Everything There Is to Know About the Edge-Lit LED TV GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Home Theater & Entertainment > TV & Displays 236 236 people found this article helpful

Everything There Is to Know About the Edge-Lit LED TV

What is an Edge-Lit LED TV?

By Forrest Hartman Forrest Hartman Writer California State University University of Nevada Poynter's News University Forrest Hartman is a former Lifewire writer and an educator and journalist who focuses on television and related technology for Gannett News Service and other outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 11, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email TV & Displays Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections Remote Controls When comparing different models of televisions, you might see the term "edge-lit LED." All LED TVs are a type of LCD TV; the "LED" refers only to the kind of lighting source used to illuminate the LCD pixels in the television. There is more than one way to light the pixels. The two primary technologies are edge-lit and full-array. This information applies to televisions from a variety of manufacturers including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio. Photo from Amazon

Edge-Lit LED

In an edge-lit television, the LEDs that illuminate the LCD pixels are located only along the edges of the set. These LEDs face inward toward the screen to illuminate it. These models are thin and light at the mild expense of some picture quality—specifically in the area of black levels. Black areas of the picture, such as a dark night scene, are not truly black but more like a very dark gray since the lighting is coming from the edge and illuminating the dark areas a bit more. In some poorer-quality edge-lit LEDs, uniform picture quality can be a problem. Because the LEDs are along the edges of the panel, quality declines as you approach the middle of the screen because a uniform amount of illumination is not reaching the pixels further from the edges. Again, this is more noticeable during scenes of darkness; the black along the sides of the screen is more gray than black (and corners can appear to have a flashlight-like quality of illumination emanating from the edges).

Full-Array LED

Full-array LED televisions use a full panel of LEDs to illuminate the pixels. Most of these sets also have local dimming, which means the LEDs can be dimmed in different regions of the panel while other areas are not. It helps improve black levels, which appear closer to black than dark gray. Full-array televisions are generally thicker and heavier than edge-lit models.

Edge-Lit Versus Full-Array LED

In general, full-array LED is a superior technology when it comes to picture quality, but edge-lit sets have one significant advantage: depth. Edge-lit LED TVs can be much thinner than those lit with either a full LED panel or traditional fluorescent (non-LED) backlight. For that reason, most of the super-thin sets you see in stores will be edge-lit. Which technology is right for you depends on what you want. If you're looking for the best possible picture quality, you are most likely to find it in a full-array LED display with local dimming. If you are primarily concerned about the appearance of the television and want an extremely thin screen, edge-lit is the style that will fit your needs. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire LCD TV vs LED TV: What You Need To Know The 8 Best 60-inch TVs of 2022 What's The Difference? LED vs. LCD TVs LED LCD Backlights: What You Should Know OLED vs. LED: Which TV Display is Better? What Is NEO QLED? What Is Mini LED? What to Consider Before Buying a New TV How to Buy a TV in 2022 QLED vs. OLED Neo QLED vs. OLED: What's the Difference? How to Fix Vizio TV Black Screen of Death What to Look for When Buying a Projector The 4 Best Vizio TVs of 2022 What Is a Quantum Dot (aka QD QLED) TV? The 8 Best 40-Inch Smart TVs of 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies