The high definition television revolution has taken the market by storm and many consumers have rushed to update their systems. Nowadays everyone wants a sleek flat panel design but there are two rival technologies available so which one is better? This article gives an LCD vs Plasma comparison revealing the advantages and weaknesses and helping you make the right choice.

Plasma screens took an early lead in the television war. They were being manufactured in large sizes at reasonable prices while LCD technology was still limited and expensive. In recent years LCD televisions have come down in price and they are being manufactured in larger sizes so the choice of LCD vs Plasma has become a close and fierce competition.

The two technologies work completely differently although the end result is very similar. Visually speaking the actual television sets themselves are almost indistinguishable, they both come in flat panel, slim designs with similar connectivity and functionality.

Plasma technology relies on individual pixel cells filled with chemical compounds called phosphors which are made to glow in different colours. Each individual pixel has red, green and blue and an electron beam controls the light they emit to make a picture. LCDs use thin film transistors (TFT) which supply power to liquid crystal cells which are held between two sheets of glass. The power determines the intensity of light which in turn determines the colour displayed.

Looking at LCD vs Plasma there are a few considerations which may help you make your mind up. For starters because of the technology used Plasma screens are generally heavier than LCDs and they also tend to consume more power, around 30% more on average.

If you are looking for a smaller screen then LCD is the choice for you because Plasma screens don’t come smaller than 32 inches. On the other hand if you are looking for a large screen then Plasma may be a better choice, although LCDs are available in increasingly larger sizes they tend to be more expensive than Plasmas of the same size.

The LCD vs Plasma conundrum is not easily solved. Another factor you might consider is the fact that LCDs generally have a longer life, lasting up to twice as long as Plasma screens which will begin to fade over time. With Plasmas after 30,000 – 60,000 hours of viewing depending on the model the colours will begin to fade. LCDs are expected to last closer to 60,000 hours and even then it should just be the backlight that needs replaced.

Another concern, especially if you intend to play games on your TV is image burn in. If an image remains static on a Plasma screen for too long there is a risk it will be permanently etched into the display. Although there have been improvements in tackling this it is not a problem you will have with LCDs. Plasma screens also flicker whereas LCDs have stable images.

Plasma screens do provide deeper and richer colours and they also have a wider viewing angle than LCDs. However once again LCDs have made strides forward in this area and the difference is not major. LCDs are brighter than Plasma screens but Plasmas have better contrast and deal with fast-moving images better.

As you can see the LCD vs Plasma argument is far from straightforward and there are subtle differences between the two. In terms of sales LCDs are now overtaking Plasmas but this may be down to the fact that they are perceived as newer and therefore better technology. As you can see from the comparison above this all depends on what you want and if picture quality is all you care about Plasmas are still tough to beat.