LED, LCD and plasma TV: Buying a new TV Before you buy a new TV
LCD, LED or plasma?
A modern LED television from LG
LCD TV come in a much larger range of sizes and tend to use less energy than plasma TV sets. Plasma TV are only available in large screen sizes of 37 inches and above. They do tend to reproduce blacks better however.
LED TV are basically LCD sets with one crucial difference – the handful of backlight lamps that illuminate the screen have been replaced by hundreds of smaller LEDs (light emitting diodes).
LED sets can be designed and built to be even slimmer than traditional LCD sets. LEDs are also more energy-efficient than LCDs.
How good is the picture on LCD, LED and plasma TV?
Early LCD TVs weren't much better than the best CRT sets from yesteryear.
However, standards have risen sharply over the last couple of years, while high definition (HD) has taken picture quality to a new level.
Comparing LCD, LED and plasma, picture quality has far more to do with the processing software and the brand name behind it than the type of television
Check our brand guide to LCD, LED and plasma TV
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 already, it could be an expensive extra.
What about smart TV and 3D TV?
Most TVs are now internet enabled, or 'smart'.
TVs that can display 3D TV pictures are another exciting innovation to hit TVs in recent years. To watch, you'll need a 3D-ready TVs, a pair of 3D glasses – and some 3D content to watch.
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.
To find out more, see our smart TV guide and 3D essential advice guide.
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 definition 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.
Check the Which? interactive TV features guide for more detail
- Full reviews of over 150 LCD, LED and plasma TV - go to our reviews page
- Buying a new TV - read our in-depth guide to buying a TV
- Save money with an energy efficient TV - check out our guide
