How to Select Plasma vs. LCD
As technology in both plasma and LCD screens continues to improve each year, the differences between them is probably not as pronounced as it was when you last bought a TV set. Most LCD and plasma TVs have about the same lifespan today -- almost seven years if left on for 24 hours every day. Burn-in is not the problem it used to be with plasma screens, thanks to screensavers. LCDs have become sharper and more vivid than they used to be, thanks to filtering technology and backlighting.
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Instructions
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Consider price when comparing an LCD TV to the same-sized plasma TV. For smaller screens 42 inches and under, an LCD TV is usually slimmer and less expensive than a plasma TV. On the other hand, a large LCD TV will tend to be more expensive than a large plasma TV.
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Consider seating and the layout of your room. If you often have guests, or your room is situated so that you are often viewing the television at an angle, a plasma TV will give you a better viewing experience. With an LCD TV, if the screen is angled away from you, the image will appear more faded than if you were sitting directly in front of it. Examine the TVs at different angles, as this will vary by manufacturer.
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Consider contrast. Plasma has better contrast than LCD because plasma can achieve darker blacks. The backlight of an LCD screen seeps through in black images. Although LCD technology is improving this seepage issue, at the time of publication, plasma screens are still the winner in this comparison.
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Consider your electric bill. Plasma TVs use between two and three times more electricity than an LCD TV. For example, if an average plasma TV consumed 301 watts, the same-sized LCD TV would consume 111 watts.
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Ask yourself if you plan to be watching movies in 3D with your new TV. At the time of publication, plasma TVs are better at displaying 3D movies, with less ghosting of images.
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References
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