o Technology, Advantages & Differences between LCD & LED TVs

Given the types of television it could be very confusing and difficult for layman to choose the best Television for oneself. Now with the launch of LED the choice has become wider and more difficult. However, the choice between LCD & LED is the most head scratching.

This article will let you know the real factors and reasons on basis of which you can select the best one between LCD & LED for yourself.

What’s the technology behind LCD & LED?
LED set uses light emitting diodes to create much more vibrant and flicker free image. The Blacks are truly black and not dark gray. The colours are more realistic compared to LCD screen. LED TVs also have a higher refresh rate, which will help when watching shows with motion like an action movie or sports. On the other hand, LCD TVs use liquid crystal compressed between two glass plates. An image is created when electricity is applied to these crystals. LED TVs use liquid crystal, but unlike regular LCD televisions they use a backlight made of hundreds of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of a fluorescent lamp.

The Price Factor
The picture quality itself, is very minor especially if you own a high end LCD Television. So with LED you actually pay 50% more for ‘thin’ television. Considering you won’t be spending oodles of time staring at the edge of the TV, price would nudge you towards an LCD.

Contrast & Picture Quality
These are the factors where LED TVs have an upper hand. It has amazing contrast ratio and also stays very smooth on your eyes. A Television’s contrast ratio represents its ability to show detail high contrast areas of the screen, in the form of minute gradations of colour and blacks or whites. For example, a panel with a low contrast ratio will struggle to show the higher or lower extremes of an image. An LCD screen has a single backlight array that can only alter brightness levels for the entire screen. The latest LED backlighttechnology allows the television to individually control backlight segments. This technology allows for contrast as higher as Plasma Televisions. However edge-lit LED televisions – usually available in an ultra-slim form factor - will have lower dynamic contrast ratios than the backlit LED models. Make sure you check this detail before purchase.

Viewing Angle
You might have noticed that although these sets look great upfront, the more you move to the side, the less of the screen’s picture you get to see. Many Television Brands quote very unrealistic viewing angles. The best way is to test LCD or LED personally by watching from different angles. LED TVs have higher viewing angles than LCD TVs due to their decentralized backlight distribution.

Green Rating (Power Consumption)
Most LCD televisions require a single fluorescent backlight to be lit. A 42 inch LCD consumes around 200 watts in normal use. LED televisions have energy-efficient back-lightning and this allows them to have energy consumption of up to 40 % less than LCD televisions. This makes LED cost effective in long run.