When it comes to TVs, bigger is always better, right? Well, technically, yes. But you also have to consider the size of your living room (or bedroom), the surface that you’ll mount the TV on, and – of course – your budget. So how do you compare a 65 vs 77 Inch TV? First, did you know TVs are measured diagonally, not horizontally? So it will be smaller than you expect!
The 65-Inch TV
If you had to save up to buy your TV, you’ll probably be excited to grab your tape measure or ruler and confirm your TV size. But a 65-inch TV isn’t 65” across. Just like smartphones and computers, TVs are measured diagonally, so it’s 65” from one corner to another. In reality, the dimensions of a 65-inch TV measure about 56” to 57” across and 31” to 32” vertically.
The difference depends on the brand of your TV, so they could be slightly smaller or larger with a lot of decimal points in between. Another factor to consider is your TV’s display setting, sometimes called the aspect ratio. This includes 1:1 for a Polaroid camera, 5:4 for framed photographs, 4:3 for old ‘big back’ TV models, and 16:9 for newer flat-screen TVs.
While you can use your remote controller to change the aspect ratio, most modern TVs use 16:9, which is the display you’ll find on a movie screen. So at 16:9, your TV will measure 65″ diagonally and may have a swath of black above and below your video display. 16:9 is the recommended ratio for HDTV, while 4:3 is the standard ratio if you want full-screen viewing.
So if you switch to full-screen, you’ll remove those tell-tale black stripes below and above your show. For reference, if you’re watching YouTube, the dark patches typically appear on the sides of your screen in default mode, but they disappear in full screen, giving you a nice, snug fit. But if you want a cinema-screen view, you’ll opt for 16:9 aka HDTV aka wide-screen.
The 77-Inch TV
As we’ve already established, a 77-inch TV isn’t 77” wide. It ranges from 67” to 68” across and is 37” to 38” tall. This excludes any plastic or metal framework that holds the screen in place. When you’re shopping for a TV, don’t just stop at the screen. A 77” TV is heavier than a 65” so if you’re mounting it on the wall, you’ll need heavy-duty brackets to hold it up safely.
You should also consider the depth or thickness of the TV. Most of today’s TVs are flat screens, whether they’re LCD or plasma. But some have slimmer profiles, which will make the TV look luxurious and elegant … but can also help it fit through narrow hallways, doors, or windows, so keep that in mind. Another factor to consider is screen resolution in pixels.
You can find 65” and 77” TVs with identical resolutions, so that’s not a distinguishing factor. But for reference, HDTV is 1920 by 1080 pixels. 4K Ultra HD TV is four times that figure, so that’s 3840 by 2160 pixels, and some TVs even come in 8K now. Then you have to consider the screen construction whether that’s LCD, LED, or upgraded LED e.g. OLED and QLED.
LCD means Liquid Crystal Display. Those are the older screens where if you pushed the screen hard, you’d see some watery substance swimming around behind it. Newer screens are LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, with the O for Organic and the Q for Quantum Dot. These terms describe how the diodes produce light to make images appear on your TV e.g.
- LED screens use a backlight to shine through the pixels and display images on your TV screen. The diode sits behind the pixels, hence transmissive backlighting.
- OLED screens aka Organic LED have each sub-pixel emitting its own light, so the TV isn’t backlit, which makes it gentler on your eyes. This is called emissive lighting.
- QLED screens aka Quantum Dot LED work in the same way as LED, but they have so many pixels that the light flows in a way that’s similar to LCDs and plasma screens.
- LCDs are emissive because a backlight shines through colored filters. Plasma screens are transmissive. They use phosphors that ignite to make colored light.
Comparing the 65 vs 77-Inch TV
Regardless of screen size, your TV can be plasma, LCD, LED, OLED, or QLED. And it can get confusing, because QLED screens have an LED backlight, microscopic molecules, and an LCD layer built-in, so they have both LCD and LED technology! But let’s focus on screen size.
