Plasma vs. LCD - Which TV should you buy?

When it comes to buying a TV these days, it really only comes down to two choices: plasma or LCD. While both of these technologies are impressive and easy on the eyes, there are definitely some differences and things to consider before choosing one. To begin, there are some important questions that you should ask yourself: What will the primary use of this TV be for? (Viewing movies, sports, video games, etc.) Is the room that the TV is going in bright and filled with constant light? Do I plan on using a wall-mount for this TV?

LCD TV's

LCD’s are known for their brightness, power efficiency, and immunity to burn-in (image shadows). LCD’s can come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 5-65 inches (diagonally) and seem to be outselling plasmas by a small margin. The biggest perk for choosing an LCD is its superb visibility, despite how much light may be generated in a given room. They are also slimmer and weigh less than most plasma TVs, which make them easier to mount on walls. The downside to LCDs is that they can have image blur when viewing things that require a fast refresh rate, such as sports and video games. Also, LCDs usually cost a little bit more than the same sized plasma, although this can largely depend on where you buy your TV, especially with all the deals going on these days.

Plasma TVs

Plasma’s are known for their superb colors, fast refresh rates (anti-blurring), and great viewing from all angles. Plasma sizes are limited to 42-65 inches (diagonally) and are slightly larger and heavier than an equal sized LCD. One big downside to plasmas is that the screens are made out of glass, which easily reflects light and can make viewing painful in a room filled with excessive light, especially coming from the sun. They are also notorious for image burn in, which is caused by a stagnant image left on the TV for multiple hours (such as pausing a video game and leaving the TV on all night), although many of the newer plasmas are better equipped to combat this problem.

Bottom line- decide which TV will fare best in its due environment, following this guide which gives the TVs advantages in different areas:

Advantage:	Plasma	LCD
Color Contrast	√
Burn In		√
Refresh Rate	√
Bright Atmosphere		√
Size & Weight		√
Viewing Angles	√
Power Consumption		√