Guide to LCD Televisions

The best-selling HD televisions out there, LCDs are currently dominating the marketplace, with prices dropping as quickly as a new version is churned out. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, and gives the viewer a greater experience than traditional tube screens, with luminescent backlighting and a clearer image. The main benefit of LCDs though, is the space you’ll gain; they are now thinner than ever, giving you with the opportunity to hang your TV on the wall. They are also the cheapest slimline TV you’ll find, making them extremely popular with TV fans with a tighter wallet, though they don’t tend to be as wide as other TVs if you’re after something to impress.

They are also particularly popular with gamers, as LCD is the only option for displays under 36”. However, black colours can tend to look grey, as the contrast ratio with LCDs can be far lower than in other technologies, which can be a problem with dark or night-themed games or films. There is also a slightly slower response time, due to the pixel cycle, which can cause a ghost-like blur in fast-moving images. Gamers should look out for a 6 millisecond response time, and avoid anything with a 12-16 millisecond response time like the plague.

The LCD is rapidly improving, with technological advances, with new LED lighting giving a richer, brighter colour scheme and advanced contrast ratios also being introduced. LCD’s reasonable quality, bargain prices and mass success make it an appealing option.