If you want a flat screen Television buying guide, but you don't want to have to read through pages of complicated information, then this is for you. This concise guide will get straight to the point and highlight all the essential factors you need to think about. First we’re going to take a look at the main types of Television on the market, then look at the major brands out there, and then we’ll check out the key features you'll want to look for.
The Main Television Types
Now, I’m assuming you already know the sort of size TV you want, so here we are able to deal with more important issues. When it comes to the display technology available, there are essentially three main styles of Television display: LCD, LED, and Plasma.
LCD
- Slim, light.
- Come in a range of sizes.
- Good for bright rooms.
- More makes and sizes to choose from than Plasma.
- Often times cost more than Plasma televisions of equivalent size, but this is certainly becoming less so as time goes on.
LED Screens
- A style LCD screen, but with a different type of lighting.
- Uses LED to light the LCD particles, as opposed to Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps, which were used in older LCD televisions.
- More energy efficient.
- Lasts longer - doesn’t degrade like older style LCDs.
Plasma
- Ideal for very large televisions (42 inches or bigger).
- Are easily viewed from nearly any angle.
- Ideal for high-speed action, e.g. games, sports or action movies.
Which Manufacturer?
Samsung
- Market leader and innovator.
- Pioneer of LED technology in LCD TVs.
- Very popular brand - probably the best, if you ever had to name only one top make. Certainly the best-selling in the United Kingdom, anyway.
- Excellent picture quality.
LG
- Another good brand name.
- Offers a variety of plasma sets, but additionally makes LCD and LED.
- Makes some high-end screens called Infinia.
Panasonic
- Top company for Plasma TVs.
- Also makes LCD.
- Makes some extremely large screens.
- One of the first to offer 3D.
Toshiba
- Offers a variety of TVs, from budget to high-end products called the Cinema Series.
- Plan to start making 3D sets in the near future.
VIZIO
- Newer brand (started in 2002).
- Creates LCD high definition televisions.
- Companies itself as “America’s no. 1 LCD Television brand”
What Are the Main Features to Look For in a TV?
There are numerous features that TVs have these days, but here are a few of the key things to look out for.
Screen Refresh Rate (Frame Rate)
- For LCD, go for new 120Hz or 240Hz sets.
- Plasma has extraordinarily fast transition between frames, so copes better with high-speed digital action.
Internet
- PC input - some TVs have PC input, so you're able to surf the internet on your TV.
- Internet@TV - some Samsung TVs have a function called Internet@TV, which provides access to the web while you watch Television.
- Some other new TVs also allow internet access to services e.g. YouTube, Netflick, Facebook, etc.
Connections
- Wi-Fi - log on to your own network.
- HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface.
- PC input - as mentioned above.
Easy Settings & Specific Modes
- Game Mode - some TVs (e.g. Samsung) have a specific mode for game playing, which boosts the sound and image specifically for this function.
- Picture Wizard - this is a simple step-by-step wizard that is included with LG TVs and enables you to easily adjust your picture settings.
- Some TVs can even detect the lighting of your room and automatically optimize your screen settings.
It's Your Decision
So, as you can see, there's lots of different factors which could determine which kind of TV you are likely to buy. Once you have decided on the size of the screen you then need to decide on the screen type, whether it’s Plasma or LCD. Once you have decided on that, it’s best to check out the brand that's the leader in that particular technology. For example, if you'd like an LED style LCD TV, then Samsung might be your best bet. However, if you decided on Plasma, then LG is a good choice. After you have made that decision, it’s really merely a case of keeping an eye out for the features you want, and then reading reviews from existing customers, to see whether it’s the best model to buy.
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Still not decided which TV to get? If not, then look at our recommendations for 42 inch plasma and samsung 46 lcd
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