Walking into your local electronics shop today is a very imposing endeavor. The sheer number of television options is overwhelming. What do I buy LCD vs. LED vs. Plasma These three types of televisions now dominate the flat screen HDTV market. All three have certain advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider when buying your next television. Hopefully this article can give you a better idea of which suit will suit you.

Plasma televisions tend to be less expensive than the other options. Plasma televisions also tend to have the best contrast of the three with extremely dark blacks contrasting with clear, bright lights. Viewing angle is also a significant win for the plasmas with clear bright pictures being viewable at most any angle. This is very important to consider depending on where the TV will be and the viewing angles the room will afford people while watching television. High motion television, such as sporting events, is also much crisper and clearer on the plasma sets. This is due to the extremely high refresh rates at the level of the individual plasma cells.

LCD, or liquid crystal display televisions, remain very popular, especially in screen sizes under 42 inches. The prices for the larger screens tend to be quite expensive and more noticeably highlight some of their inadequacies. Black levels are notably less impressive than plasma sets and this effects contrast dramatically in the larger sets. Viewing angle is also much narrower than plasma, again a significant factor depending on the room you will be placing the TV in. LCD televisions are clear winners when it comes to longevity and lack of screen burn-in. Both of which have plagued plasma televisions in the past.
LED televisions are a subset of LCD televisions. They employ light emitting diodes (LED) to illuminate the LCD pixels rather than traditional florescent lamps seen in traditional LCDs. Because individual LEDs can twist themselves off in the dark areas of the picture, contrast is much better than the LCDs, nearly rivaling the plasmas in this regard. Of all the current technologies, LEDs also have the best record with regards to power consumption. Brightness is also clearly in the LEDs favor, however plasmas have made strides in this area in the latest models.

More than any one factor, value to screen size may be the deciding factor for most buyers. In general, LCD is probably the top choice in smaller (less than 42 inch) screens. At these smaller sizes, prices have come down considerably and the contrast and brightness issues are nearly unnoticeable. For larger screens, both plasma and LED are nearly comparable with regards to picture quality and contrast with a slight edge to plasma. The LED have a distinct advantage in regards to power consumption and have no issues with screen burn-in.

Regardless of your final decision, always research your possible purchases before buying. Both in store viewings and online consumer reviews are critical. These candid reviews often are a buyer's best friend.