LED TV Facts

LED TVs offer sharp picture quality.

An LED television utilizes light emitting diodes to provide back lighting for the television screen. Because they use LED's instead of traditional fluorescent lights, the picture can be sharper and brighter.

Backlight Configurations

LED TVs come in two types of configurations. The first is called "full array" back lighting. This was the first type of LED television to appear on the market. It is characterized by LED lights covering the entire back panel of the screen. The second, and more recent configuration, is called "edge-lit." This configuration moved the LED lights to the sides of the back panel allowing manufacturers to create a thinner television.

Pros

One of the most important qualities of LED TVs is their efficiency. Because they are lit with LEDs opposed to energy guzzling fluorescent lights on LCD displays, LED televisions dramatically cut down on power use. Additionally, edge-lit LEDs are much thinner than their rivals. Finally, a major feature of LED TVs is their ability to use local dimming. This means they can dim portions of the screen when the picture needs to be darker.

Cons

LED TVs have poor off-angle viewing. This means picture quality suffers if a viewer is seated to the edge of the television. Also, LED TVs are significantly more expensive than plasma or fluorescent back-lit televisions.

References

• CNET: Ten Things You Need to Know About LED TV's
• LED HD Televisions