Need help picking out a new, big TV?

Consumers
who are in the market for a new TV – maybe in time for Super Bowl Sunday – will
find models that are bigger, better, smarter, and cheaper, according to the
latest Consumer Reports TV tests. 

Consumers
should be happy to know that TV prices are usually lowest in February and
March, when manufacturers start shipping new models and retailers cut prices to
sell off the old ones.

Significant
new features on 2013 models aren’t expected, so consumers shouldn’t pass up
great deals on top-rated 2012 sets, according to Consumer Reports. However, beware.
Some TV bargains can be risky.

Super-low
priced sets, especially from lesser-known brands, aren’t always the best deals,
reports the consumer testing organization. Some of the lowest-scoring sets in Consumer
Reports’s Ratings – with below-average marks for picture, sound, or both –
include TVs from Coby, Element, Haier, TCL, and Westinghouse.

LCD
TVs from LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony have consistently been among the best
performers in the Consumer Reports Ratings. Plasmas sets from Panasonic have
been at the top, followed closely by Samsung and LG.

Internet-capable TVs

The
Consumer Reports Ratings include more Smart TVs, or TVs that can connect to the
Internet to stream video from online services, giving easy access to on-demand
movies and TV shows.

All
tested TVs with this capability offer Netflix, but the availability of other
services like Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and Vudu varies by brand. A
growing number have full browsers for surfing the Web, built-in Wi-Fi, and
access to an apps market. In addition to streaming video services, most
Internet-capable TVs let you connect to a music service such as Pandora, social
networking sites such as Facebook, and Twitter, and even eBay. 

Basic questions to consider

See
the article “Consumer Reports: Latest TV Sets Are Bigger, Better, Smarter, and
Cheaper” for information on what size TV to buy, whether to choose plasma or
LCD, what resolution is best, and whether to buy a 3D capable awr.

The
full report, which features Ratings of 140-plus LCD and plasma TVs, can be
found in the March issue of Consumer Reports, on newsstands January 31, and
online at ConsumerReports.org.