1. Samsung UA55ES8000R
Price: $5,020
Website: www.samsung.com
Ratings: 5/5
Samsung
UA55ES8000R
Defending your title is never easy, so it’s
to Samsung’s credit that its ES8000-series TV goes straight into the No.1 slot
as a replacement for the D8000 models. Available (so far) in 46in, 55in and
65in versions, it’s fully loaded with HD tuners and 3D support, and its smart
TV features are bolstered by a dual-core processor plus built-in Wi-Fi. More
than all that, it thrills by including both gesture and voice based control,
powered by a microphone-equipped, touchpad-enabled Smart Touch Control handset.
The fact that its picture quality is brilliant too is almost a bonus. The
upcoming 46in set is just as wonderful,
Killer feature
Gesture and voice-based interaction: weird,
but hugely effective
Verdict
A huge leap forward for smart TVs, the
ES8000 is gorgeous to look at and revolutionary to use
2. Sony KDL-46HX850
Price: $2,280
Ratings: 5/5
Sony
KDL-46HX850
Smart to look at and thoroughly clever to
live with, this brilliant new LED TV is by a long way the best of Sony’s 2012
sets. Its picture is excellent, with amazing deep blacks and great motion
handling, its specification is comprehensive and it’s even sensibly priced.
3. Panasonic TH-P42GT20D
Price: $2,570
Ratings: 5/5
Panasonic
TH-P42GT20D
Plasma’s very definitely not dead. In fact,
it gives this Panasonic a real flair with 3D, thanks to its super-high refresh
rate (which translates into very little crosstalk). HD tuners and improved
online offerings bolster the appeal.
4. Samsung UA46D7000LM
Price: $2,830
Ratings: 5/5
Samsung
UA46D7000LM
Although not quite as smart as the new
ES8000 at No.1, last year’s D7000 is still pretty clever, with Samsung’s
excellent Smart Hub interface showing rivals how online TV should be done. It’s
also far cheaper with further price cuts likely as 2012’s models arrive.
5. LG 47LW6500
Price: $2,665
Ratings: 5/5
LG
47LW6500
LG’s insistence on passive 3D tech might
seem wilful in the face of the supposed superiority of active-shutter, but
seven pairs of glasses make this great for families, and LG’s Smart TV hub is
well-specced. This soon-to-be-replaced set is excellent value.
6. LG 50PZ850
Price: $1,745
Ratings: 5/5
LG
50PZ850
Want features? The LG gives you everything
- Full HD, 600Hz processing, THX picture modes, DLNA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB
media replay - plus a high-quality 50in plasma picture. It'll even do 3D, so
the value on offer is amazing.
7. Panasonic TH-P50VT20D
Price: $3,660
Ratings: 5/5
Panasonic
TH-P50VT20D
The best 3D TV we’ve tested and good value
for one so large, but the styling’s a bit drab. 3D Blu-ray performance with the
bundled glasses is as crisp as 2D, and it’s loaded with all kinds of streaming
tech. Highly recommended.
8. Toshiba 46WL700E
Price: $3,490
Ratings: 4/5
Toshiba
46WL700E
Bright, colorful, slim and capable, this is
a far more competitive offering than most recent Toshibas. It’s edge-lit,
DLNA-equipped and will even do 3D, plus it’s got built-in YouTube and other
apps - not bad given its reasonable price.
9. Sony KDL-26EX420
Price: $510
Ratings: 4/5
Sony
KDL-26EX420
The smallest smart TV on the block is also
a solid performer. Its 26in 720p image is smooth and detailed, though dim
compared to rivals such as Samsung’s LE26C450. Home media streaming, web
browsing and on-demand TV make that a fair compromise.
10. LG 42LW5700
Price: $1,745
Ratings: 4/5
LG
42LW5700
If your whole family wants to get into 3D,
there’s no more competitive way than with this LG. Like its bigger brother the
650T it includes seven pairs of passive 3D specs. It’s a decent all-rounder,
though you can buy better motion stability for similar money.
Instant expert
Visionary
Back in 1991, the average British TV screen
size was 21in, rising to 25in by 1995. Fast-forward to 2012 and, according to a
recent Ofcom report, more than a third of the televisions sold in the first
quarter of this year were either ‘super-large’ (33-42in) or ‘jumbo-sized’ (43in
or bigger). Flat-panel TV tech has transformed our living-room expectations -
but all the same, we’d bet that the market for LG’s new 84LM9600 is going to be
pretty small. Not that we don’t approve of its new 84in tech-laden leviathan,
oh no: an LED-backlit smart TV featuring LG’s passive 3D tech, it’s a 3840x2160
panel that can accept 4K content, should you find any. No, the only downside
here is that this giant will cost about I ?14 lakh. Ah, well, looks like we’re
stuck with 42-inchers for a while yet...
We'd imagine the market for LG's new 84in
TV will be small
What to look for
1. LCD or plasma?
LCD is edging closer to victory simply
because it’s so much cheaper to implement. Plasma-based TVs are pricier but
technically superior, though you won’t find full HD ones under 40 inches.
2. Full HD
Screens described as ‘full HD’ support a
1080p signal, the highest resolution video currently commercially available.
They also come with an HDMI port, allowing you to pipe full HD content from a
Blu-ray player or games console. Aim for HDMI 1.4a, which supports auto
switching to 3D modes.
3. 3D
There are two types: active shutter and
passive (or polarizing). Both require glasses; the former offers superior
resolution.
4. Extras
The scrabble for remote controls can be
resolved with a classy universal wand - and don’t skimp on cables, especially
analogue ones. A decent HDMI is a necessity at over 2m.
