If you’re looking to buy a new television, you may be wondering what the difference is between a plasma and a smart TV.
Though many televisions look very similar these days, their technical specs and features can be wildly different.
Not all plasma TVs are smart TVs, though plasma TVs can also be smart TVs. A plasma TV uses plasma display technology while a smart TV has the ability to connect to the internet. Because these are separate features of a TV, you can have plasma TVs that aren’t smart and smart TVs that aren’t plasma.
This article will cover what plasma technology is as well as what makes a TV smart. If you have a plasma TV at home or are thinking about purchasing a new TV, you will find this information very useful.
Why All Plasma TVs Are Not Smart TVs
Saying that all plasma TVs are smart TVs is like saying that all touchscreen devices are smartphones.
While a smartphone can be a touchscreen device, there are other types of touchscreen devices that are not smartphones, like tablets and e-readers.
The same is true for the statement about plasma TVs and smart TVs.
The ‘plasma’ part refers to the TV’s display technology, whereas the ‘smart’ part refers to the TV’s capabilities.
Thus, they are used to describe different characteristics of a particular TV.
What Is a Smart TV?
A smart TV is a television that has internet connectivity. Having access to the internet allows smart TVs to stream movies, TV shows, and music and download apps from the internet. A regular TV would not have these capabilities and would be limited to displaying content from cable or another device.
Smart TVs can come in many shapes and sizes, as well as display technologies.
A smart TV could use plasma, LCD, LED, OLED, or many other display technologies. How the television can display images and video does not influence whether it is a smart TV.
What Is a Plasma TV?
A plasma TV is a type of television that uses a Plasma Display Panel to emit light and create a display. With a plasma television, electricity strikes gasses inside the panel to emit light. Because of this, plasma TVs do not require a backlight panel as the gasses end up creating their own light.
This technology is significantly different from other television display technologies, such as LCD and LED, where displays are created by using backlights.
Benefits of Plasma TVs
Plasma TVs use very interesting technology to create their displays, which gives them some distinct advantages over LCD and LED displays. Some of those advantages are:
- Because plasma TVs don’t use backlights, they can create deeper blacks.
- Plasma TVs offer wider viewing angles because they emit pixels in all directions.
- The pixels in plasma TVs have to retain charge at all times, making them great at quickly refreshing into any color.
Eventually, LCD and LED technologies presented some serious advantages that made them superior to plasma display technology despite its benefits.
Disadvantages of Plasma TVs
Other display technologies ended up becoming more popular than plasma TVs.
Although plasma was a great display technology at its time, it presented some serious technological disadvantages, such as:
- Plasma TVs only perform well in very dark environments because they are not as bright as other TVs.
- They require a glass surface, which makes them reflect light very easily.
- They are less energy efficient than other backlit displays.
- They do not perform well in high altitudes.
- They are heavier than LCD and LED screens.
These disadvantages ultimately led to TV manufacturers ceasing production of plasma screens in favor of LCD and LED technologies.
Why Are Plasma TVs Not Available Anymore?
Plasma TVs have not been in production for several years now because of the rapid technological development of LCD and LED screens. Although plasma screens introduced flatscreen TVs to many households, plasma technology was unable to keep up with other display technologies.
Whereas plasma televisions offered significant advantages over other technologies during their prime years, technological advancements almost completely closed this gap.
Today, LCD and LED screens can outperform some of the highest-quality plasma TVs out there.
This takes away all of plasma displays’ advantages while also keeping the LCD and LED benefits.
Should I Replace My Plasma TV?
You should replace your plasma TV if you can afford it. You are likely to benefit from the newer technologies out there that can provide improved video and audio quality and result in a much better viewing experience.
Not only will the image and sound quality be superior, but today’s smart TVs can include some cool features like:
- Alexa and Siri integration
- Smartphone remote control apps
- Artificial intelligence processors
- Curved screens for immersive viewing
Your plasma TV at home must be several years old now, and television technology has improved significantly over the past few years.
TVs have also gotten a lot cheaper recently, giving you plenty of options that won’t break the bank.
Options for Buying a New Smart TV
If you’re looking for a new smart TV, you have plenty of options.
From highly affordable to extremely powerful TVs, you are sure to find one that suits your needs.
These are some of our top picks.
Best Value: Amazon Fire TV 50” UHD Smart TV
If you’re looking for a good balance of quality and price, then this Amazon Fire TV is for you.
Some of its standout features are:
- 4k Ultra-HD display for stunningly crisp video
- Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote that lets you speak to the TV
- 50-inch (127-cm) screen that can be wall-mounted
Click the link above to go to Amazon.com and see more details from the Amazon Fire TV.
Bargain: TCL 40-inch 1080p Smart LED Roku TV
If you’re looking for a great deal, then the TCL smart TVs are a great way to go.
Some of the best features from this TCL 40-inch (101.6-cm) TV are:
- Voice control that is compatible with Alexa and Google Home
- 1080p Full-HD resolution for crisp video
- Access to over 5,000 streaming channels through Roku TV
This TV can be a very affordable way to upgrade your plasma TV, so click the link above to see more product details on Amazon.com.
Top-Pick: LG OLED C1 Series 65” 4k Smart TV
If you’re looking for the best of the best, then this LG OLED 65” Smart TV is sure to blow you away.
Some of the most incredible features from this TV are:
- Artificial-intelligence-powered processor for ultra-fast speed
- OLED display with over 8 million pixels for crystal-clear resolution
- Massive 65-inch (165.1-cm) screen that is perfect for a large room
- Game-optimizer for reduced lag and increased speed during gaming
If you’re looking for a big upgrade from your plasma TV, then click the link above and head over to Amazon.com to check out this phenomenal television.
Conclusion
A plasma TV may or may not be a smart TV. Plasma TV is a now-outdated television display technology that helped popularize the flatscreen TV in the mid-2000s.
Today, most new smart TVs use other display technologies like LCD, LED, and OLED.
If you still have a plasma TV at home, you should seriously consider upgrading to a new smart TV.