HDTV Buying Guide

What's Hot in HDTVs:

Everyone is talking about 3DTV which will require you to wear special glasses and will cost more than a standard HDTV set. If you can afford the price premium and want to be the first on your block with a 3DTV, we say go for it. Otherwise, a 3D “ready” TV could be the next best thing.

High refresh rates like 120Hz and 240Hz are now common along with LED backlit, LCD TVs. Also look for HDMI 1.4 ports to future-proof your purchase. Internet Connectivity is also the hot new thing.

Types of HDTVs
LCD Plasma Rear projection

LCD TVs are the most popular and offer bright screens and accurate colors at affordable prices. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are mass-produced for the screens of computer monitors, laptop computers, cell phones, and many other devices so they are relatively inexpensive. LCD TVs have greatly improved over the years and now offer very good viewing angles along with bright images and plenty of contrast.

Some people prefer the warm colors and deep black levels of Plasma TVs, but they are becoming less and less popular. However, because of their high refresh rates, they are seeing a resurgence of popularity in 3DTVs. Although some Plasma's have implemented anti-glare features, they are still made of glass, which can cause glare problems in brightly lit rooms.

Rear projection TVs (RPTV) used to offer the most screen area for the money, but the image quality doesn't come close to LCD or Plasma, and they are typically bigger and bulkier. These types of TVs are less common these days, but they may still offer some of the largest sized screens for the least amount of money.

See all LCD HDTVs >> See all Plasma HDTVs >> See all Rear Projection TVs (RPTV) >>
Features that Matter

Screen Size

Resolution

Refresh Rate

Bottom Line: Forget the charts and algorithms. Get the largest TV that fits with your room.

The fact that screen size is an important feature goes without saying. Although, you'll often see charts that correlate viewing distance and screen size, or you'll be told to multiply the diagonal measurement of the screen by 2.5 to get the viewing distance in feet. That said, you can't go wrong with the largest screen size that will fit the size and furnishings of your room. Keep in mind that you might be able to save money on a 720p or 1080i smaller sized TV, since it is difficult to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p on screens smaller than 37 inches.
See all HDTVs

Bottom Line: For TVs smaller than 37-inches, you can probably get away with less than 1080p, otherwise we say go for 1080p.

720p, 1080i, 1080p
The best resolution for commonly-sold TVs is 1080p, which does not interlace scan lines. Most new TVs support 1080p even though most programming comes in at 720p or 1080i. The resolution number and letter indicates the number of scan lines and whether or not they are “interlaced.” Interlaced resolutions have the “i” after the number and may not look as smooth as progressive displays because they require two “passes” to fill the screen. Progressive displays have a “p” after the number and scan the whole screen on one pass.
See all 1080p LCD TVs

Bottom Line: You don't usually pay much of a premium for 120Hz, so if you're not on a tight budget, invest in a higher refresh rate.

Higher refresh rates present more images on the screen per second. The more images your eye sees the less likely you'll notice blurring of fast action programming. High refresh rates will also be required for 3DTV.
See all 120Hz refresh LCD TVs

Backlight

HDMI

Internet Connectivity

Bottom Line: LED edge-lit on an LCD TV is our recommendation for brightness, reliability, and energy saving.

CRTs and Plasma TVs don't require backlighting, so this is not a concern for those types. Older LCD TVs use fluorescent-type backlights (CCFL), which are becoming dated. New LCD TVs use LED backlighting housed along the edges of the TV (edge-lit) or with some of the higher-end TVs, it's behind the TV (direct backlight). LED backlights offer brighter displays that can save energy. Some newer, more expensive TVs use tri-color LED backlights instead of white LEDs.
See all LED edge-lit LCD TVs

Bottom Line:Three or more HDMI ports should allow you to connect to all your devices. The latest version of HDMI is 1.4a which will be included on 3DTVs.

CRTs and Plasma TVs don't require backlighting, so this is not a concern for those types. Older LCD TVs use fluorescent-type backlights (CCFL), which are becoming dated. New LCD TVs use LED backlighting housed along the edges of the TV (edge-lit) or with some of the higher-end TVs, it's behind the TV (direct backlight). LED backlights offer brighter displays that can save energy. Some newer, more expensive TVs use tri-color LED backlights instead of white LEDs.
See all TVs with 3 or more HDMI ports

Bottom Line: This will become increasingly more important. If you don’t get the connectivity in your Blu-ray player or set-top box, then try and get networking (Wi-Fi would be best) built into the TV.

TVs with Ethernet connectors or built-in Wi-Fi allow you to connect to the Internet on your TV through your in-home network. Some TV manufactures also offer services like Netflix and Pandora on their TVs through the Internet connection.
See all connected TVs

Light & Presence Sensors

3DTV Capable

DLNA
Bottom Line: "GreenTV" features like ambient light sensors that look at room lighting and adjust the TV brightness accordingly can save energy and lower your electricity bills. Presence sensors can detect when no one is watching the TV and put it into "sleep" mode.
See all Energy Saving TVs

Bottom Line: A truly 3D capable TV would be a good compromise to future-proof your TV purchase.

TVs that can receive and display 3D programs will have to have fast refresh rates, processing power, and 3D eyeglass support.
See all 3D TVs
Bottom Line: This is a home connectivity standard that allows devices like TVs, laptops, and phones to share information
See all DLNA TVs

Direct Backlight

3DTV Capable

DLNA
Bottom Line: LEDs are replacing CCFL backlights at a fast rate. Most LED backlights work with a strip of LEDs that mount on the edge of the screen and light guide to backlight the screen. Another LED backlight technique involves an array of LEDs placed behind the screen. These can be turned on and off to increase contrast and create a faster refresh rate.
See all LED Backlight TVs

Bottom Line: LEDs are replacing CCFL backlights at a fast rate. Most LED backlights work with a strip of LEDs that mount on the edge of the screen and light guide to backlight the screen. Another LED backlight technique involves an array of LEDs placed behind the screen. These can be turned on and off to increase contrast and create a faster refresh rate.
See all LED Backlight TVs

Bottom Line: LEDs are replacing CCFL backlights at a fast rate. Most LED backlights work with a strip of LEDs that mount on the edge of the screen and light guide to backlight the screen. Another LED backlight technique involves an array of LEDs placed behind the screen. These can be turned on and off to increase contrast and create a faster refresh rate.
See all LED Backlight TVs
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