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How to Choose and Buy a Portable Television

There are many portable televisions on the market and sometimes it can be difficult to know which to choose. Here are some hints and tips on what to look out for when choosing and buying a portable television.

Size of Portable TV

If you will be moving the television from room to room or using it in a caravan and space permits, you can select a screen size up to 21”. But if you want to use the television in the car or away from any power source choose one of the smaller sizes. You will probably have a more limited range of additional features but you will be able to go anywhere with it – even tucked into your tent in the rain.

Type of TV

You also need to decide whether you would prefer a traditional CRT television or a portable television with an LCD screen.

LCD televisions use less power and are far less bulky than CRT sets. They are thin, which not only looks good but makes it easier to carry them and fit them into small spaces. The flatter screen also reduces reflection. If you would like to know more about LCD technology and its advantages and disadvantages, go to our LCD Televisions section.

A number of the quality names in television still produce very good CRT televisions, incorporating many technical advances found in LCD sets. They may be slightly bulkier than LCD televisions but picture quality is still good and they are very cheap. If your budget is the main concern then look closely at the CRT choices.

Portable Television – Auto-tuning

Check to see if the model of portable television you are considering has an auto-tune feature. Auto tuning can save time and avoid tuning problems. As soon as you plug in the aerial and switch on the TV it will tune itself to the channels for your area – a great asset if you are on the move.

Sockets

Check the product description for any model of portable television that you are thinking about buying to ensure that it has enough A/V and SCART sockets for your needs. Portable televisions with A/V sockets enable you to connect to camcorders or game consoles and many non-combi televisions provide SCART sockets for interface with DVD or VCR units.

Earphone Quality of Portable Televisions

Many smaller portable televisions provide earphones (or an earphone socket) for use when you don’t want the speakers switched on. If earphones are included they are usually ear bud phones and can give a thin, tinny sound and this is a waste of the good sound quality which the portable can provide. Other portables provide flat headphones which rest on the outside of the ear.

Budget permitting, if you are going to use earphones frequently it may be worth checking out other earphones to ensure better sound and comfort. Wireless headphones have the advantage of not requiring any leads. Noise-cancelling headphones not only improve clarity but are particularly useful in noisy environments.

Guarantee

Check the manufacturer’s warranty for your chosen model of portable television carefully – you may want to consider extending it. If you are likely to be using your portable television outside of your home, you may also want to consider insuring it.

Further Information

You can learn more about the different models and brands of portable televisions available in our Brands of Television section and on our Top Models of Portable Television page.

You can find out more about the types of accessory you can buy for your portable television in our Accessories section.

If you want to buy a portable television, go to our Where to Buy pages to find out about some great deals from online suppliers.

If you aren’t sure whether or not a portable television is the best option for you, visit our guide to How to Choose and Buy a Television for some hints and tips on what to look for or our Types of Television section for details of what’s available.

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