Best 3D TV 3D test results

Toshiba, Sony, Sharp, LG and Samsung 3D TVs go head to head in the latest Which? lab test

Watch our latest 3D test

Philips, Samsung, LG and Panasonic vie for the 3D crown 

Panasonic grabs the 3D TV top spot

To date we've put fifteen 3D TVs through our expert 3D picture quality tests. Panasonic Viera plasma TVs come top, purely for their 3D picture.

Both its VT20 in our initial trial and (to a marginally lesser extent) the GT20 in our second test delivered a stunning 3D effect, though neither is as effective in a well-lit room and the 3D glasses are hardly what you’d call comfortable.

Catch up on our first 3D TV test 

LG passive experience

On first impressions the LG LD920 was our choice for best overall 3D experience. It doesn’t have the same wow factor as the Panasonic (or other active shutter 3D TVs) but the easy-to-wear passive 3D glasses and naturally soft picture make the whole experience seem less like hard work.

Take into account the lower cost of the glasses (a pound a pair compared with around £100 for active shutter types) and LG’s passive 3D TV looks like an appealing proposition. 

But the LD920 is made for ‘pub viewing’, according to LG, and not available through retail. The retail version (the LD950 from our second batch) delivers the same natural easy on the eye 3D effect but doesn't work brilliantly with 3D Blu-ray, making it difficult to make a hearty recommendation.

Full HDTV results online

But aside from 3D how do these TVs rate for more standard fare like 2D pictures and sound quality? To date we've put fifteen 3D TVs through three batch tests and then through our full test programme - and the results couldn't be clearer.

To check how the 3D TVs performed in our full test – assessing HD and SD picture quality, audio performance, ease of use, features and power use – log on to our independent expert LCD, plasma and LED TV reviews. 

Buying the best 3D TV

Based on their testing experience our experts pick out some key ways to choose the best 3D TV for you

Is it worth buying a 3D TV?

This is the first question to ask yourself. Right now we wouldn't recommend rushing out and buying a new TV just for the 3D feature alone. 3D TVs are still priced at a premium and there isn't much content about at the moment.

If you're determined to go for 3D TV then consider how well the TVs fare in the rest of our tests. 

Try the glasses on

Active shutter 3D glasses

Without exception, our experts found the active shutter glasses heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Try them out in-store and keep them on for more than five minutes to make sure they’re comfy for you.

Watch out for ghosting

Double (or ghost) images are caused by the images for each eye overlapping –once you notice them, they’re hard to ignore. TVs with slower response times (the amount of time it takes a pixel to go from black to white and back again) are more likely to suffer from this problem. Plasma TVs tend to have a faster response time.

Picture brightness

Wearing a pair of 3D glasses makes the picture appear darker. Try watching the TV in a well-lit room to make sure it doesn’t look too dim. 3D TVs watched in the dark should be fine, but check whether you can adjust the picture settings while in 3D mode.

Flicker 

Increased background lighting is picked up as flicker in the corner of your eye while you’re wearing 3D glasses. Active shutter glasses seem to be especially susceptible to flicker and reflections from background lighting, so compare the effect on some different brands.

Screen size 

The size of the display is vital. 3D TV at home is never going to be the fully immersive experience of the cinema. Even on the huge 55-inch displays, we found it easy to be distracted by glancing at the edge of the screen. Let your eyes stray from the frame of the TV and effect is lost.

Viewing distance

The smaller the screen, the closer you’ll have to sit to enjoy the full 3D experience. In our test the 40-inch models, despite some top-drawer 3D effects, struggled to compete with the pure 3D impact of the larger displays. But be realistic. Can you really fit a 55-inch telly in the front room?

How does 3DTV make you feel?

Some people find the effects of 3D make them feel nauseous. We’re happy to report that none of our four experts were reaching for the paper bags, but that’s not to say there were no complaints. We found watching 3D TV clips very demanding – in a way that normal TV viewing just isn’t. 

A certain amount of concentration is required to stay focused on the 3D effect, so when you try it out, stick with it and consider how enjoyable you find it.

Future proof? 

No technology is fully future proof, and we don't expect these 3D TVs to be so either. They're designed to work with the 3D Blu-ray and the Sky 3D service launching in autumn, but may not work with any potential future 3D service on Freeview without the addition of a set-top box.

For more information on all things 3D check our free 3DTV essential guide.