TVs: Plasma Vs. LCD
Although they look similar, there are many differences between a plasma TV and an LCD TV. It is important to be educated because there are numerous models and new technologies to choose from. Making an uninformed decision could result in overpaying for a product that does not suit your needs.
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Plasma
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A plasma display contains an assortment of hundreds of thousands small neon-filled cells positioned between two plates of glass. When electrically charged, the gas changes to plasma and the cells become luminous. The result is individual color-displaying pixels, which can be seen if you examine the screen on a plasma TV.
LCD
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LCD displays consist of two polarized sheets of glass that have a liquid crystal substance between them. A light is shone through the glass because liquid crystals cannot produce light on their own. The liquid crystals become visible to the viewer once lights passes through them.
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Picture
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Plasma TVs are superior in detail and contrast ratio capabilities because they can display deeper blacks more accurately than an LCD can. Both offer 1080p resolution, but an LCD TV offers more pixels per inch. According to CNET Asia, a plasma TV is more likely to experience burn-in, which is screen discoloration due to a fixed image being repeatedly displayed on a screen.
Life Span
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Although plasma TVs used to suffer from a short life span, that is no longer the case. PC World says that the average plasma TV of today has a half-life of 60,000 hours. This means that after 60,000 hours, the brightness of the screen will decrease by half. An LCD TV lasts an average of 60,000 hours, which is the expected life of its backing bulb.
Cost
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A plasma are less expensive compared to an LCD TV of the same size. An LCD might prove to be a better overall value because it comes in a wider variety of sizes. Plasmas are only available in large sizes, whereas an LCD is available in sizes as small as 5 inches.
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References
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