What is the difference between LCD and Plasma? Does it matter?

Plasma or LCD?

If you are unfamiliar with the latest TV technology it can be slightly confusing when you eventually come to choose a new HDTV and realise that there are actually two different types of display on offer. These are of course LCD and Plasma and the question of `which one should I pick` has hung on the minds of many consumers over the last couple of years. Hopefully the following explanation of the two TV types will help you make a choice.

Differences between LCD & Plasma

The difference between LCD and Plasma lies in the methods by which they generate their onscreen images. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs use a matrix of liquid crystals controlled by electrical signals to produce different colours and lit by a backlight. Plasma screens use gas cells sandwiched between two layers of glass, with electric currents causing the gas to act like a fluorescent light and produce red, green and blue which then forms the image. Now that may seem like a lot of jargon to get through, but what it comes down to is that both technologies allow for flat panel television to be built with high resolutions for high definition content.


Screen Size

The next issue to tackle is screen size. In the past Plasma TVs were the only choice if you wanted an absolutely massive screen, but now LCD technology has caught up and LCD screen of over 42 inches are now available. Because Plasma TVs use glass they are often much heavier than LCD screens, especially on particularly large models and now that LCD screens can use LED lighting they are slimmer and lighter than ever. If you are looking to mount a large television on a wall then LCD is arguably a better choice because of its improved size to weight ratio versus Plasma alternatives.

Picture Quality

A point of contention is picture quality and again for many years it was considered to be a universal truth that because Plasma screens had better contrast ratios (which means they could display deep, dark blacks) than LCD screens, the choice for Plasma was the only choice for an enthusiast. However, investment in the software that controls the image LCD TVs produce has completely closed the gap in most respects and at the higher end of the market it is very difficult to pick a clear winner.



Energy Efficiency

One area that many may not have considered, but which will surely become increasingly important, is energy efficiency. Both Plasma and LCD TVs use less energy than older CRT televisions, but in most tests LCD is the clear winner, often needing around 50 percent less power than a similarly sized Plasma screen to display an image of the same brightness. If you choose an LCD TV which uses LED backlighting the power consumption drops even further, so making a choice based on green credentials alone would require choosing an LCD TV every time.

Price matters

Another area, which we have yet to cover, but many will find important, is of course price. At the moment it is difficult to pick a clear choice from the pack since Plasma TVs are only available in larger and consequently more expensive sizes and LCD screens of the same size are often similarly pricey. However, if you go for an LCD TV that uses the latest LED lighting technology then you will be paying a lot more in the short term than you would for a Plasma. Obviously you will need to weigh your own needs and ideals in order to pick a TV that suits you.