A detailed guide to buying a Refrigerator

With the global temperatures showing a steady rise, humans are resorting to visiting and working at places that have an effective air conditioning system. The reason is simple, the human body works efficiently when the surrounding temperatures are between 15 degree and 35 degree Celsius. Any more than that takes a toll on our productivity. Similarly, the food that we consume also has a temperature range at which it provides the most nutritional value. Most cooked food items need to be stored at temperatures below 10 degree Celsius for them to remain fresh and to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi on them. This is when a refrigerator comes to the rescue.

Now, if you are a frequent visitor to the posts on this blog, you might be probably aware that we take each topic from the grass root level and we will do the same with this post as well. We will begin with the basics first, understand how a refrigerator works. Then, we will discuss what capacity of refrigerator one should purchase as per one's requirements. After that we will proceed onto discussing the essential features one should look for when buying a refrigerator. Following which, we will learn how some brands try to cut costs and manufacture below par products that delay the cooling process and have frequent refrigerant leaks. Then, we will move onto deciding which are the best refrigerators available in the market that are not only efficient in their operation but also offer the most value for money.

You might be glad to know that my father works at a company that manufactures home and kitchen appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, cooking appliances, food processors, kitchen chimneys etc. So, at home, we frequently have a conversation about these appliances, what goes into making them, how some brands try to cut manufacturing costs to increase their profit margin etc.
Today, I will try my best to pass on the knowledge that I have acquired from my father over the years, to you so as to help you make a good buying decision.

So without further a do, let’s begin…

THE BASICS

A refrigerator works on the principle of evaporation. The principle states that when a liquid evaporates, it absorbs heat in the process. A refrigerator consists of a coolant called as refrigerant which is trapped inside a series of coils. As the refrigerant makes its way through the coils, it repeatedly transforms from liquid state to gaseous one.

A refrigerator mainly consists of four major components, namely:-

• Expansion valves
• Compressor
• Radiator pipes
• Condenser

The refrigeration process begins with the liquid refrigerant entering the expansion valves. As it passes through, the sudden drop in pressure expands the liquid and turns it into gas. The compressor takes in the gas refrigerant and squeezes it, thus raising its temperature and pressure. The hot, pressurized refrigerant gas flows through the thick and rounded copper radiator pipes which are present at the back of the refrigerator. As the gas passes through the radiator pipes, it cools down quickly and turns back into its liquid state. The cooled liquid refrigerant then flows back into the condenser and the process starts again.

Now, having discussed how a refrigerator works, let us proceed to discuss the capacity of refrigerator that would be best suited for your home as per your requirements:-

• For bachelors. If you stay in a flat or as a paying guest with a few room mates and mostly you store pouches of milk, eggs, curd, water bottles, loaves of bread in your refrigerator etc., the maximum capacity of refrigerator you would need is between 190-235 L.

• For a nuclear family consisting of 3 to 4 family members and you wish to store healthy quantity of food items in your refrigerator including vegetables, dairy products, non-vegetarian products, juice cans etc. The capacity of the refrigerator you should aim for is 350 L.

• For a joint family having 5 to 8 family members and you require a refrigerator to store a lot of food items, most of them including fresh vegetables, non-vegetarian food items like fish, chicken etc., and you do not store food for longer periods and consume the stored items in a day or two. In this case, go for at least a 410 L capacity refrigerator.

• For a large joint family with more than 8 members. Keeping this into consideration, you require to store a lot of food items in your refrigerator, from non-vegetarian content to dairy products to eggs to soft drink bottles etc., and prefer to keep most of the food items in deep freeze mode so as to consume only a small part of it daily and store the rest for the days to come. In this case, choosing a double door refrigerator with at least 580 L capacity would be a wise decision.

(Image of the inside view of a refrigerator)

So, having learnt what capacity of refrigerator one should purchase depending upon one's requirements, let us proceed to discuss some of the crucial features that one should look for when buying a refrigerator:-

• Inverter Compressor Technology: More durable and consumes lesser electricity in comparison to a reciprocating compressor.
• At least a 3 Star rating: For Energy savings up to 35%.
• Frost Free: Auto fridge defrost to stop ice-build up.
• Built in Stabilizer: No need to purchase a separate voltage stabilizer.

Now, having discussed what features one should look for when buying a refrigerator, let us proceed to discuss the ways in which some manufacturers (names not taken) try to cut manufacturing costs to maximize their own profits and in turn deliver a sub-standard product to the customers which has a very short shelf life and may prove to be hazardous to the users.

COST CUTTING TECHNIQUES

• Poor fabrication of condenser coils leading to refrigerant leaks. Condenser coils are one of the most important aspects of a refrigerator as they contain the liquid refrigerant and account for almost 30 to 35 per cent of the entire cost of the refrigerator. Needless to say, the condenser coils are one of the favourite areas of the manufacturers to make huge profits. Some manufacturers resort to using poor grade copper condenser coils that develop minute holes and cracks over a period of time that lead to refrigerant leak which may prove to be dangerous to humans if inhaled in excess.

