A few years back, the Plasma TV was the favorite kid on the TV block. Almost everyone owned one, and those who didn’t saved up so they could one day be proud owners.
Well, that was a long time ago, and since then, the TV world has seen revolutionary lineups of TVs with mind-blowing features. Manufacturing of plasma TVs officially ended in 2014 in the US.
Since the market has moved on. However, Plasma TVs are still available in the secondary market, but are they worth it? Should you buy it, recommend it? Gift it? Or dispose of it? We’ll see about that.
Keep reading for all you need to know about the value of Plasma TVs in our world today.
Are Plasma TVs Good?
Plasma TVs are good. However, it seems like civilization has left them behind.
When Panasonic — Plasma’s most prominent manufacturer— stopped making plasma TVs, many users were disappointed.
However, they had some good reasons for leaving Plasma behind, one of which is because OLED screens came into play and displaced Plasma TVs.
Many users ported to OLED screens because OLED’s black levels could get to zero while Plasma couldn’t.
Who Manufactures Plasma?
Over the years, different companies have manufactured Plasma TVs.
Popular manufacturers are Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Sanyo, Magnavox, Sony, Vizio, LG, and Hitachi.
How Long Do Plasma TVs Last?
Plasma TVs have an approximate lifespan of 60,000 hours, while some latest versions have 100,000.
The TV’s brightness starts to decrease once it reaches its half-life of 30,000 or 50,000, depending on its lifespan.
Are Plasma TVs Good for Gaming?
Plasma TVs are pretty good for gaming. However, it is advisable to use the 16:9 aspect ratio while playing games with your Plasma to avoid burn-in.
When you play with the 4:3 aspect ratio, you might notice image retention after some time.
Do Plasma TVs Have 4k Resolution?
Plasma TV resolution is entirely different from that of 4K resolution.
Plasma TV’s resolution is a display technology where a panel is used to implement the required resolution such as CRT, LCD, and OLED, while 4K resolution is in 480i/p, 576 i/p SD, 720p HD, 1080p Full HD, 2160p 4K, 4320p 8K, etc.
Aspect Ratio
Plasma TVs support two primary aspect ratios — 16:9 and 4:3. Plasma TVs support the 4:3 aspect ratio by compensating the empty spaces with black or grey bars.
Challenges With Plasma TVs
As with every electronic device, Plasma TVs have specific issues that their owners experience with the product.
However, Plasma TV is a bit peculiar because it is no longer in the market, so you can imagine how frustrating it could be to have problems with these TVs.
Here are some of the challenges to expect below:
Screen Reflections
Screen reflection is one of the significant challenges of Plasma TVs. While watching your TV, you’d have to deal with seeing either dim or bright reflections of the environment on your TV.
It will be bright if your TV area is well lit, so one way to fix this is by blocking the source of light and leaving the surrounding area dark.
Power Consumption
If you consistently notice a spike in your electricity bill, your plasma TV could be one of the culprits.
Of course, that’s an exaggeration. But plasma TVs consume a lot of power, and if you use your TV for a couple of hours daily, it might not affect your bill.
However, if your TV stays on for more than a couple of hours nonstop, you will notice a spike when your next bill comes.
Image Retention and Screen Burn
Image retention is when you have a static image on your TV screen even after it’s switched off.
Plasma TVs are prone to image retention, and this happens when you watch a particular channel often, or you always pause movies for a long time.
Now, image retention isn’t something you should worry about because it will fade off after a few minutes.
However, there are rare situations where these retentions can damage the panel of your TV, resulting in screen burn.
The good news is that Plasma TVs rarely have screen burn problems. You can reduce the image retention problem by taking these precautions below:
- Reducing your TV’s brightness: you don’t need your TV to be that bright anyway.
- Don’t leave static images on your screen for too long: Change it regularly if your favorite channel has a logo on display.
Best Plasma Devices to Buy
If you are looking to buy a Plasma TV, we have compiled a list of the best plasma TVs to buy.
Our list covers the features of these Plasma TVs and why you should buy them.
LG Alexa Built-in NanoCell 90 Series 65″ 4K Smart TV
This plasma TV doubles as a Smart TV with many connection options such as built-in Wi-Fi, MHL Mobile High Definition Link, Wi-Fi Direct, etc.
