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Flat Screen Television Buyers Guide

LCD and Plasma TVs - A Buyers Guide.

What to look for? LCD or plasma? At first glance, plasma TVs and LCD TVs look the same. Both are thin and stylish. They have totally flat screens and both offer amazing clear pictures. Most have cutting edge widescreen technology. However, there are some key differences between LCD and plasma TVs that might influence your decision about which type to buy. We have drawn up the table below to summarise the differences but LCD is gradually winning the battle, although it;s cosing manufacturers to implement. The result is more expensive mid-range LCDs which means good deals on plasmas.

	Plasma	LCD
Size and weight	Generally larger than LCDs, with screens up to 71 inches. Plasma TVs are usually around 10% heavier than LCD screens (meaning great care should be taken when mounting on a wall)	Usually no larger than 46 inches, though larger TVs are in development. LCDs are often slightly thinner than plasma TVs.
Quality of Picture	Usually plasma screens have better contrast. Both have excellent quality and sharpness.	LCD usually has a slightly clearer picture in smaller models and a higher resolution.
"Image Burn"	Nowhere near as much of a problem now as a few years ago, there is still a slight concern that images left still for a long time could be etched into the screen.	This is not a problem with LCD screens.
Viewing angle	Plasma tends to have slightly better viewing angles than LCD.	Some models have a restricted viewing angle, but many allow up to 160-degree
Brightness and glare	In a fully dark room, plasma TVs have better contrast and brightness than LCD screens.	LCD TVs generally reflect less light and glare, so fare better in normal light conditions
Lifespan	Usually, plasma screens last for up to 60,000 hours before they dim by half.	LCD TVs usually last 60,000 hours or more before they dim by a half.
Energy usage	Plasma uses slightly more power than LCD screens.	LCD TVs often use less power than plasma screens. They can consume 60% less power than a CRT television

HD-ready. Screens described as 'HD-ready' support either a 720p or 1080i signal, and a have an HDMI connection. Getting one of the few 1080p TVs is worth it for future-proofness, ie compatibility with Blue-Ray/HD-DVD/PS3 and any future broadcasts.Stand? Check that your new LCD or plasma comes with a stand, if you want it to. Maybe you fancy wall-mounting but if not, you can't just prop it up!

Extras. Scabbling for remote controls can be resolved by a classy universal wand, and don't skimp on cables, especially the HDMI cable.

LCD and Plasma Televisions : Features explained (Which article)

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Top Sellers

Sony Bravia KDL-32D3000 32 in. LCD TV
LG 50PT85 50 in. Plasma TV
LG 42LF75 LCD TV 42 in. LCD TV
Panasonic TX-32LMD70 32 in. LCD TV
Sony BRAVIA™ KDL-32S3000 32 in. LCD TV

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