• Improper insulation. Keeping the contents of the refrigerator sealed from outside hot temperatures is a very essential aspect of refrigeration. To ensure proper insulation, high quality door seals must be used. However, most people do not pay much attention to the insulation aspect of the refrigerator while buying it. Hence, door seal becomes another major area where some manufacturers cut costs. A poor door seal deployed by those manufacturers does not completely attach itself to the body of the refrigerator which leads to very minute gaps between the seal and the body. As a result, hot air from outside continuously seeps inside the refrigerator causing the food contents to get spoiled.

Now, having discussed how some refrigerator manufacturers cut costs, let us proceed to zero down on some of the best refrigerators available in the market that not only make use of long-lasting and efficient components but also offer the most value for the money spent.

Note: In our constant endeavour to assist you in making an informed buying decision, we test the new launches of the products on multiple parameters, and if they stand tall in our analysis we periodically add them to the below mentioned list of our recommended products. So, if you plan to make the purchase at a later time, you may visit the links once again at the very time of buying to ensure that the purchase turns out to be a very fruitful one.

For bachelors
Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13 and Best Choice 14

For nuclear family
Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14 and Best Choice 15

For joint family
Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10 and Best Choice 11

For large joint family
Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11 and Best Choice 12

Product Recommendation - [Computer Monitor]

In this post, we are providing at glance the products we consider to be some of the best offerings in the market in their respective categories. The products mentioned below have been put to rigorous tests, compared against the competing products from multiple brands, and have been analysed on various aspects pertaining to their intended use. For a comprehensive post on Computer Monitors, you may read our detailed guide - https://shoppinaire.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-detailed-guide-to-buying-computer.html

Screen size up to 24 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15, Best Choice 16 and Best Choice 17

Screen size between 24 and 27 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15, Best Choice 16, Best Choice 17, Best Choice 18 and Best Choice 19

Screen size beyond 27 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15 and Best Choice 16

Note: In our constant endeavour to assist you in making an informed buying decision, we test the new launches of the products on multiple parameters, and if they stand tall in our analysis we periodically add them to the below mentioned list of our recommended products. So, if you plan to make the purchase at a later time, you may visit the links once again at the very time of buying to ensure that the purchase turns out to be a very fruitful one.

Recapitulating on the most crucial aspects of buying a computer monitor -

• SCREEN SIZE

Screen size plays a pivotal role in helping decide the monitor to opt for. Measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite one, screen size dictates the amount of screen real estate one has to work with. The screen size suitable for a person depends majorly on two factors - one’s requirements/preferences and the distance one would be seated from the monitor.

• When one is to sit relatively close to the screen, say, 1 feet, it would be wise to decide on a monitor having screen size up to 24 inches. With this arrangement, one’s eyes and neck would not experience fatigue even during long usage sessions as the entire screen would be visible in one’s field of vision at once, thus there would be minimal movement of the neck back and forth.

• If one’s monitor is to sit slightly farther, i.e., the distance between the user and the monitor would be about 1.5–2 feet, it is imperative to decide on a monitor with screen size in the range of 24 to 27 inches. It is vital to note that in larger screen sizes, multiple windows can be stacked side-by-side for enhanced productivity.

• In settings where the viewing distance is more than 2 feet, deciding on a monitor with screen size greater than 27 inches would be an ideal choice.

Note:- Some monitor models are ultra-wide in nature, i.e., they are designed to capitalize on the 21:9 aspect ratio. The extra horizontal screen space ~ 33% makes it easy to work with two or more windows stacked next to each other. Such form factor is a boon for multi-tasking and for content creation where dragging and dropping images/video clips/text from one window to other is to be done often.

• COST CUTTING TECHNIQUES

It is imperative to be aware of the ways in which some manufacturers resort to cutting production costs in order to maximize profits and in turn deliver a sub-standard product to the customers, the components of which have a very short shelf life and may require frequent repairs/replacements.

• Dead pixels in the display. As learnt before, display panel of a monitor comprises of millions of individual pixels that light up when voltage is applied to them, producing such displays require deployment of precision production line, procurement of high-grade materials, carefully designing the power supply to power every pixel on the panel as well as hiring skilled workforce - all of which add to the cost of production. Thus to keep costs low, some brands tend to install a shoddily manufactured display panel in the monitors they produce. A pixels/cluster of pixels in such monitors often do not receive the power supply causing that region to not light up and display content, and rather remain permanently black. Such an occurrence can significantly hampers one’s productivity because to avoid the region where the dead pixels are, one would need to constantly scroll the page so as to make the text intelligible.

