LED, LCD and plasma TV: Buying a new TV Before you buy a new TV
Do I actually need a new TV?
The LG Infinia LED 3D TV. Not the best 3D we've seen.
For a space-saving solution, flat-panel TVs are hard to beat. LCD, plasma and especially super-slim LED TVs take up less space, have bigger screens, can be mounted on walls and look incredibly stylish compared with old-style conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs.
New TVs are typically awash with loads of extra features and gizmos and can all display high-definition pictures. Many are web-enabled, or can stream video or music from your PC, or be used to view digital photos. The latest high-end models even double-up as 3D TVs.
But if you want to buy a new TV because you believe flat-panel technologies have a better picture or superior sound quality to your old CRT, it’s worth pausing for thought.
How good is the picture on new flat-panel TVs?
If you already own a Which? Best Buy conventional CRT set, chances are the standard-definition picture on your old set will be hard to beat.
Only the best new TVs match the picture quality of the best CRTs of yesteryear. However, standards have risen sharply over the last couple of years and problems we've seen in the past - such as washed out images, and juddering motion - are now less of a problem if you know where to look. Some of the latest Best Buy models look truly exceptional.
Old-style CRTs are no good for high-definition either – an area where flat-panel LCD, plasma and LED TVs come into their own.
For more on how the latest televisions perform, check our in-depth LCD TV, LED TV and plasma TV reviews.
How about sound quality on new TVs?
While the picture quality of flat-panel TVs has steadily improved over the last few years, sound quality has generally deteriorated.
The fashion for ever-slimmer televisions, made possible by advances in back-lighting technology, means there's less space for a good set of built-in speakers.
If sound quality is important to you, be prepared to connect the TV up to your hi-fi or surround sound system. If you haven't got one, it could be an expensive extra.
LCD or plasma?
LCD TVs come in a much larger range of sizes and tend to use less power than plasma TV sets, but viewing angles can often be inferior. Plasma TVs are only available in large screen sizes of 37 inches or more but tend to do blacks better. They can be prone to screen burn, but we don’t think this is really an issue anymore.
Other than that, the two technologies are strikingly similar. Picture quality has far more to do with the processing software and the brand name behind it than the type of television.
Our guide to each TV brand will give you an idea of what to expect.
What about LED TVs?
Ultra-slim LED TVs are basically LCD sets with one crucial difference – the handful of backlight lamps that illuminate the screen have been replaced by hundreds of smaller LEDs (light emitting diodes).
LEDs promise a number of advantages over the traditional backlit LCD.
Without the typically bulkier lamps illuminating the screen, LED sets can be designed and built to be even slimmer than traditional LCD sets. LEDs are also more energy-efficient than traditional bulbs.
Click here for more on the differences between each TV type.
What about 3D TV?
You need 3D glasses to watch 3D TV. And they're not cheap
HD TVs that can display 3D TV pictures are the latest innovation to hit the high street. To watch, you'll need one of the new 3D-ready TVs, a pair of 3DTV glasses – and some 3D content to watch.
Sky launched a 3D TV service in 2010 that works with its current Sky+ HD boxes, and 3D Blu-ray players are available too.
3D technology isn’t new. Two cameras are used to record slightly different perspectives of the same image, which are displayed on screen as a double image. Polarising or active-shutter glasses filter a different image to each eye, creating the illusion of depth.
The 3D effect on the TVs we've seen is impressive, but the sets are expensive and at the moment there's not much in the way of 3D content to watch. All 3D TVs can play back regular 2D content, too.
To find out more about 3D TV read our 3D essential advice guide and to find the best 3D TV check our 3D test results.
HDTV screen size – what’s right for me?
Consider the size of screen you need. Bigger screens can be tempting but do have their drawbacks. High-definition pictures look great on the big screen, and for 3D it's really a case of the bigger the better. But standard TV pictures can often look worse.
Bigger screens tend to be less forgiving of digital processing problems (blocky pictures, jagged edges). Bigger screens also use up more power.
Do I need an HD-ready or an HD-ready 1080pTV?
To watch high-definition TV broadcast by Sky, Virgin, Freesat and Freeview HD you will need an HD-ready TV. Virtually all new TVs over 26-inches are HD-ready, so can display HD TV pictures that are sharper and more detailed than those on regular TV.
But increasingly, HDTVs go a step further and are 'HD-ready 1080p'. This means the HD TV can process a 1080p signal and has a higher screen resolution. HD TV is broadcast in 1080i, but high-definition Blu-ray discs are recorded in the marginally more detailed and realistic 1080p format.
