If you're after a flat screen Television buying guide, but you don’t want a guide which is overly complicated or takes you too long to read, then look no further. This concise guide will get straight to the point and highlight all the essential factors you need to think about. To start with we'll be looking at the main styles of TV available, then look at the major manufacturers out there, after which we’ll check out the key features you should look for.
What Are the Main TV Styles?
Now, I’m assuming you've already decided on the sort of size Television you need, so here we are able to concentrate on more important things. Regarding the screen technology available, there are basically three main kinds of Television display: LCD, LED, and Plasma.
LCD
- Slim, lightweight.
- Available in a variety of sizes.
- Good for bright rooms.
- More brands and sizes to select from than Plasma.
- Will usually cost more than Plasma screens of the same size, but this really is becoming less so as time goes on.
LED Displays
- 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, as were used in older LCD screens.
- Better energy efficiency.
- Durable - doesn’t degrade like the older type LCDs.
Plasma Displays
- Great for very large sets (42 ins or larger).
- Are easily viewed from virtually any angle.
- Good for high-speed action, such as games, sports or action movies.
Which Company Do You Pick?
Samsung
- Market leader and innovator.
- Pioneer of LED technology in LCD TVs.
- Extremely popular brand - probably the top, if you ever had to name just one number 1 make. Definitely the best-selling in the United Kingdom, anyway.
- Superb image quality.
LG
- Another good make.
- Makes a variety of plasma screens, but also makes LCD and LED.
- Makes some high-end models named Infinia.
Panasonic
- Top company for Plasma televisions.
- Produces LCD televisions too.
- Produces some extremely large displays.
- Among the first to offer 3D.
Toshiba
- Offers a variety of TVs, from value to high-end screens called the Cinema Series.
- Have plans to start producing 3D sets in the near future.
VIZIO
- Newer company (began in 2002).
- Creates LCD TVs.
- Brands itself as “America’s number 1 LCD TV brand”
Features
There are many different features that TVs have nowadays, but here I will discuss some of the important things to look out for.
Screen Refresh Rate (Frame Rate)
- For LCD, get the new 120Hz or 240Hz screens.
- Plasma has very high-speed transition between frames, so copes better with quick digital action.
Internet
- PC input - some TVs have PC input, so you can actually surf the internet on your TV.
- Internet@TV - some Samsung TVs have a function called Internet@Television, which gives access to the web whilst you watch Television.
- Some other new TVs also allow internet access to services like YouTube, Netflick, Facebook, etc.
Connections
- Wi-Fi - connect to your private network.
- HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface.
- PC input - as mentioned above.
Specific Modes & Easy Settings
- Game Mode - some TVs (e.g. Samsung) have a specific mode for game playing, which boosts the sound and image specifically for this purpose.
- Picture Wizard - this is a straightforward 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.
The Decision is Yours
So, as you can see, there are lots of different factors which may 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 want an LED style LCD Television, then Samsung is probably your best bet. However, if you decided on Plasma, then LG is a good choice. Once you have made that decision, it’s really just a case of keeping an eye out for the features you want, and reading reviews from existing customers, to find out whether it’s a good model to buy.
