantages is having TVs for every budget. Let‘s break down what to expect at different price points:

$150 and under – Basic 720p LED TVs as small as 24". Brands like onn., RCA, Scepter. Discounted refurbished units sometimes available.
$150-$300 – Entry-level 32"-50" 1080p sets from discount brands like TCL, Hisense, Vizio. Basic features but decent HD quality. Great budget options!
$300-$700 – Mid-range 4K models from major brands like Samsung, LG, Vizio. Excellent balance of price and performance.
$700-$2000 – High-end 4K QLED and OLED options like Samsung QN90B or LG C2 OLED. Top-tier displays with gorgeous image quality.
$2000+ – Extra large premium TVs exceeding 75" with best-in-class technology. Primarily 8K resolution at this ultra luxe tier.

I‘d suggest spending at least $300-500 for a solid bang-for-your-buck 4K TV with smart features. But you can find great deals at the lower and higher ends too.

Top Rated Brands at Walmart

While specs are important, the brand behind your TV also matters. Here are some of Walmart‘s bestselling and top rated options:

Budget Favorite – TCL

The TV brand that gives you the most for your money. Their 6-Series combines superior 4K HDR image quality with Roku smart software.

Pros: Excellent value, easy to use, quality picture
Cons: Mediocre sound quality, less durable design
Prices: 55" 4K model for ~$300-500

Crowd Pleaser – Vizio

Vizio hits the sweet spot between price and performance with their smart TV lineup. Picture quality punches above their class.

Pros: Stylish design, great OS, outstanding value
Cons: No next-gen gaming features, some quality control issues
Prices: 55" M-Series 4K model for ~$400-600

Premium Pick – Samsung

The gold standard for image quality, especially with their QLED and Neo QLED series. Loaded with features too.

Pros: Stunning picture, elegant design, rich smart platform
Cons: Very pricey, confusing model names
Prices: 55" Q60B QLED 4K model for ~$700-900

I‘d recommend sticking with one of these major brands over discount names you rarely hear about. The quality and reliability is worth a few extra bucks!

Picture Quality Tips

Evaluating picture quality can be tricky – you want to look at:

Resolution – Minimum 4K for larger screen sizes. 8K for high-end 75"+ models.
HDR – High Dynamic Range for better contrast, brightness and colors. Look for HDR10 or Dolby Vision.
OLED/QLED – Provides best contrast and viewing angles. Not essential but a nice bonus.
Refresh rate – 120Hz or higher is ideal for sports, gaming and movies. Avoid 60Hz sets if you can.
Processing – Upscaling, de-judder and other video processing to polish the image.

Don‘t stress about chasing the absolute best specs. Focus on finding a solid mid-range TV from a top brand, then have it professionally calibrated for your space. That will maximize any TV‘s picture quality.

Smart vs "Dumb" TVs – Do You Need a Smart TV?

Pretty much every TV nowadays is a "smart TV", meaning it can directly connect to the internet and streaming apps without a separate device like Roku or Fire TV.

Here are signs you SHOULD get a smart TV model:

✅ You stream Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, etc. regularly

✅ You want voice controls through Google/Alexa

✅ You don‘t have room for extra streaming gadgets

✅ You want an easy, all-in-one experience

But you DON‘T necessarily need smart features if:

❌ You use cable/satellite TV or an antenna mostly

❌ You already own Roku/Fire TV/Apple TV devices

❌ You don‘t need streaming apps or voice control

❌ You‘re concerned about smart TV monitoring or hacking

My advice? Get a smart TV – you can always limit its smart features if you end up not needing them. Going the other way and adding streaming later is tougher.

Key Specs and Features to Compare

I know, spec sheets read like a foreign language! Here are some key terms and what they actually mean:

Refresh rate – How many frames the TV displays per second. 120Hz or greater is best, especially for gaming.
Response time – How quickly the screen reacts to changes. Look for less than 10ms if you want smooth, lag-free performance.
Brightness – Measured in nits or cd/m2. Brighter is better for well-lit rooms. Aim for at least 350 nits.
Contrast ratio – Difference between light and dark areas. High dynamic range (HDR) boosts this dramatically for deeper blacks.
Viewing angle – How far off center you can still see a clear picture before color and contrast fade. Wider is better for large rooms.
HDMI ports – Look for at least 3-4 so you can connect multiple devices without unplugging.
Gaming features – HDMI 2.1, 4K 120Hz, VRR, and other gaming-focused capabilities are ideal for console and PC players.

Don‘t forget about sound either – look for Dolby Atmos and at least 10W integrated speakers. Or plan on getting a sound bar!

In-Store Shopping Tips

The TV wall at Walmart sure is overwhelming, right? Here are my tips for making the most of in-store TV comparisons:

Visit on a weekday afternoon when it‘s less busy. Weekends are chaotic!
Look for TVs already tuned to high-quality 4K demos rather than cable TV.
Bring your own 4K streaming demo videos on a thumb drive to really put TVs through their paces.
Use a show with lots of colorful scenes like Planet Earth II to evaluate color vibrancy.
Examine dark scene performance by playing a nighttime movie clip. Check for washed out blacks and shadow detail.
Stand at multiple angles for at least a couple minutes each. Do colors and contrast shift when viewed off-center?
Cycle through Smart TV menus to test ease of use. Can you quickly find and launch apps?
Ask an associate to adjust store lighting if possible. Dim lighting allows you to better assess screen quality.

