Features 

We've picked out some of the key features you may want to consider when selecting a new TV. Almost all full-size widescreen TVs are now HD ready and the vast majority feature built-in digital Freeview tuners. 

Ratings 

If you say a rating is extremely important, we'll only show you products rated excellent or good. If you opt for fairly important, we'll show you products rated as acceptable. If you choose 'Not at all', we'll ignore that rating. 

Additional Notes 

Price (£) 

We check prices every month and for Best Buys we give the cheapest widely available high-street price we can find. If we can't find the product available on the high-street, we give the cheapest widely available on-line price. Prices for products that aren't Best Buys are a guide to what you should expect to pay. For these reasons, the price you see here may differ from the cheapest price you see on Which? Shopping, where you will find online prices that are updated daily 

Score (%) 

This ignores price and is based on: picture quality (40%), sound quality (20%), ease of use (20%), features (10%), IDTV functions/teletext (5%) and power consumption (5%). 

Availability 

We check the availability of Best Buys at major high-street retailers and online. With other models, we show their availability at online retailers (many of these products will also be available in larger high-street chains or at independent retailers). 

Screen size (inches) 

This is the size of the screen in inches, measured diagonally across. 

Dimensions wxhxd (cm) 

Size of the TV - not including the stand. Dimensions for models tested after October 2007 include stand. 

Native resolution (pixels) 

The number of pixels the TV can display (horizontal x vertical) 

IDTV 

An IDTV has an integrated digital (Freeview) tuner built-in. A PVR is a built in Freeview tuner plus a hard disk drive for recording TV programmes. Analogue TVs will only receive digital TV with the addition of a suitable set-top box. 

HD ready 1080p 

All the full-size TVs we review are 'HD-ready' and suitable for watching 1080i HDTV broadcasts via Sky, Virgin or Freesat. The 'HD-ready 1080p' logo means the TV has a 1,080 line screen resolution, and can process a 1080p/24 signal used in high-definition DVD movies, increasing your chances of getting the best possible HD picture. A standard 'HD-ready' set will switch to a 1080i picture when used with high-definition DVD, but is more likely to suffer from a slight picture judder on panning shots. 

1080p/24 

The TV doesn't boast the highest screen resolution needed for the 'HD ready 1080p' label but it is still capable of displaying the highest quality 1080p HD signal and ideally 'refreshing the screen' at the same frame-rate recorded on new high-definition movie discs - 24 frames per second. A standard 'HD-ready' set will switch to a 1080i picture when used with high-definition DVD, but is more likely to suffer from a slight picture judder on panning shots. 

Audio description 

This means the TV can decode an audio description signal. Found on some Freeview programmes, this is an additional narration for visually-impaired people that describes significant visual information, such as body language and scenery. 

Mode for automatic widescreen switching 

The right mode to use for automatic switching between widescreen and traditional 4:3 broadcasts. This means the TV can detect and select the right way to display both standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) pictures. 4:3 pictures will be shown with black bands on either side. 

Light sensor 

If selected the light-sensor automatically adjust the brightness of the picture according to how light or dark the room is. Viewing in darker rooms with the light sensor switched on can dramatically reduce power consumption. 

Scarts 

Scart sockets are the standard way to connect recording devices, DVD players, and set-top boxes. RGB is the highest quality video signal that can be carried on a Scart and is your best bet for a good picture. 

HDMI 

HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. It's a high-capacity input designed for receiving HD video and audio signals from high-definition equipment, like a Blu-ray DVD player or Sky HD box. 

Computer connection 

Some TVs can be connected to your PC and double as computer monitors. This can be via either a traditional analogue VGA input or a digital connection - usually an HDMI input configured to support PC screen resolutions. 

Audio connection 

These outputs let you hook up your TV to an external sound system. Red and white phono sockets can carry stereo sound to a HiFi. Coaxial (wire) and Optical (fibre optic)let you connect directly to a surround-sound system but can carry stereo signals too. Make sure your home cinema's digital connection matches your TV. 

Headphones 

Socket for plugging in headphones. The most versatile allow you to control headphone volume independently from the main speakers. 

Media card/USB slot 

Means you can view photos from various digital camera memory cards or a USB socket on the big screen. 

Annual running cost (nearest £) 

Based on 5 hours' use and 19 hours on standby per day. 

Power consumption - normal viewing (Watts) 

Based on our ideal picture settings when viewing in normal (16:9) mode. An energy efficient 32-inch LCD should use less than 100 watts. Larger 42-inch plasma TVs will use more than twice that amount of power. 

Power consumption - standby (Watts) 

During standby after 2 hours and/or using ECO mode. Ideally this should be below 2 watts to meet the Energy Saving Trust recommendation 

Brightness 

Ideal brightness setting as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Contrast 

Ideal contrast setting as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Colour 

Ideal colour setting as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Picture profile 

Ideal picture profile setting as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Sharpness 

Ideal sharpness setting as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Other settings 

Other settings as used by our expert viewing panel in a dimly-lit room. Settings may vary slightly from sample to sample. 

Standard picture quality 

As rated by our independent expert viewing panel when watching standard definition material (DVD and broadcast TV) via both RGB (Scart) and RF (aerial) inputs. 

HD picture quality 

As rated by our independent expert viewing panel when watching 1080i HDTV pictures via the HDMI input. 

Sound quality 

This includes the results of our technical tests and our independent listening panel's verdict. 

Ease of use 

This rating includes our assessments for ease of setting up the TV, everyday ease of use, using the instruction manual and accessing the more complex functions. 

Features 

This rating is based on the presence and usefulness of various features, including the number and location of sockets. 

Power use 

Based on the power usage when being viewed and in standby. Power usage can vary massively. Large 42-inch plasma TVs use about twice as much power as 32-inch LCD TVs. But even larger screen LCDs are more energy efficient than power hungry plasmas.