Can You Still Buy Plasma Televisions? A Look Back at a Defunct Tech
Hearing the term “plasma TV” is like stepping back in time. This once-popular technology dominated living rooms for a period but has since vanished from store shelves. While LCD and OLED TVs now reign supreme, the question remains: Can You Still Buy Plasma Televisions? The short answer is no. Let’s delve into the rise and fall of plasma technology and explore why it became obsolete.
Plasma TV on unit
Plasma TVs represented a significant leap forward from bulky CRT televisions. Their slim profile and large screen sizes were revolutionary in the early 2000s. But before we answer the question “can you still buy plasma TVs?”, let’s understand how they worked.
How Did Plasma TVs Work?
Plasma display technology utilized a grid of tiny cells filled with a gas mixture sealed between two glass panels. When electricity passed through these cells, the gas ionized into a plasma state, emitting ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV light then excited phosphors within the cells, producing visible light and creating the image. This innovative approach allowed for deeper blacks and wider viewing angles than early LCD counterparts.
This cell-based structure facilitated the production of larger screens, dwarfing the 32-inch CRT TVs common at the time. The ability to wall-mount these sleek displays further fueled their popularity. This technology shares similarities with modern OLED TVs, as both generate their own light rather than relying on a backlight.
The Picture Quality of Plasma TVs: A Retrospective
Plasma TVs excelled in several areas of picture quality. Their ability to switch individual cells on and off resulted in impressive black levels and vibrant colors. Because each cell emitted its own light, viewing angles were superb, surpassing those of LCD TVs that relied on backlights.
Furthermore, plasma TVs boasted high refresh rates, reaching up to 600Hz, compared to the 60Hz or 120Hz of LCDs. This resulted in incredibly smooth motion, making them ideal for sports and gaming. Some argue that plasma’s motion clarity even surpassed that of early OLEDs. Plasma technology ushered in the era of 720p (HD Ready), 1080i, and 1080p (Full HD) resolutions.
The Demise of Plasma: Why You Can’t Buy Them Anymore
Despite superior picture quality in many respects, several factors contributed to the demise of plasma technology. Production yields were low, leading to higher manufacturing costs. Plasma TVs were also susceptible to burn-in, where static images could leave permanent ghosting on the screen. This necessitated the use of screensavers and discouraged leaving the TV paused for extended periods.
LCD technology, while initially inferior in picture quality, offered advantages in terms of cost, power consumption, and practicality. LCDs were cheaper to produce, consumed less energy, and generated less heat than their plasma counterparts. They were also brighter, making them better suited for daytime viewing. The lighter weight of LCDs made them easier to transport and mount.
In conclusion, while plasma TVs offered exceptional picture quality in their prime, they were ultimately outcompeted by the more affordable, energy-efficient, and practical LCD technology. While some enthusiasts may still own and cherish their plasma sets, the answer to the question “can you still buy plasma televisions?” is a definitive no. The technology has been discontinued, paving the way for newer display technologies like OLED, QLED, and MicroLED.