With its numerous features, users are sure to enjoy their television experience. Some things you can do with the LG Alexa Plasma TV include:
- You can connect to compatible devices or retrieve saved information in your LG Cloud storage.
- You can share your pictures, movies, and music with your friends and families.
- Your action-packed movies and television shows will be clear and viewable in full HD.
- The picture quality is enhanced so that you can enjoy a clear and crisp view.
- Users will almost not experience motion blur.
- It comes with different connection options, such as built-in Wi-Fi.
LG Ultragear QHD
The LG Ultragear QHD is a Plasma Smart TV available at a fair cost. Its smart features give users access to major streaming sites like Netflix, YouTube, Roku, etc.
Here’s why you need this TV:
- Great picture quality
- 600Hz sub-field drive for fast motion
- Smart TV options
Here’s why you may not want to buy this TV:
- No light saturation
- The TV’s input lag spoils the fun in gaming.
TCL Smart LED TV
The TCL Smart LED TV is budget-friendly with unique features and above-average picture quality.
This Plasma TV is perfect for general viewing — playing video games, watching movies, etc.
Some reasons to get the TCL TV:
- Great picture quality.
- Easy to use remote.
- Smart features.
- Three HDMI ports.
Panasonic TC-P65VT60
The TC-P65VT60 is a 2013-2014 model with some new features but an Infinite Black Ultra Panel.
This model is an active 3D, with 2D to 3D conversion, has upgraded side speakers, and an attractive glass and metal design.
Here are a few things you may not like about the TV:
- It doesn’t support 3D.
- Touchpad remote doesn’t compete with LG or Samsung for special remotes.
Plasma TV Buyer’s Guide
Although Plasma TVs are long past their glory days, they are still available in the market. And before you decide on which one to buy, you should consider a few factors, and we have discussed some of them below.
Budget
Of course, this is as important as getting a TV. If you decide to get a Plasma TV, consider how much you afford to spend on the TV to avoid impulse buying. Plasma TVs are relatively cheap for obvious reasons but don’t be quick to buy anyone. We recommend the TVs listed in this guide.
Screen Size
Plasma TVs come in various screen sizes, and you must consider the available space in your home to mount the television.
The bigger the TV, the better the view you will enjoy from your television, but if you have a smaller space, you might want to settle for a smaller-sized screen.
Picture quality
Plasma picture displays boast better black levels than many LCD screens, although LCD technology has dramatically improved.
This display can precisely control the relative level of brightness and intensity for red, blue, and green sub-pixels. The disadvantage here is that the TV is prone to screen burn.
Take note of these before you buy a Plasma TV.
Features
What are your preferences? Would you love a TV with a magic remote, or do you want one with 4K resolution? If these are the features you want, Plasma TVs are not for you.
Plasma TV’s picture quality usually has more depth and reflects light in bright rooms.
FAQs
Are Plasma TVs better than modern TVs?
Plasma TV is better than LCD and OLED TVs because it can show details in dark areas.
Also, the plasma TV panel does not have a slow response that affects other TVs.
Why is plasma TV extinct?
One of the reasons Plasma TVs are extinct is that the panels are thicker, heavier, and consume much power.
Should you keep your Plasma TV?
If your plasma TV still works fine for you, there’s no reason to dispose of it. However, you could improve your viewing experience by upgrading to a newer type of television.
Since plasma TVs have been discontinued, TV makers have introduced newer technologies such as 4K displays, HDR, Wide Color Gamut, and Quantum Dots (sometimes referred to as QLED) into OLED and LCD TVs.
Before buying a new TV, compare all available types and sizes to see what works best for you.
Can I use my Plasma TV with any video device?
All plasma TVs work with any video device with standard AV, component video, or HDMI outputs.
Although, VHS is a low resolution with poor color consistency that doesn’t look as good on a large plasma screen as it does on a smaller screen.
If you want the best quality from your plasma TV, use a Blu-ray Disc player or an upscaling DVD player.
Plasma TVs are generally good, even though better alternatives have overtaken them. If you would still love to own one, feel free to look at our best Plasma TVs to help with your decision.
