Plasma or LCD? How to weigh up the pros and cons

(bythesea). Submitted on Thu, 26 Aug 2010

The obvious starting point when it comes to buying a new flatscreen television is the price; everybody has their own budget, so the cost of the set is always going to be a significant factor when picking between plasma or LCD TVs. The fact is, though, that both types of television are similarly priced nowadays, with great deals to be had whichever type you decide to go for.



There are other things than price to take into consideration, however, so it pays to be clued up before picking the set you want. One important quality that many people don't factor into their decision-making process is contrast levels. Plasma sets generally win out here, displaying blacker blacks and whiter whites, although to be fair LCD technology has caught up a little in this respect over the past year or two.

Similarly, plasma TVs tend to display richer colours than LCD sets but the difference is such that individual manufacturer and model can make a big difference, as can the amount of light entering the room in which the TV will be used - LCD TVs perform best in brightly lit rooms.

Where LCD TVs really tend to win out over plasma TVs is in power consumption, with the former using half the amount of electricity of the latter in some cases. So while the initial cost of plasma and LCD sets may be similar at the outset, it's worth thinking of your long-term costs if your new television is going to get a lot of use. Whether it's plasma or LCD you go for, you can save a huge amount of energy by resisting the temptation to leave the set on standby when not in use.

Another factor to consider when choosing your new TV is the weight of the set - especially if you'd like to mount it on a wall. LCD TVs are generally slimmer and lighter than their plasma equivalents, so if you're giving serious consideration to wall mounting then LCD might be the way to go. Alternatively, pedestal stands and bracketed cabinets are also commonly used for supporting flatscreen TVs.

 

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Buying a new television? Read our guide on LCD TVs.

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