• Substandard backlight source. The monitor’s LCD display is made up of two glass panels connected to each other and a backlight - a fluorescent bulb or LEDs located behind those panels. The backlight is projected on those glasses where the liquid crystals align in a manner that allow or block the light to pass through depending upon the demand of individual frames. For its paramount significance, backlight source accounts for about 40% of the entire cost of the monitor. Thus to reduce production costs, some brands tend to install below-par, inferior grade backlight in the monitors they produce. Once the source of backlight begins losing its luminance, the content displayed on the screen starts appearing faded and colours washed out along with massive reduction in display brightness. Going by approximate calculations, those brands fit the appropriate light source that would last for almost as long as the product is covered under warranty. Once the product goes out of warranty, all the charges of repairs/replacement of parts are to be borne by the customer thus giving recurring profits to those manufacturers.

For an extensive buying guide on computer monitors, head over to our detailed post - https://shoppinaire.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-detailed-guide-to-buying-computer.html

A detailed guide to buying a Computer Monitor

When the word ‘computer setup’ comes to mind, images of a big boxy desktop CPU case with all the necessary components stacked in along with web of tangled power cables/connectors, certainly crop up. Along with that, peripherals such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a display monitor kept on a desk, too form a large portion of our imagination. And while one may substitute a desktop setup with a laptop depending upon one’s preferences and lifestyle, there isn’t an equally productive substitute to the peripheral devices, especially a large display size monitor.

Now, with the current surge in hiring of I-T employees to cater to the requirement of businesses wishing to have a dominant presence online and the prevalent Work-from-Home culture, one thing has happened for sure - majority of people are spending most part of their days glued to their relatively tiny laptop screens developing and managing websites, attending meetings, working on new features to be implemented in an app, creating PPTs about the revenue forecast of their companies, etc. While our minds and bodies may be settling into the ‘new normal’, our eyes are constantly taking a hit by focusing on small text displayed on our relatively puny laptop screens and mobile phones all day.

While our jobs can definitely not be completed without requiring the use of a computing device, our eyes should certainly be spared the horror as well. Well, there should be a middle ground, and luckily it turns out that there is one too - connecting the laptop to a relatively large screen sized monitor... And, today we will talk about monitors down to the last detail.

Now, if you are a frequent visitor to the posts on this blog, you might be probably aware that we take each topic from the grass root level and we will do the same with this post as well. We will begin with the basics first, we will learn about the different display technologies the monitors come available with along with the strengths and shortcomings of each type, then we would proceed to gain insights on the display resolution - HD Ready, Full HD, 2K and 4K, the display panels of the monitors are configured in and which among them should one opt for as per one’s requirement. Following this, we would learn about refresh rates in context with the monitors and under which situations a user benefits by deciding on a monitor with one over the other. Next, we would analyse the optimal screen size one should decide a monitor in, keeping the viewing distance and one’s intended purpose of use in consideration. Post this, we would discuss about the ways in which some manufacturers cut production costs to enhance profits and in turn manufacture below-par monitors, the crucial components of which often fail only after a few months of use. The repair costs can mount considerably, thus profiting the manufacturers further. Then, we will move onto zeroing in on some of the best monitors available in the market that not only offer great better picture quality, but are also built using durable components, thereby offering great value for one’s money.

So without further ado, let’s begin.

Going by its basic definition, a monitor is an output device that interprets the graphical output signal from the graphics card of one’s computer and displays the information in pictorial or text form. Monitors are manufactured to suit the tastes and requirements of every kind of user - from a hardcore gamer to someone who prefers to have multiple windows open side-by-side, from a movie buff to someone who is a professional photo/video editor, etc. Every such use case requires a specific type of a monitor. Thus, on the basis of the purpose they solve and their hardware configuration, monitors are classified on the basis of the following parameters -

DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY

The kind of colour accuracy, the contrast ratio, the response time, the refresh rate, the viewing angles one can expect out of one’s monitor is primarily driven by the type of display technology its panel utilizes. Most modern LCD monitors operate on any one of the below mentioned display technologies -

• TN - It stands for ‘Twisted Nematics’, which is an effect that allows liquid crystal molecules to be controlled with voltage. The greatest advantage of such panels is their refresh rates, i.e., the number of times the display is able to draw a new image per second, and the response times, i.e., the amount of time taken for an LCD pixel to change, say from red to green. The faster the response time, the more responsive the image updates and better is the viewing experience. Typically, TN panels are capable of producing refresh rates upwards of 120Hz and their response times can be as low as 1ms. For the above two qualities, TN panels are a boon for gamers.

While refresh rates and response times are two qualities that TN panels stand tall upon, aspects like colour reproduction, viewing angles are its Achilles’ heel. TN panels tend to display the content the best when viewed from dead centre. Its colors tend to invert almost completely when the screen is viewed from an extreme angle, although in the recent years, TN panels have demonstrated tremendous improvement in this department. Another aspect where TN panels fall slightly short when compared to other display technologies is in terms of contrast ratio, with an entry-level TN panel sitting between 700:1 and 900:1 and good panels pushing only up to the 1000:1 mark. Higher contrast ratio ensures that the images appear more immersive and the text is easily visible even from a distance.

