As home entertainment technology continues advancing at breakneck speeds, the sheer range of TV options today can perplex even the most tech-savvy shoppers. LED, OLED, QLED, 4K, 8K, HDMI 2.1 – it‘s easy to get lost in acronyms and proprietary terminology.
But based on my professional analysis of display qualities, features, and value, edge-lit LED televisions stand out as the ideal choice for most buyers in 2023. If you want future-ready TV performance without breaking the bank, edge-lit LED models offer the optimal mix of beautiful design, stellar visuals, smart functionality, and affordability.
What Are Edge-Lit LED TVs? A Quick Explainer
Before diving into specifics on why edge-lit LED TVs deserve a spot in your living room, let‘s briefly cover what exactly makes them different.
While traditional LED TVs use full-panel backlights, edge-lit LED models utilize rows of tiny LED lights positioned along the screen‘s perimeter edges. These LEDs point inward to illuminate the display, earning the ‘edge-lit‘ descriptor.
An edge-lit LED TV shines from LEDs along the frame edges rather than the entire back panel
By only utilizing LEDs on the edges, manufacturers can make edge-lit TV models incredibly slim – we‘re talking just 2-3 inches thick even on giant 70-inch units! But before you think slimmer means compromised performance, edge lighting has other technological tricks up its sleeves.
Quantum dots, nanoscale semiconductor particles, enhance color reproduction for over a billion shades. Full array local dimming (FALD) optimizes contrast by individually controlling zones of LEDs across edges.
The result? Jaw-dropping dynamic images and wafer-thin modern styles at reasonable prices – an unbeatable value combination.
Let‘s explore the 7 best specific reasons edge-lit LED TVs deserve your attention for replacing outdated models in 2023…
1. An Impossibly Slim, Space-Saving Design
While even budget TVs now tout 4K resolutions and HDR support, many still sport chunky, utilitarian designs. Edge-lit LED displays shatter expectations of what an affordably priced television can look like.
Consider that a 70-inch edge-lit LED TV like the Hisense U6H measures just 2.4 inches thick – less than some smartphones! Competing 70-inch models employing backlighting like the TCL R646 bloat outward to almost 4 inches.
And edge-lit LED TVs flaunt barely-there bezels flanking their slim panel profiles. The Samsung S95B‘s bezels measure a single millimeter thick making the display seem frameless when wall mounted.
Such slender dimensions allow even plus-sized edge-lit LED models to inhabit spaces formerly off-limits. These TVs mount flush against walls without awkward gaps. Their reduced weight also simplifies mounting.
| Model | Display Size | Panel Depth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hisense U6H | 70" | 2.4" | 44 lbs |
| Samsung S95B | 65" | 2.0" | 37 lbs |
| LG C2 OLED | 55" | 1.8" | 41 lbs |
Table data sources: Rtings, LG, Samsung
While competitors like OLED can achieve thinner panel measurements by utilizing independent pixel lighting, their higher costs place them firmly in luxury territory. For everyday buyers, edge-lit LED TVs strike the ideal affordability-to-aesthetics balance.
2. Stunning Picture Quality Showcases Content
Despite edge-based rather than full-panel backlighting, today‘s edge-lit LED TVs unleash sensational, nuanced picture performance perfect for appreciating cinematic films and prestige TV.
By strategically positioning LEDs along the screen perimeter, edge lighting creates impressively uniform brightness and color saturation across the entire display area. No more clouded corners or muted edges!
Advanced technologies further enhance visual performance:
- Quantum dots composed of nanocrystals expand the color spectrum for over a billion rich, accurate shades absent from previous LED TVs.
- Full array local dimming (FALD) divides display zones enabling independent brightness optimization for maximized contrast with deep blacks.
In independent lab testing by industry experts like RTings, leading edge-lit LED models like the Hisense U7H and Samsung Q80B match or beat the picture quality scores of pricier OLED competitors.
Sure, self-illuminating OLED pixels still achieve the deepest absolute black levels. But modern edge-lit LED TV technologies have narrowed the contrast and color reproduction gaps tremendously while costing far less.
Unless you simply must have the best flagship TV for bragging rights, edge-lit LED visuals will wow every family member and guest without emptying your savings.
3. Lower Energy Use Cuts Electricity Costs
As electricity costs tick higher across regions, the energy efficiency improvements of LED television technologies keep paying dividends on monthly power bills.
According to Department of Energy testing, even middle-of-the-road edge-lit LED TVs average ~60% fewer watts per square inch of display than decade-old CCFL-backlit LCD models.
