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An LCD display controls light from a separate backlight; a plasma display creates light inside the panel. That difference explains the technologies, but neither label alone says which screen will look better: results depend on the particular display and viewing conditions.
How LCD and plasma displays make an image
LCD: liquid crystals control a backlight
In an LCD, liquid crystals regulate how much light from a separate backlight passes through the display. Color filters help form the image. The crystals modulate the light; they do not produce the screen’s illumination. Canon Science Lab’s explanation of television and liquid-crystal displays describes this light-control approach.
Plasma: cells produce light in the panel
A plasma panel produces light within its cells. Electrical excitation generates ultraviolet light, which stimulates phosphors to emit visible red, green, and blue light. Unlike an LCD, it does not rely on one separate backlight to illuminate the image. IEEE’s history of plasma display panels traces the technology’s development.
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In ordinary television terminology, an LED TV is an LCD television that uses LEDs for its backlight. The LEDs illuminate the LCD panel; they are not individual image pixels. Older LCD televisions commonly used CCFL backlights instead. The screen still forms its image by modulating backlight with liquid crystals. RTINGS explains the distinction between plasma, LCD, and LED-backlit LCD televisions.
#1 Best Overall
- CRISP CLARITY: This 22 inch class (21.5″ viewable) Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- 100HZ FAST REFRESH RATE: 100Hz brings your favorite movies and video games to life. Stream, binge, and play effortlessly
- SMOOTH ACTION WITH ADAPTIVE-SYNC: Adaptive-Sync technology ensures fluid action sequences and rapid response time. Every frame will be rendered smoothly with crystal clarity and without stutter
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
Does one look better or last longer?
The display type by itself does not establish a universal winner. Black levels and contrast, brightness and reflections, viewing angle, motion response, image retention, power use, size, and weight are all relevant comparison points, but performance varies by implementation and viewing conditions. A fair judgment requires comparing specific models under comparable conditions; the technology labels alone do not settle picture quality or longevity. Available general comparisons are qualitative, not controlled tests of matched models, so avoid treating broad rules as guarantees.
Why plasma is mostly a historical comparison
Plasma was a competing flat-panel television technology with a long development history. IEEE dates an early single-pixel plasma display device at the University of Illinois to 1964 and describes the later progression to large, high-definition color products. That history establishes the technology’s development, not present-day production or availability in any particular market.
Rank #2
- 【INTEGRATED SPEAKERS】Whether you're at work or in the midst of an intense gaming session, our built-in speakers provide rich and seamless audio, all while keeping your desk clutter-free.
- 【EASY ON THE EYES】 Protect your eyes and enhance your comfort with Blue-Light Shift technology. This feature reduces harmful blue light emissions from your screen, helping to alleviate eye strain during long hours of use and promoting healthier viewing habits.
- 【WIDEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE】Our sleek minimal bezel design ensures undivided attention. The nearly bezel-free display seamlessly connects in a dual monitor arrangement, delivering an unobstructed view that lets you focus on more at once, completely distraction-free.
The FDA lists LCD, LED, plasma, and other display technologies among those used in computers and televisions, but that broad overview does not establish whether new plasma televisions are currently manufactured or sold in a given region. The FDA’s overview of televisions and video display monitors is not a comparison of their picture performance.
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Best Value
- Vibrant Images: Crisp, true-to-life colors come alive in Full HD 1080p resolution. Movies and games appear more real and dramatic, and small details and text are clear with 1920x1080 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- Adaptive-Sync Support: Get fast refresh rates thanks to the Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible) product that matches the refresh rate of your monitor with your graphics card. The result is a smooth, tear-free experience in gaming and video playback applications.
- Up 100Hz Refresh Rate: The 100Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver an ultra-smooth 2D motion scene. With a rapid refresh rate of up to 100Hz, Acer Monitors shorten the time it takes for frame rendering, lower input lag and provide gamers an excellent in-game experience.
- Responsive!!: Fast response time of 1ms enhances the experience. Fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting.
- ZeroFrame Design: With a KB220Q monitor, you’ll want to see as much of the display as possible. Get more real estate with the near bezel-less design, allowing you to see more and do more. The ZeroFrame design lets you place multiple monitors next to each other for a seamless, almost uninterrupted view.
Rank #4
- Clear visuals. Fluid motion: A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT deliver smooth, tear‑free motion across work, gaming, and streaming for clearer, more fluid viewing.
- Eye comfort: TÜV Rheinland 3‑star* certification reduces harmful blue light while preserving stunning color quality without compromise. *TÜV Rheinland 3-star eye comfort certification.
- Wide viewing angle: Get consistent views across a wide 178° /178° viewing angle.
- In-Plane Switching (IPS): See excellent color accuracy and consistency across wide viewing angles with In-plane Switching (IPS) technology.
- Ultra-thin bezels: Maximize your viewing experience with thin bezels.
Rank #3
- CRISP CLARITY: This 23.8″ Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
- WORK SEAMLESSLY: This sleek monitor is virtually bezel-free on three sides, so the screen looks even bigger for the viewer. This minimalistic design also allows for seamless multi-monitor setups that enhance your workflow and boost productivity
- A BETTER READING EXPERIENCE: For busy office workers, EasyRead mode provides a more paper-like experience for when viewing lengthy documents
The essential distinction
- LCD: liquid crystals control light supplied by a separate backlight.
- Plasma: electrically excited cells produce ultraviolet light that phosphors turn into visible light.
- LED TV: usually an LCD television with an LED backlight, not a panel of LED image pixels.
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