• IPS - IPS stands for ‘In-Plane Switching’ and is designed to overcome TN's shortcomings as a display technology. IPS panels also use liquid crystals but are designed to overcome the minor shortcomings of TN panels. IPS panels typically use 8-bit depth per color instead of TN's 6-bit, resulting in a full 256 shades to draw upon for each color, resulting in accurate colour reproduction with eye popping colours. In fact, most IPS panels are able to cover the entire RGB colour gamut. The entry-level ones tend to offer 95% sRGB coverage, while the majority stick to full sRGB coverage. Then with high-end displays, usually for professionals, it’s not unusual to see full DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB coverage. Furthermore, viewing angles imparted by these panels are phenomenal. The images appear vibrant and text adequately sharp even when viewed from an angle above 45°. These high-performance facets allow the LCD panels to be widely used for programming, graphic intensive applications including photo/video editing.

However, a minor niggle with IPS panels arises from the fact that they too offer contrast ratios of up to 1000:1 and fall slightly behind TN panels in terms of refresh rates and response times, with most IPS panels supporting refresh rates up to 60 Hz and response times upwards of 3 ms. Though these shortcomings are barely discernible to an average user who generally performs day-to-day tasks such as browsing the web, reading e-mails, creating PPTs and attending virtual meetings, a specific user base - the gamers would find their needs better met by a TN panel.

• VA - It stands for ‘Vertical Alignment’ and such panels are designed to act as a decent middle ground between TN and IPS panels. VA based monitors combine the advantages of both IPS and TN panels. When compared to IPS display panels, VA panels typically offer higher refresh rates comparable to those of TN panels, therefore the window transitions, scrolling, movement of mouse cursor appear more natural and true to life. And, by borrowing the qualities of IPS displays, VA panels are able to produce vivid colors and an overall commendable picture quality. A distinct advantage of VA panels arises from their ability to achieve contrast ratio several times higher than both IPS and TN panels, typically up to 4500:1. The result - eye strain and fatigue is reduced, one can differentiate between different shades of black, even in darker rooms, text appears sharp, pictures feel more immersive.

While VA panels tick almost all the right boxes, the aspect of viewing angle is something they fall shortly behind at when compared to IPS panels, however VA panels definitely fare better in viewing angles when put against TN panels. To have the best experience, viewing the screen from off-centre angles is generally not advisable.

Now, having discussed the various types of display technologies that one can choose to have a monitor based upon, let us examine the different display resolutions one can find in a monitor -

DISPLAY RESOLUTION

Display resolution is measured by the number of pixels contained on a display screen. It is expressed in terms of number of pixels on the horizontal axis and the number of pixels on the vertical axis. The sharpness of an image depends upon the resolution and size of the display screen.
For the same pixel resolution, an image will appear sharper on a small screen and would gradually lose its sharpness as the size of the display screen is increased. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, the bigger the display screen, the higher should be the display resolution to facilitate pleasurable viewing experience.

Display resolution is denoted as ‘A x B’, where A denotes the number of pixels along the width of the display screen and B denotes the number of pixels along the height of the display screen. The product of A and B gives the total number of pixels in the screen.

Now, the display resolutions one can find in a monitor are:-

• HD Ready. This display resolution is commonly seen in entry level monitors and the number of pixels along the width and the height of the screen are 1280 x 720. Another pixel configuration that comes under the umbrella of HD Ready resolution is 1366 x 768. HD Ready resolution is often known by the numeric name 720p.

• Full HD. Full HD display resolution has 1920 pixels along its width and 1080 pixels along its height, i.e. 1920 x 1080 pixels. The numeric name for Full HD resolution is 1080p. For everyday use such as reading e-mails, taking online classes, browsing the web, attending meetings, etc., this display resolution gets the job done pretty well.

• QHD. QHD stands for ‘Quad High definition’ and constitutes to a display resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels - or four times that of 720p, hence the name. The numeric name for QHD resolution is 2K and it is also labelled as 1440p. QHD resolution is generally catered towards gaming enthusiasts as, in most cases this display resolution is available with fast refresh rate configuration - a boon for gamers. Another user base, monitors with QHD resolution has is that of software developers.  

• Ultra HD. Ultra HD resolution is generally found in premium monitors. The number of pixels along the width and the height of the screen are 3840 x 2160. The numeric name for Ultra HD resolution is 4K as these display screens have four times the number of pixels found in Full HD displays. Creative professionals like graphic designers, photo/video editors and movie enthusiasts would benefit the most from this display resolution.

Now, let us proceed to discuss another crucial attribute about monitors that majorly dictates - the refresh rates

REFRESH RATE

The refresh rate of a monitor refers to how many times per second the display is able to draw a new image. This is measured in Hertz (Hz). For example, if a monitor has a refresh rate of 144Hz, it is refreshing the image 144 times per second. When paired with the high frame rates produced by a GPU and CPU working together, this can result in a smoother experience and potentially higher FPS. It is imperative to note that the monitor can only display an image at the rate the system produces it, so it is necessary that the CPU and GPU of one’s computer are capable of completing this process quickly. If the CPU and GPU are incapable of supplying the monitor with a sufficiently high number of frames then the monitor won’t produce a high-refresh rate image regardless of how good its specs are.