Translated into a 65-inch 4K screen running 5 hours per day, that‘s nearly $12/year saved running a 2023 edge-lit LED TV over even a 2013 LED model!
| TV Technology | Average kWh/Year (65" Screen) | Annual Electric Cost @ $0.15/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 CCFL LCD | ~300 kWh | $45 |
| 2023 Edge-Lit 4K LED | ~125 kWh | $18 |
Table data sources: Dept. of Energy, Electricity Local
And next-generation edge-lit LED TVs continue pushing efficiency forward. Samsung‘s 2023 Neo QLED lineup consumes up to 25% less power than the brand‘s 2021 models via precision power distribution and brightness optimizing algorithms.
Every watt saved means money back in your wallet while generating less electronics waste heat. Going green with an edge-lit LED display feels great and saves green at the same time!
4. Satisfying Viewing Angles Keep the Whole Room Happy
Few experiences frustrate like gathering the whole family for movie night only to have kids complain from the sidelines that "the picture looks weird."
Thankfully, modern edge-lit LED TV technologies solve off-axis viewing angle problems that have plagued widescreen displays for decades.
By diffusing emitted LED light through specialized optical films and filters, today‘s edge-lit LED TVs project vibrant, accurate colors and undistorted brightness to angles exceeding 60 degrees off center axis in either horizontal or vertical alignments.
That means even large displays retain image accuracy from seating arrangements far left, right, above or below center:
A diffusion layer ensures off-axis viewers enjoy the same great image as centered positions
Wider viewing angles prove especially handy for sports viewing parties or large families. More seating positions can enjoy the big screen with fewer compromises than older LED or LCD panels.
5. Local Dimming Dynamically Improves Contrast
While early edge-lit LED TVs illuminated displays from the screen edges alone, modern models enhance contrast performance with local dimming capabilities.
This innovation divides the screen into zones then precisely controls LED output levels in each zone. Some edge-lit models boast upward of 120 independent dimming zones rather than lighting the entire display uniformly.
In dark or shadowy content like nighttime scenes, local dimming allows LEDs in dark areas to dim down or turn off while brighter zones ramp up. This makes shadows "punchier" without fading to gray while preventing bright highlights from looking blown out.
The result? Extra depth, detail, and realism exceeding older edge-lit LED TVs for truly cinematic images.
For shoppers wanting the deepest blacks, OLED TVs still come out ahead due to pixel-level light control. But local dimming allows edge-lit LED TV contrast that impressively approximates OLED performance at just a fraction of ultra-premium pricing.
6. Fluid Clarity For Sports and Gaming Action
Between gaming consoles hitting blistering 120Hz+ frame rates and sports broadcasting in crystal clear 4K, television processors work overtime converting all this data into buttery smooth motion without blurring, judder, or input lag.
Thankfully, modern edge-lit LED TV technologies help sets keep up with insane processing demands while serving super-responsive experiences:
- Native 120Hz panels – Higher native refresh rates mean clearer rendering of 120 fps games without frame duplication.
- Backlight scanning – Adjusts LED power synchronously with pixel response for reduced blur.
- Black frame insertion – Sub-millisecond black frames between content frames further heighten motion clarity.
When combined with gaming-centric connectivity features like HDMI 2.1, VRR, and ALLM, new edge-lit LED TVs make blisteringly fast action easier to follow while giving gamers supremely responsive control without visual distractions.
7. The Perfect Balance of Affordability and Performance
In every buying decision, finding the ideal intersection of product quality and reasonable pricing stands as the ultimate goal. And edge-lit LED TVs uniquely deliver exactly that optimal balance compared to alternatives.
| TV Type | Picture Quality | Design Aesthetic | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edge-lit LED (Mainstream) | Excellent image accuracy, brightness, and contrast | Incredibly slim profiles as low as 2" thick | \$500 – \$2,000 MSRP (50" – 85") |
| OLED (Luxury) | Best-in-class contrast and viewing angles but lower peak brightness | Paper thin, bezel-less displays with integrated stands | \$1,300+ MSRP (55" and up) |
| QLED (Premium) | Very high brightness and color volumes | Mostly standard depths around 2.5" but some thinner models | \$1,000 – \$4,000+ MSRP (55" – 85") |
Table data sources: Samsung, LG, RTings
Unless you absolutely must have the latest display benchmark bragging rights, edge-lit LED TVs make the most sense for typical viewing spaces. Their affordability leaves budget room for larger screen sizes while still providing superb motion handling, color gamuts, and sleek thinness.
For shoppers who want to balance price, modern design, comprehensive smart features, and truly spectacular 4K image quality, I enthusiastically recommend picking an edge-lit LED TV this year. You simply won‘t find a better overall home entertainment value.
Let me know in the comments if you still have any questions! I‘m always happy to dig deeper into display technology evolutions and TV buying considerations.
