LED, LCD and plasma TV: Buying a new TV HDTV versus SDTV
If you watch high-definition programmes on a suitable LCD, LED or plasma HDTV, it’s typically easy to see the difference in picture quality. Images are sharper, pictures are more detailed and motion is more natural than in standard definition.
To pick the best HD TV, check out our reviews of the latest TVs – we have almost 200 TV reviews, covering Sony Bravia, Panasonic Viera, Toshiba Regza, LG and Samsung LED models.
Simply click on the arrows above to scroll the HD viewer across the screen. The image is a scene broadcast in both standard definition (Freeview) and high definition (Sky HD).
The windows and doorways show the extra resolution and definition that HD offers. Note the extra detail in the reflections and sharper lines on the edges of buildings.
Genuine high-definition TV has three elements: the original material has to be recorded in HD; it has to be broadcast in HD; and it has to be watched on an HD-ready TV.
The improved quality of HD pictures will be more obvious on a larger LCD, LED or plasma TV screen. Televisions in the 40-inch-plus category are best for watching high-definition content.
But everyone can benefit from high-definition TV – not just those with HD-ready TVs and access to HD channels.
Programmes recorded in HD, but broadcast and watched in SD, still look better than normal standard-definition programmes, thanks to the quality of the original material. Natural history programmes such as Planet Earth and Life are good examples.
Freeview HD
You can get high-definition programmes free of charge (and without a subscription) on Freesat and the Freeview HD service, though there are only a couple of HD channels to choose from. You can watch some content from BBC iPlayer in HD for nothing.
Alternatively, you can pay for HD programmes on Sky HD or Virgin HD subscription services. Sky HD offers more than 40 dedicated HD channels, while Virgin HD has seven HD channels.
Virgin's on-demand service also gives you access to some HD programmes for a one-off fee. Everything else you watch on TV is broadcast in standard definition.
If you want to watch high-definition DVDs, buy a Blu-ray player. To see the difference, check out our DVD versus Blu-ray picture viewer. Blu-ray is subtly more detailed and sharper than broadcast HD.
Blu-ray quality can vary
However, some Blu-ray discs should be treated with caution. A Which? investigation has found that some Blu-ray movies are almost identical in picture quality to standard DVDs.