To gain further clarity on the same, let us take an illustration - majority of Hollywood movies are shot and produced at 24 frames per second(FPS). So even a 60Hz monitor will play that back smoothly with ease. Opting for a 120Hz or even faster monitor will provide no visible benefit to playback quality.

Now, to decide on the refresh rate one should opt a monitor with, there is a rule of thumb -

• If one is considering a monitor primarily for performing tasks that would not necessarily benefit from faster inputs such as browsing the web, checking e-mails, watching movies, taking online classes, writing code, attending meetings, editing photos/videos, etc., deciding on a 60Hz or a 75Hz monitor would make for an ideal choice.

• In scenarios when one is considering to perform graphic intensive tasks such as playing high-end games where fast inputs are vital to winning and in games with competitive fighters or shooters, it is imperative to decide on a monitor that supports refresh rate upwards of 120Hz. Other settings in which one would greatly benefit from the fast refresh rates are running 3D simulations, designing on AutoCAD.

Now having discussed about the aspect of refresh rates in detail, let us proceed to talk about the screen size one should opt a monitor with to cater to one’s requirements -

SCREEN SIZE

Screen size plays a pivotal role in helping decide the monitor to opt for. Measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite one, screen size dictates the amount of screen real estate one has to work with. The screen size suitable for a person depends majorly on two factors - one’s requirements/preferences and the distance one would be seated from the monitor.

• When one is to sit relatively close to the screen, say, 1 feet, it would be wise to decide on a monitor having screen size up to 24 inches. With this arrangement, one’s eyes and neck would not experience fatigue even during long usage sessions as the entire screen would be visible in one’s field of vision at once, thus there would be minimal movement of the neck back and forth.

• If one’s monitor is to sit slightly farther, i.e., the distance between the user and the monitor would be about 1.5–2 feet, it is imperative to decide on a monitor with screen size in the range of 24 to 27 inches. It is vital to note that in larger screen sizes, multiple windows can be stacked side-by-side for enhanced productivity.

• In settings where the viewing distance is more than 2 feet, deciding on a monitor with screen size greater than 27 inches would be an ideal choice.

Note:- Some monitor models are ultra-wide in nature, i.e., they are designed to capitalize on the 21:9 aspect ratio. The extra horizontal screen space ~ 33% makes it easy to work with two or more windows stacked next to each other. Such form factor is a boon for multi-tasking and for content creation where dragging and dropping images/video clips/text from one window to other is to be done often.

Now, having learnt about the various screen sizes monitors are produced in and based upon the viewing distance and usage preferences which configuration should one opt for, let us proceed to gain knowledge about the ways by which some manufacturers try to cut production costs and maximize their profits and in turn deliver a sub-standard product to the customers the components of which often fails only after a few months of use and such monitors generally tend to have a fairly short shelf life.

COST CUTTING TECHNIQUES

• Dead pixels in the display. As learnt before, display panel of a monitor comprises of millions of individual pixels that light up when voltage is applied to them, producing such displays require deployment of precision production line, procurement of high-grade materials, carefully designing the power supply to power every pixel on the panel as well as hiring skilled workforce - all of which add to the cost of production. Thus to keep costs low, some brands tend to install a shoddily manufactured display panel in the monitors they produce. A pixels/cluster of pixels in such monitors often do not receive the power supply causing that region to not light up and display content, and rather remain permanently black. Such an occurrence can significantly hampers one’s productivity because to avoid the region where the dead pixels are, one would need to constantly scroll the page so as to make the text intelligible.

• Substandard backlight source. The monitor’s LCD display is made up of two glass panels connected to each other and a backlight - a fluorescent bulb or LEDs located behind those panels. The backlight is projected on those glasses where the liquid crystals align in a manner that allow or block the light to pass through depending upon the demand of individual frames. For its paramount significance, backlight source accounts for about 40% of the entire cost of the monitor. Thus to reduce production costs, some brands tend to install below-par, inferior grade backlight in the monitors they produce. Once the source of backlight begins losing its luminance, the content displayed on the screen starts appearing faded and colours washed out along with massive reduction in display brightness. Going by approximate calculations, those brands fit the appropriate light source that would last for almost as long as the product is covered under warranty. Once the product goes out of warranty, all the charges of repairs/replacement of parts are to be borne by the customer thus giving recurring profits to those manufacturers.

Now, having gained insights on the ways some manufacturers cut production costs for their own good, let us proceed to zero in on some of the best monitors available in the market that not only offer superior display quality, thereby imparting a pleasurable viewing experience, but are also manufactured using durable, long-lasting components, hence offering great value for one’s money.

