» Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:12 pm
There's no inherent picture quality difference between LED edge-lit LCD TVs and CCFL backlit LCD TVs except that the LEDs will theoretically consume less power and last longer. Also, the edge-lighting allows for thinner TVs. That doesn't mean that some of the newer models that happen to be LED edge-lit aren't just designed better or built with better LCD panels, though, there's just no inherent picture quality advantage to one type of backlight vs. the other. Where you'll see some advantages is in the local-dimming LED backlights. This is typically reserved for the more expensive models...it involves an array of individual LEDs behind the LCD panel that can dim or turn off in parts of the screen that are supposed to be dark (prevents LCD backlight "washout" that makes blacks look grey). I have one of these, and it does make a difference, but they're expensive.
It does bug me that they market these as "LED TVs," though. They're not. They're still LCD TVs. Real OLED TVs exist, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will be the "next generation" of displays or not.