Introduction
Television has been the center of most of homes, which was first introduced in 1950's and since then the TV has come a long way in terms of technology and picture clarity. In earlier days the customers didn't have too many variants of TV to choose from except the standard CRT TVs, but now things have changed drastically and customers can choose amongst PLASMA, LCD, LED'S, 3D TV.
Types
Plasma TV: Plasma TVs are made up of gas-filled cells and are better known for their true deep rich colors. Plasma TVs offer excellent 180 degree wide viewing angles, even from the side of the TV you can still view the picture in perfect details and true colors. Though plasma has its own drawback, the screens can get very hot without proper ventilation; the glass screens tend to reflect the ambient lights of your home. Plasma also has the problem of burn-in images issue, which makes the images stick on to the TV screen when TV is run for a longer periods. Plasma TVs also have slow response rate times, which make them inappropriate for playing games through your gaming consoles or play stations. Plasma TVs are very expensive and are being replaced by LCD TVs which provide a much better value.
Pros
- Plasma TVs can display 16.77 million colors, more than the human eyes can possibly register.
- They are capable of displaying HDTV signals and can display 720p to 1080i pictures.
- Weighing at just 50-80 pounds, they are lighter than the rear-projection TVs which weigh up to 400 pounds.
- They offer uniform screen brightness unlike the rear projection TVs which has some dull spots making the picture blurred resulting in lower display quality.
- Most of the plasma TVs can be used for multiple purposes since they are capable of receiving VGA and SVGA signals from the computers.
Cons
- Because of the phosphor technology the constant images leave traces on the screens, which are widely known as "burn-in" problem.
- The brightness of the Plasma TVs are little duller than the latest LCD and LED TVs, the glass screens can also glare in a room exposed to bright lights and sun lights.
- LCD and LED TVs are far lighter than the plasma TVs and use slimmer technology.
- Compared to other technologies plasma TVs have a shorter life span of just 20,000 to 30,000 hours. There is no alternative to repair a burned out tube than to replace it, which could prove costly.
LCD TV: LCD TVs are made up of liquid crystal display technology which gives them the crisp and brighter look. All the color look great and have deep impact on our eyes since the lights pass through each single liquid crystal pixel present inside the panel. LCD TVs used to be expensive, but the prices have fallen considerably over the years and are the most popular TV. LCD TVs are available in all sizes, from a small screen of 15 inches to large screen sizes up to 65 inches. The only drawback of LCD TV is that their contrast ratio of the image diminishes at wider viewing angles unlike the plasma TVs.
Pros
- Best value as they have a low cost per screen size (on low end LCD TVs).
- Easy to find due to their popularity.
- Unlike the plasma TVs the LCD TV are available in all screen sizes from 15 inches to 65 inches.
- LCD TVs are more brighter, look better because they are backlit and block the outside light thereby faring better in typical viewing situations
- LCD screens are thin and weight less than the plasma TVs that they can be easily accommodated on a wall or could even be mounted on ceilings
- LCD screens do not have burn-in problems
- LCD TVs are economical to operate since they consume very less power than the conventional TVs and almost maintenance free.
Cons
- Some LCD screens have slower refresh rates. It means that fast moving objects on the screen wouldn't have sharpness and picture depth in it. If you plan to use your TV for games, look for a TV with a fast refresh rate of 6ms or less.
- Usually the LCD screens were designed for computer monitors, later it has been upgraded for video viewing hence most LCD's have problem in displaying black colors. Blacks look dark grey rather than the true deep black when the surrounding lights are turned off.
LED TV: LED TVs are the new breed of televisions that are challenging the dominance of LCD TVs. The innovative backlighting of the LED TV make them stand apart from other technologies. They also offer wider viewing angles just like plasma TVs. LED TVs have much better contrast ratio when compared to the traditional LCD TV. LED TVs have faster response rate time, very much suitable for fast action movies and games. However LED TVs are currently available only among the ranges of 46 to 70 inches and are more expensive than similarly sized LCD TVs. LED TVs also consume less power than the traditional LCD TVs.
Pros
- LED TVs have long life-span and provides a better quality picture.
- LED TVs are considered the most energy efficient amongst the current TVs.