Screen size up to 24 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15, Best Choice 16 and Best Choice 17

Screen size between 24 and 27 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15, Best Choice 16, Best Choice 17, Best Choice 18 and Best Choice 19

Screen size beyond 27 inches
For Indian residents:- Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14, Best Choice 15 and Best Choice 16

A detailed guide to buying a Mattress

In this fast paced world, relaxing and taking a time-out from work and responsibilities sounds more like a hobby than a necessity. Therefore, after a tiring day at the workplace, the time which is left should be utilized to take a deep and sound sleep so that you wake up afresh and ready to take the challenges of the next day.
To ensure a sound and undisturbed sleep, there are two main ingredients:-

• A good quality and comfortable mattress
• A well built bed

This post shall cater to everything that should be known before purchasing a mattress.

Now, if you are a frequent visitor to the posts on this blog, you might be probably aware that we take each topic from the grass root level and we will do the same with this post as well. We will begin with the basics first and then we will move forward to learning about the construction of a mattress and discuss each section of its construction in detail. After that, we will move on to discuss how some brands reduce production costs so as to maximize their profits and manufacture below par mattresses that are very non durable and often the materials from which they are built are extremely uncomfortable and may severely impact your spine and posture. Then we will proceed onto deciding which mattress would be the best for you, according to your needs.

So without further a do, let’s begin..

THE BASICS
A mattress is a thick pad which serves the purpose of supporting and maintaining the correct posture of the human body. A mattress is mostly placed on top of the base of the bed.
The construction of a mattress primarily consists of two sections:-

1. The core or the support layer
2. The upholstery or the comfort layer

CONSTRUCTION OF A MATTRESS

The Support Layer

• Spring mattress

The core of the mattress supports the body of the person sitting or lying on the mattress. The core is made up of steel springs often known as “coil” or “innerspring”.
The coils having diameter in the range of 1.3 mm and 1.7 mm (14 to 16-gauge) make up for a high quality mattress which provides the best balance between firmness and cushioning and provides the best support to the body.
Whereas, the coils having diameters above 1.7 mm (12 gauge) make the mattress too firm and the mattress no longer remains supportive or comfortable.

Now, this core or the coil can be of four types:-

• Bonnell coils: These are round top, knotted and hourglass shaped steel wire coils. When laced together with cross wire helicals, these coils form the simplest innerspring unit. The knots at the top and bottom provide stability for a supportive surface. Bonnell coils are one of the oldest and quite a popular choice among mattress manufacturers.

• Offset coils: These coils are hourglass shaped, similar to the Bonnell coils, but the top and bottom are squared off so the coils can fit together in rows. In assembling the innerspring unit, these flat segments of wire are hinged together with helical wires. The hinging effect of the unit is designed to conform to the body shape and delivers firm support and durability.

• Pocket spring: These coils are made by enclosing individual coils in their own flexible, breathable fabric pocket, resulting in reductions in motion transfer and noise. The fabric pockets are ultrasonically welded or glued together so the coils can move independently, conforming to the body of the sleeper. Before they’re placed in the pocket, the coils can be pre-compressed, giving them more firmness. Since the springs are not wired together, they work more or less independently, i.e. the weight on one spring does not affect the neighbouring springs.

• Continuous coils: These coils work in a hinging effect and are formed using only one piece of wire for an entire row of coils. This amounts to higher coil counts and usage of less steel in manufacturing the units. These mattresses are generally affordable, and usually quite comfortable, but they can allow for more motion transfer than other coils.

(Image of a mattress fitted with Bonnell coils)

Now, having understood the types of coils that make the core of the mattress as well as the two types of foams that are used in the construction of a mattress along with their advantages and disadvantages, let’s proceed to learn about the upholstery or the comfort layer of the mattress.

• Foam mattress

Foam mattresses rely on air trapped within aerated substances (rather than springs) to offer support and bounce. Foam mattresses generally consist of three broad types: polyurethane(PU) foam, memory foam and latex foam.

Among the two, Memory foam provides better all-round comfort to the body as compared to a PU foam and is well suited for people who suffer from neck/spine issues or others who prefer body hugging comfort. While, the mattresses built with PU foam provide better temperature regulation and the user sleeps cooler than in case of memory foam mattress. They also tend to be marginally more ‘bouncy’ than their memory foam counterparts. So, those who prefer less sunken sitting/lying experience would find PU foam mattresses a great choice.

On the other hand, latex - a type of rubber, provides superior shelf life than both Memory and PU foam, thus mattresses fabricated using latex are the most durable among the three. Latex mattresses are naturally resistant to formation of mould and bacteria. Additionally, they carry all the advantages of a memory foam mattress such as less motion transfer to the person sleeping beside when taking turns, pinpointed support for the neck and back. On the flip side, these tend to be slightly more expensive than the other two categories of foam mattresses.

• Coir Mattress

Coir based mattresses are fabricated using the fibers from outer husk of a coconut. Due to their organic nature, they are very well suited for the people who are allergic to synthetic substances. The greatest advantage of such mattresses is that they are very well ventilated and thus provide enhanced hygroscopic properties, i.e., they offer great air circulation and moisture absorption characteristics.

