With an enormous range of options available and technology continuously moving, television choice can sometimes be overwhelming. Which is the better quality? Which will suit my setup? Firstly it might be useful to explain the technology involved. What is the difference between LCD & LED?

Don’t be confused, these are both LCD screens. Technically the LED screen can be called an "LED-backlit LCD TV", however because it is such a mouthful, it has been shortened. This has confused a whole lot of people.

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and is basically two layers of polarised glass with crystals between them that are lit from behind. Each crystal acts like a small shutter, either allowing the light through or blocking the light out, allowing the different colours to be displayed on your screen. Both types of televisions use LCD technology.

The difference between the two is determined by one part of the screen - the backlighting.

An ordinary LCD screen uses cold cathode fluorescent lamps to provide backlighting, whereas an LED screen uses a number of small light emitting diodes to illuminate the screen. There are different types of diode lighting, be it edge lighting or back lighting but the effect is very similar.

So which do you buy?

LCDs have a price edge in the marketplace at the moment, so you are able to get a bigger screen for the same money. They are also quite popular with gamers. This type of LCD screen does appear to be reducing in popularity as the affordability improves with the uptake of newer technologies.

LEDs are considered to have a superior picture quality. Some say the blacks are cleaner, the tones more accurately graduated and skin tones are considered quite natural. Using less power to run, producing less heat, LED’s are also more energy efficient. Despite both styles being considered slim, the LEDs are managing even thinner models due to the reduced backlighting space required, allowing them to be easily mounted and able to be slipped into the tightest of spaces.

To add a spanner in the works, keep in mind the burgeoning OLED market. OLED is the newer generation of LED TVs. These are completely different to standard LED screens. OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes and is a whole new species. Each pixel is its own lamp. This makes them skinnier, more efficient and because it's such new technology, more expensive. They have deeper blacks, brighter whites and an even larger range of colours. Read our blog on OLED

Whichever type you decide to go with, you can be more comfortable in knowing exactly what you are getting.