- LED TVs are thinner than the traditional LCD and plasma TVs, providing you the flexibility to mount them anywhere you wish.
- LED TVs look like they will eventually replace LCD TVs completely, although that won't be for several years.
Cons
- LED TVs are very expensive when compared to the LCD and plasma TVs, but expect prices to fall as this new technology matures.
- LED TVs are still in its early stages, hence they are being produced in a lesser scale.
- LED TVs are only available in large sizes. Most of them are available in only 40 inches and above ranges.
3D TV: With the 3D TV viewers can enjoy three-dimensional movies, television programs and video games. These TVs are best suited for home theater systems. 3D TV employs 3D presentation techniques, providing the viewer with multi-view, 2D picture and a realistic three dimensional view. 3D TVs provide better contrast ratio using the LED backlight TV technology, which enhances the picture quality with deeper blacks and crispier bright color.
Pros
- 3D movies and 3D videos can be viewed at the comfort of your home.
- Be the first on your block to have a 3D TV.
- 3D Blu-ray players and 3D Blu-ray DVD movies are now available.
Cons
- 3D TV systems have the potential to cause eye strain to the viewer if watched for continuous periods unless he is accustomed to viewing 3D videos with 3D glasses.
- 3D TVs are very expensive, but prices will drop as this new technology matures.
See our 3D TV buying guide for more advice.
Important Features
Size: Bigger really is better and its best to buy as big as your room size and budget can afford. A quick rule of thumb is 19-26 inches is good for a bedroom, 32-37 inches for a small to medium sized room, and 42-65 inches for a medium to large room. Due to the thin size of LCD TVs compared to the old CRT TVs, you can have a bigger screen TV without it overtaking the room. Viewing distance is another way to select an appropriate sized TV.
| Screen Size | Viewing Distance |
| 26" | 3-5.5 feet |
| 32" | 4-6.5 feet |
| 37" | 4.5-7.5 feet |
| 40" | 5-8 feet |
| 46" | 6-9.5 feet |
| 52" | 6.5-11 feet |
| 58" | 7-12 feet |
| 65" | 8-13.5 feet |
Type of TV: If money is a constraint, the buying the biggest sized LCD TV you can afford is the best choice. If money is not a constraint, one can look for LED TVs or 3D TVs.
720p, 1080i, 1080p: This refers to the number of pixels the TV has. 1080p has the best resolution and sharpest picture, but is more expensive. On small TVs, 1080p is not needed as your eye cannot tell the difference from far away. For TVs smaller than 37 inches, pick 720p or 1080i. For TV sizes 37 inches and up, choose 1080p. However if you are using the TV as a monitor, 1080p is recommended for TVs 20 inches or higher.
Motion Response Time: If you like watching sports, action movies, or playing games on TV, then the best possible solution would be an LED TV. Some LCD TVs have a delayed motion response time and are not good at showing fast moving images. A motion response time of 12 milliseconds used to be the standard. The optimum choice would be 4-6 milliseconds. LCD TVs now have faster refresh rates and range from 60Hz (standard), to 120Hz, and 240Hz to increase the response rate.
Wide Viewing Angle: Another crucial factor to consider would be checking the side to side viewing angle. There are TVs offering wide viewing angles from 160 to 180 degrees wherein the brightness of the remains the same from all the angles and doesn't get diminished.
Multi-Purpose Usage: If you want to use your TV for multiple purposes such as using it as a TV as well as computer or as a panel for displaying advertisements on your store or as a display system for your board meeting presentations, then the best option is LCD TV which are suitable long working hours and easily fixable at anywhere you want. Look for a 1080p monitor which will give you a high resolution. Otherwise your fonts, icons, and programs will look very big and you will have less space to view multiple programs at the same time.
Power Consumption: LCD and LED TVs are best choice amongst the different types of TV available today for economic power consumption. LED TVs especially are the most economical product in power consumption amongst all the categories of TV; they just consume half the electric power of the conventional TVs. In plasma TVs every individual cell present on the panel needs to be illuminated, whereas in LCD TV only one bulb need to be powered to illuminate all the liquid crystal cells present on the screen.
See our list of top HDTVs for specific recommendations.