To enhance the comfort factor, a coir mattress is often processed with latex solution - a type of rubber, the product so obtained is commonly known as Rubberized coir mattress. This is done in order to enhance its comfort imparting property and to add some sort of the ‘bouncy’ nature of spring based mattresses in it.

The Comfort Layer
This layer is responsible for providing comfort and cushioning to the person sitting or lying on the mattress. The upholstery layer consists of three parts, these are:-

• The Insulator: An insulator is any material that acts as a barrier between a mattress's coil system and comfort layers. Also called the insulator pad, mattress insulation prevents comfort layers from coming in the contact with the coils. Without an insulator, comfort layers can get tangled in coils or coils can poke through the cushioning. The insulator is usually made of mesh or fibre and is intended to keep the middle upholstery in place.

• Middle Upholstery: It is usually made from materials which are intended to provide comfort to the sleeper. The most popularly used material is flexible polyurethane (PU) foam. Other materials include visco-elastic foam, latex foam, felt, polyester fibre, cotton fibre and wool fibre.

• The Quilt: The quilt is the top layer of the mattress. It is made of light foam or fibres to provide a soft surface texture to the mattress and can be found in varying degrees of firmness. The quilt is stitched to the underside of the ticking. A ticking is a linen or textile that is tightly woven for durability and to prevent down feathers from poking through the fabric.

Having learnt about the comfort layer of the mattress, let’s proceed to discuss the ways by which some manufacturers cut manufacturing costs to maximize their profits and in turn deliver a sub-standard mattress to the customers which are very non durable and are known to cause severe and often irreversible damage to the person’s spine and posture.

COST CUTTING TECHNIQUES

• Using poor quality inner springs. Since the coils or the inner springs are one of the fundamental components of a mattress and cover more than 60% of the total manufacturing cost of the entire mattress, it is also the favourite area of cost cutting of some manufacturers. Therefore, one must always ensure the warranty period duration of the mattress. The higher the warranty period, the less likely it is that the manufacturer has ill intentions. Also, as a rule of thumb, always prefer to purchase mattresses manufactured by reputed brands only. After all, health is one area of life where one should never compromise.

• Using an insulator of low grade fibre. Since the insulator separates the coils from the middle upholstery layer, the mesh or the fibre from which the insulator is built has to be very strong and durable so as to prevent the coil springs from getting in contact with the upholstery layers. Most buyers are not aware of the fact that the quality of the insulator material plays a major role in ensuring the longevity of the mattress. This is when the manufacturers find a perfect opportunity to make huge profits. They do so by manufacturing the mattress with an insulator material which is not strong enough to prevent the contact of coil with the upholstery layers for a long period and thus the mattress begins to deteriorate from the inside. Then, the brands make additional money when a buyer takes the mattresses to the service centers to get them serviced/repaired.

Now, let’s proceed to discuss some important things that one must take care of when buying a mattress and then talk about the various mattress sizes that are available in the market and which one would serve your needs depending upon the size of your bed.

MATTRESS SIZE GUIDE

• The mattress that you are looking to buy should be at least 8 cm longer than the height of the tallest person using it.

• The width of the mattress should allow you to be able to put both your hands under your head without your elbows touching the edge of the mattress or the person sleeping next to you.

The various sizes of the mattresses depending upon the dimensions of the bed are as follows:-

• For a Single bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 36" or 6 feet x 3 feet.

• For a Double bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 42" or 6 feet x 3 feet 6 inches.

• For a Queen sized bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 60" or 6 feet x 5 feet.

• For a King sized bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 78" x 72" or 6 feet x 6 feet.

NOTE:- The above dimensions may vary by a few inches from brand to brand.

In addition to the length and width of the mattress, height also plays an important role in determining the cushioning of the mattress. As a rule of thumb, the mattresses having height 4 inches and above are known to provide adequate support and cushioning to the body and hence, one must go for mattresses having height at least 4 inches.

Having said that, let us proceed to zero down on some of the best mattresses available in the market that are not only built from high-grade, durable materials that would ensure great shelf life, but also provide best possible comfort to one’s back and spine when one is fast asleep.

Note: In our constant endeavour to assist you in making an informed buying decision, we test the new launches of the products on multiple parameters, and if they stand tall in our analysis we periodically add them to the below mentioned list of our recommended products. So, if you plan to make the purchase at a later time, you may visit the links once again at the very time of buying to ensure that the purchase turns out to be a very fruitful one.