Display Dimensions
As we mentioned above, the size of your screen will vary according to your display settings or aspect ratio. The table below shows the size of your screen in inches, depending on the ratio.
| Screen Size | TV Width | TV Height | 4:3 Diagonal (Full Screen) | 16:9 Diagonal (HDTV) |
| 65-Inch TV | 56.65” | 31.87” | 53.11” | 65” |
| 77-Inch TV | 67.11” | 37.75” | 65” | 77” |
Viewing Distance
When you were little, your parents may have yelled at you for sitting too close to the TV. They were worried you would ruin your eyesight! Unfortunately, most of us now spend the whole day staring at a computer or phone screen so the damage is already done. But the size of your TV affects how close you can safely sit while gaming or bingeing your favorite show.
It’s not just about having a massive screen dwarfing your room. It’s about whether you have enough space between your face and the screen. As a general rule, you need a ratio of 1.5 to 2.5 for 1080p HDTV and 1 to 1.5 for 4K Ultra HDTV. This ratio refers to the diagonal width of the screen, so on a 65” TV, here’s how you calculate the ideal viewing distance for your TV:
- 5 x 65” = 97.5” or 8.13 feet.
So even if you’re sitting against the opposite wall of the room, it has to be a least 8 feet away from the TV screen to keep your eyes protected. Otherwise, you’ll watch through the window! And for reference, 4K Ultra HDTV screens are safer, so you can sit closer than you would with an HDTV. But while 4K Ultra HDTVs work in smaller rooms, they’re more expensive too!
The table below shows estimated distances where you can safely watch your flat-screen TV. Leave some allowance based on the position and type of chair (or bed). These distances assume your TV chair is flush against the wall. So if there’s a walkway behind you, or if your armchair, bean bag, or swivel seat is in the middle of the room, adjust your figures accordingly.
| TV Size | 1080p HDTV | 4K Ultra HDTV |
| 65-Inch Screen | 8 to 13.5 feet | 5.5 to 8 feet |
| 77-Inch Screen | 9.5 to 16 feet | 6.5 to 9.5 feet |
Add-On Features
Does your home have WiFi? If so, it may be worth spending extra on a Smart TV. These can connect directly to the internet, and they often have streaming apps built-in like YouTube or Netflix. That way, you can simply log into your account and start watching. But Smart TVs cost more, so it’s not worth the expense unless you have reliable high-speed connectivity.
If your TV is more for video games than TV shows, you should focus more on the speed than the screen size. You don’t want your avatar buffering for a millisecond too long – that could be the difference between finding a glitch and re-spawning! But in both cases, consider the sound settings on your TV. You’ll also need multiple connector ports e.g. USB and HDMI.
The more ports your TV has, the better because you can attach multiple devices to the screen. Buy one with two to three ports each for USB and HDMI. And don’t forget to buy connecting cables, especially HDMI. Also, buy an adaptor or connector that can convert your TV to the right kind of cable. These HDMI connectors are available in Types A, B, C, D, and E.
Your TV Budget
In most places, 4K Ultra HDTVs cost more than HDTVs, but you can sometimes see a drastic difference based on other features like internet connectivity, display type, and model. This can confuse you because you might see a lower-end 4K that seems cheaper than HDTV! So start with a list of deal-breakers, then compare a 65” and a 77” that both have those specs.
Usually, the difference between these screen sizes – assuming the specs are identical – could be $1,000 to $3,000. But you can get better prices if the TVs are on sale or if a newer model has come out and the shop is shedding stock. Keep track of prices though. Sometimes the store claims they’ve discounted the price when they’ve just raised it and slapped SALE on it!
What You Should Buy – 65 vs 77-Inch TVs
When you’re buying a new TV, you may think screen size is the most important factor. It’s not! Start by deciding whether you want HDTV or 4K, then choose your preferences around LCD, plasma, OLED, or QLED. Now you can buy a screen size that has the specs you want.
And at this point, your deal breaker is the physical size of the room where your TV will sit. Or maybe the position of your favorite TV seat or gaming chair. The choice between a 65 vs 77-Inch TV will be driven by how far you sit from the TV screen, whether it’s a 4K or an HDTV.