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Definition: LED TV
A flat panel LCD TV set that uses LEDs (light emitting diodes) as its backlight source rather than the earlier cold cathode fluorescent lamps (see MicroLED and CCFL). Smaller, more power efficient and having a greater optical range than the fluorescents, LED TVs produce deeper blacks and more saturated color. In 2005, Sony offered the first LED TV.
Although an LED TV is really an LCD TV with LED backlighting, the industry branded them as LED TVs to avoid monikers such as "LED backlit TV" or "LED-based LCD TV." Today, all new TVs are LED TVs.
White or RGB
White LEDs are less costly, while red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs provide a richer color gamut.
Direct-Lit Backlight
There are three "local dimming" techniques for backlights, which dynamically dim the light behind black areas of the screen images to make them darker. The direct-lit method in low-priced TVs uses a sparse array of LEDs across the back. Because the LEDs are farther from the screen to allow light to spread to more pixels, direct-lit TVs are as thick as old fluorescent lamp LCD TVs.
Edge-Lit Backlight
Edge-lit LED TVs beam light from the sides of the screen to the back and allow for ultra-thin cases. Although some designs provide selective dimming, edge-lit backlights are not as effective as the full-array method. In addition, they have a tendency to be brighter at the edges than at the center.
Full-Array Backlight
The full-array covers the entire back of the screen with LEDs. Although the case is thicker than edge-lit designs, the full array provides better details in shadows and more contrast. See ULED, LED, OLED, LCD, flat panel TV and Dolby HDR.
A 55" Samsung LED TV
More Than Six Feet Wide
White or RGB
White LEDs are less costly, while red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs provide a richer color gamut.
Direct-Lit Backlight
There are three "local dimming" techniques for backlights, which dynamically dim the light behind black areas of the screen images to make them darker. The direct-lit method in low-priced TVs uses a sparse array of LEDs across the back. Because the LEDs are farther from the screen to allow light to spread to more pixels, direct-lit TVs are as thick as old fluorescent lamp LCD TVs.
Edge-Lit Backlight
Edge-lit LED TVs beam light from the sides of the screen to the back and allow for ultra-thin cases. Although some designs provide selective dimming, edge-lit backlights are not as effective as the full-array method. In addition, they have a tendency to be brighter at the edges than at the center.
Full-Array Backlight
The full-array covers the entire back of the screen with LEDs. Although the case is thicker than edge-lit designs, the full array provides better details in shadows and more contrast. See ULED, LED, OLED, LCD, flat panel TV and Dolby HDR.
Using edge-lit LEDs, this Samsung TV was only 1.2" deep in 2008; amazingly thin compared to previous LCD TVs. (Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd.)
In 2012, Sharp introduced a 90" smart LED TV, the world's largest at that time. The TV included apps for Netflix, Hulu and other services with Wi-Fi built in. In 2013, Samsung bested this with a 95" model.