In these technologically advanced times, purchasing a new gadget can be quite a daunting task due to the sheer number of options available to choose from. A television set, which is generally one gadget that most households cannot do without, comes with several display options and is an expensive investment to boot, therefore it is important to know what is available before you spend your hard earned cash. This guide walks you through the display options currently in the market and helps you decide on the best one for your family.
Liquid Crystal Display Television (LCD)
These are the most popular type of televisions produced and purchased today. LCD replaced Cathode ray tube (CRT) television sets which were the most widely used displays in the 20th century. This type of display was preferred over CRT’s due to it being much more lightweight, compact and consuming lower energy. LCD’s can be manufactured in almost any size or shape and its thin body allows for mounting on walls with ease. They can also serve double duty as computer monitors, and are the preferred display for playing video games on.
Disadvantages of LCDs
As with any device, LCD’s also come with a few disadvantages. The brightness is very poor in direct sunlight, unless there is a reflective design in place. The colour quality is not as good as other display types, and there is less picture clarity when viewed from the side or at an angle.
Plasma Display Television
This is a type of flat panel display used on larger televisions. Plasma displays offer more picture clarity than an LCD when viewed from the side or at an angle and are often cheaper on a same size comparison. These displays are the better choice for viewing fast moving video as the motion blur is fairly minimal.
Disadvantages of Plasma Display Televisions
However, plasma televisions consume a lot more energy and generate more heat than an LCD. This could be a cause for concern for those keeping an eye on their expenses and the environmentally conscious. It is also possible for a plasma display to suffer from screen burn, which is a permanent discolouration of areas where an image is stationary, such as channel logos.
Organic Light Emitting Diode Display Television (OLED)
This is widely touted as the display of the future and is made from organic material such as plastic. In theory, OLED’s address the shortcomings of LCD’s, to produce a truly superior display. But the manufacturing and purchasing costs of this display is fairly expensive, which is why it has not become the mainstream choice as yet.
One of the biggest advantages of OLED is that it is a lot slimmer and lighter than the other options available. It is also flexible, which has opened up a host of applications which are in development at present.
Disadvantages of OLEDs
The shortcomings of OLEDs are its limited lifespan, which is due to its reliance on organic materials. This also means that OLED’s are more susceptible to water damage. They are also difficult to view in direct sunlight.