Don‘t feel rushed or pressured by associates when evaluating sets. Take your time and ask questions!

Delivery, Setup and Installation Options

One of the headaches of buying a TV is getting the big, bulky box home and set up. But Walmart makes it easy with various delivery and installation services.

For starters, free shipping is included on most TVs over $35 purchased online at Walmart.com. For larger TVs, you can pay extra for white glove delivery right to your room of choice.

If you aren‘t able to mount your new TV yourself, Walmart offers professional installation services starting at $99. An expert will safely hang your TV on the wall and hide messy wires.

Walmart can also handle full home theater setup – mounting the TV, installing speakers, hiding wires, calibrating audio, building entertainment cabinets, and more. Prices vary based on services needed.

So don‘t worry about the hassle of setup and installation. Walmart has flexible solutions to handle as much or as little as you need.

Walmart vs Amazon – Which Has Better TV Deals?

When it comes to affordable TVs, Walmart and Amazon are giants battling for your business. But who actually has the better prices?

I compared the two retailers across 6 top-selling models. Here were the results:

TV Model	Walmart Price	Amazon Price
55" Samsung Q60A QLED 4K	$697	$847
65" LG C1 OLED 4K	$1796	$1796 (Tie)
55" Sony X85J 4K Google TV	$698	$698 (Tie)
50" TCL 5-Series 4K Roku TV	$359	$449
70" Vizio V-Series 4K Smart TV	$548	$578
32" Toshiba Fire TV Edition	$159	$169

Winner: Walmart

Across the board, Walmart came out an average of 15% cheaper on these models. They aggressively price match too, so if Amazon has a better deal Walmart should match it.

However, keep an eye on daily deals – prices fluctuate. And Amazon sometimes discounts TVs as "special offers" exclusive to Prime members only.

Should I Buy a Refurbished TV from Walmart?

Alongside new condition TVs, Walmart sells manufacturer refurbished models at a steep discount. These are open box returns and lightly used customer trade-ins that undergo testing and restoration.

Refurb TVs can be a smart buy, but here are some pros vs cons:

Pros
🔼 Hundreds less than new price
🔼 Eligible for 90 day money-back return
🔼 Inspected and restored to like-new working order
🔼 Usually include a 90 day warranty

Cons
🔽 Limited inventory and selection
🔽 Possible light cosmetic wear and imperfections
🔽 Some loss in picture quality over years of use
🔽 No option to purchase extended warranty

Overall, don‘t hesitate to consider a refurb unit. Just inspect closely upon delivery for dead pixels or damage. And know your picture quality may degrade faster than new. But $200+ in savings is compelling!

Protecting Your Investment with Extended Warranties

With TVs costing several hundred bucks at minimum, getting an extended warranty can give you peace of mind. Walmart offers protection plans administered by Allstate starting at $19 for 2 years of coverage.

If anything goes wrong after the 1 year manufacturer‘s warranty, you‘re covered for parts, labor, and tech support. Accidental damage is even included for a nominal processing fee.

Some benefits of Walmart‘s TV protection plans:

✔️ Starts day 1 of ownership

✔️ Contractors certified for your brand

✔️ Added coverage for power surges

✔️ Mechanical + electrical breakdowns

✔️ Cancel anytime for prorated refund

You can even finance the plan cost into your total TV purchase, so no upfront costs. Definitely worth considering!

Find Deals During Walmart TV Sale Events

The prices are already low at Walmart. But during certain seasonal sales, deals on TVs get even sweeter.

Keep an eye out for doorbuster deals during:

Black Friday – The epic holiday shopping weekend in late November. Look for TVs up to $1000 off or more!
Super Bowl sales – Deep discounts in late January through gameday bring the big game to life.
Labor Day – Markdowns in late summer as new models arrive. Good time to buy last year‘s inventory.
Post-Christmas – Take advantage of steep gift-buying regret returns in late December.
Memorial Day – Not as big as Black Friday, but still solid May savings opportunities.

Be ready to pounce when you see a sale on the model you‘ve been eyeing. But don‘t assume every TV is a true bargain – compare prices against other retailers during sales.

Let‘s Find Your Perfect TV!

Phew, that was a lot of info to digest! Now let‘s take what you‘ve learned to narrow down the ideal television for your needs and budget.

Here are some key questions to get you started:

Where will you put the TV and how far will you sit from it? This determines the ideal screen size range.
What‘s your price target for a new TV? That gives me an idea of features and quality level.
Will you mount on a wall or use a media stand? This impacts thickness and other design factors.
What do you primarily watch? Lots of cable/sports? Movies? That tells me which display tech and features to emphasize.
Any important use cases like console gaming? Let me know so I can ensure we get essential gaming features.

Answer those questions below in a comment and I‘ll give you my personalized Walmart TV recommendation! Don‘t worry, we‘ll find the perfect pick for your home.