Most new HD-ready television sets will also work with Blu-ray but an 'HD-ready 1080p' model is more likely to produce the best results, especially for screen sizes of 40 inches and over.
But, for many of us, owning an HD TV doesn't necessarily mean watching in stunning high definition. HD-ready means the TV is just that – ready to display high-definition broadcasts. But you must also have an HD signal to receive.
How do I get HD TV?
Freeview HD - the latest way to watch in high-definition
Previously, HD TV was largely the preserve of those willing to pay monthly subscriptions for Sky or Virgin HD services.
But all that changed with the launch of Freesat in 2008 and Freeview HD in 2010. Both are free-to-air non-subscription services and both offer a handful of HD channels. Freesat is a satellite service and Freeview HD is viewed via a roof-top aerial.
To watch Freeview in HD, you will need either an HD TV with an integrated Freeview HD tuner or Freeview HD box or PVR.
Check our set-top box and PVR reviews for the latest on Freeview, Freesat and Freeview HD equipment.
What types of IDTV are available?
Virtually all new televisions are integrated digital TVs (IDTVs), meaning they have both a digital and more often than not, an analogue tuner built-in.
Most integrated digital tuners pick up Freeview, so if you live in a Freeview reception area you can access free digital channels through your aerial.
Analogue switchoff
The analogue TV signal is being switched off between 2008 and 2012 – if you don't have access to some sort of digital signal by the time your region switches over, you won’t be able to watch TV at all.
If you already own a Freeview set-top box, the addition of a Freeview IDTV means you’ll be able to record one channel while watching another – something you can’t do with just a single digital tuner.
If you subscribe to satellite or cable TV, you won’t need to use the built-in digital tuner. But it’s worth bearing in mind that if you ever decide to stop your satellite or cable subscription, Freeview or Freesat will give you the option to carry on watching free of charge.
Digital terrestrial TV quality
Digital TV signals differ from the old analogue signals in a number of ways. Firstly, a weak analogue signal often means grainy pictures and annoying interference. This may be irritating, but is sometimes still watchable. However, a weak digital TV signal often means no picture at all.
Digital TV channels are lumped together and broadcast in groups called multiplexes, instead of individually (as on analogue TV). There are six Freeview multiplexes in the UK that carry all the digital radio and TV channels.
In a weak reception area, failing to pick up one multiplex will mean missing out on a dozen or more channels.
The picture quality on each multiplex varies – those carrying the main BBC and ITV channels are the best, but niche channels such as QVC are lumped together and broadcast at slightly slower bit rates (speed of data transfer), resulting in inferior picture quality.
For more on this, see our guide to the digital TV switchover.
What other TV features are worth looking out for?
TVs with USB sockets allow you to connect digital equipment, such as cameras and camcorders, and watch stills and videos on screen.
SD card slots let you insert the memory card directly from a camera. Either feature is well worth having. Digital pictures look fantastic on high definition TV screens.
Ethernet ports are worth looking out for. These will normally allow you to connect to your home PC network and stream media content (music, movies and snaps) directly to the TV. The ethernet port may also double as a gateway to the internet.
Check the Which? interactive TV features guide for more detail
Should I invest in an internet enabled TV?
Watch YouTube on the telly, but it's early days for Net TV
Rather than full-blown web surfing, internet TVs provide access to a series of specially designed micro-sites or 'apps'. Until recently they were no more sophisticated than weather or news sites, but the latest models allow access to suites of video-streaming widgets.
It’s still early days but one brand's spread of content and slick interface managed to stand out from the crown in our internet TV tests.
Other devices (such as some Blu-ray players and Freesat/Freeview HD boxes) feature Ethernet ports for accessing the internet and catch-up services such as BBC’s iPlayer. But the biggest changes are still to come.
Both Sky and Google are branching into internet TV and the main terrestrial broadcasters are working on YouView, an internet TV platform designed to deliver content across all brands of compatible TVs and set-top boxes.
Can I use my TV as a computer monitor?
If you want to use your TV with your computer, look for a VGA socket. This lets you connect your PC – effectively turning your TV into a PC monitor. Digital HDMI sockets often support computer screen resolutions and are an alternative to VGA.
Extended warranties can cost hundreds
Extended warranties
Should I consider an extended warranty?
HD TVs do break down and develop faults, but they’re still fairly reliable products, as results from our annual reliability survey show.
Given the low risk of your television breaking down, we wouldn’t recommend shelling out on retailer extended warranties, which can add hundreds of pounds to the cost of your TV.
And it’s worth bearing in mind that if your new television does break down, you're covered by a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Check out the Which? guide to extended warranties for more.