TV expert Martin Pratt, who works with consumer champions Which?, has outlined five things never to do with a brand-new television. His guidance covers both picture settings and practical habits, and was shared in a video on TikTok.
Picture Settings to Avoid
Pratt advised against turning on Dynamic Contrast, explaining that the setting "pushes whites and blacks beyond what some content can handle, which can make the picture look bad." He noted it may appear under different names on various TVs, such as Auto Contrast or Contrast Enhancer.
He also recommended avoiding Adaptive Brightness, which "can cause fluctuations and affect picture quality." Pratt said that if a film's brightness suddenly changes when it should not, this setting is likely enabled, and it is distracting, so it should be turned off or set to low.
Energy and Cleaning Advice
Pratt advised against using energy-saving modes in the hope of reducing costs. "Our testing has found it has minimal impact on energy use and cost, but can significantly impact picture quality," he said. He added that TVs dropped from a five-star rating to just one star when energy saving was enabled, concluding that the cost savings are not worth sacrificing picture quality.
On cleaning, he warned never to use surface cleaner or polish on a TV screen. He said brands like LG explicitly advise against it, along with glass cleaner and even water, as these can damage the screen's protective coating. Instead, he recommended a clean soft cloth, preferably microfiber, wiped in gentle circular motions, and specialist screen wipes for stubborn grease, with a check of the manufacturer's official advice first.
Terms and Conditions
Pratt also said he would never hit "select all" on terms and conditions during TV setup, noting that pre-selected options for data collection are common. Skipping through these settings could result in giving manufacturers and third parties more data than desired. He advised reviewing and adjusting data collection preferences in settings, which can also help reduce the number of ads in smart menus.
Every television is different, though it is usually simple to navigate to the settings menu using the remote. Many TVs also have an advanced settings section for adjusting precise elements such as colour balance. If unsure where to find a setting, searching online for the TV make and model along with the setting in question can help.