Mattress for a Single bed
Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14 and Best Choice 15

Mattress for a Double bed
Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11 and Best Choice 12

Mattress for a Queen sized bed
Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14 and Best Choice 15

Mattress for a King sized bed
Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13 and Best Choice 14

Product Recommendation - [Mattress]

In this post, we are providing at glance the products we consider to be some of the best offerings in the market in their respective categories. The products mentioned below have been put to rigorous tests, compared against the competing products from multiple brands, and have been analysed on various aspects pertaining to their intended use. For a comprehensive post on Mattresses, you may read our detailed guide - https://shoppinaire.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-detailed-guide-to-buying-mattress.html

Mattress for a Single bed

Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14 and Best Choice 15

Mattress for a Double bed

Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11 and Best Choice 12

Mattress for a Queen sized bed

Best Choice 1, Best Choice 2, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13, Best Choice 14 and Best Choice 15

Mattress for a King sized bed

Best Choice 1, My Preferred Choice, Best Choice 2, Best Choice 3, Best Choice 4, Best Choice 5, Best Choice 6, Best Choice 7, Best Choice 8, Best Choice 9, Best Choice 10, Best Choice 11, Best Choice 12, Best Choice 13 and Best Choice 14

Note: In our constant endeavour to assist you in making an informed buying decision, we test the new launches of the products on multiple parameters, and if they stand tall in our analysis we periodically add them to the below mentioned list of our recommended products. So, if you plan to make the purchase at a later time, you may visit the links once again at the very time of buying to ensure that the purchase turns out to be a very fruitful one.

Recapitulating on the most crucial aspects of buying a mattress -

• MATTRESS SIZE GUIDE

• The mattress that you are looking to buy should be at least 8 cm longer than the height of the tallest person using it.

• The width of the mattress should allow you to be able to put both your hands under your head without your elbows touching the edge of the mattress or the person sleeping next to you.

The various sizes of the mattresses depending upon the dimensions of the bed are as follows:-

• For a Single bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 36" or 6 feet x 3 feet.

• For a Double bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 42" or 6 feet x 3 feet 6 inches.

• For a Queen sized bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 72" x 60" or 6 feet x 5 feet.

• For a King sized bed, the dimensions of the mattress required would be: 78" x 72" or 6 feet x 6 feet.

NOTE:- The above dimensions may vary by a few inches from brand to brand.

 

• MATTRESS SUPPORT LAYER

• Spring mattress

The core of the mattress supports the body of the person sitting or lying on the mattress. The core is made up of steel springs often known as “coil” or “innerspring”.

The coils having diameter in the range of 1.3 mm and 1.7 mm (14 to 16-gauge) make up for a high quality mattress which provides the best balance between firmness and cushioning and provides the best support to the body.

Whereas, the coils having diameters above 1.7 mm (12 gauge) make the mattress too firm and the mattress no longer remains supportive or comfortable.

Now, this core or the coil can be of four types:-

• Bonnell coils: These are round top, knotted and hourglass shaped steel wire coils. When laced together with cross wire helicals, these coils form the simplest innerspring unit. The knots at the top and bottom provide stability for a supportive surface. Bonnell coils are one of the oldest and quite a popular choice among mattress manufacturers.

• Offset coils: These coils are hourglass shaped, similar to the Bonnell coils, but the top and bottom are squared off so the coils can fit together in rows. In assembling the innerspring unit, these flat segments of wire are hinged together with helical wires. The hinging effect of the unit is designed to conform to the body shape and delivers firm support and durability.

• Pocket spring: These coils are made by enclosing individual coils in their own flexible, breathable fabric pocket, resulting in reductions in motion transfer and noise. The fabric pockets are ultrasonically welded or glued together so the coils can move independently, conforming to the body of the sleeper. Before they’re placed in the pocket, the coils can be pre-compressed, giving them more firmness. Since the springs are not wired together, they work more or less independently, i.e. the weight on one spring does not affect the neighbouring springs.

• Continuous coils: These coils work in a hinging effect and are formed using only one piece of wire for an entire row of coils. This amounts to higher coil counts and usage of less steel in manufacturing the units. These mattresses are generally affordable, and usually quite comfortable, but they can allow for more motion transfer than other coils.

• Foam mattress
Foam mattresses rely on air trapped within aerated substances (rather than springs) to offer support and bounce. Foam mattresses generally consist of three broad types: polyurethane(PU) foam, memory foam and latex foam.

Among the two, Memory foam provides better all-round comfort to the body as compared to a PU foam and is well suited for people who suffer from neck/spine issues or others who prefer body hugging comfort. While, the mattresses built with PU foam provide better temperature regulation and the user sleeps cooler than in case of memory foam mattress. They also tend to be marginally more ‘bouncy’ than their memory foam counterparts. So, those who prefer less sunken sitting/lying experience would find PU foam mattresses a great choice.

On the other hand, latex - a type of rubber, provides superior shelf life than both Memory and PU foam, thus mattresses fabricated using latex are the most durable among the three. Latex mattresses are naturally resistant to formation of mould and bacteria. Additionally, they carry all the advantages of a memory foam mattress such as less motion transfer to the person sleeping beside when taking turns, pinpointed support for the neck and back. On the flip side, these tend to be slightly more expensive than the other two categories of foam mattresses.

For an extensive buying guide on mattresses, head over to our detailed post - https://shoppinaire.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-detailed-guide-to-buying-mattress.html