There are plenty of LCD, LED and plasma televisions on the market. But which offers best value? We dissect the TVs available at a range of price points — from budget to premium — to guide you to the best buys.
$0-1000
Winner: Samsung LA32B550 LCD television
At $997, we're just under the budget. The Samsung LA32B550 is a great LCD TV. It's from a well-known manufacturer and has a Full HD 1080p resolution, making it a good choice when paired with a cheap Blu-ray disc player like the Samsung BD-P1600.
Runner up: Kogan 1080P-32 LCD television
If you don't have much money to throw around but still want a 32in LCD television, the $749 1080P-32Kogan is a reasonable choice. It doesn't have the image quality of the Samsung but it's over $200 cheaper.
$1000-2000
Winner: Panasonic TH-P50S10A plasma television
We're just scraping in under the budget again, but the Panasonic TH-P50S10A can be found for under $2000 if you look around — we saw it for $1941 at JB Hi-Fi. It's a 50in Full HD plasma television that can display smooth and vibrant images. It's more power friendly than older plasma televisions, too. Buy it before Christmas to pick up one of three free gifts from Panasonic (including a Blu-ray home theatre).
Runner up: Sony KDL40W5500 LCD television
If you don't want a power-sucking plasma television, a 40in LCD such as Sony's KDL40W5500 LCD television is right for you. It has a 100Hz motion smoothing mode, and if you buy it before 20 December you can get a free PlayStation 3.
