Best LED TV 2012 | Sharp LED 8K Wins Top Honors

4K, 8K, UD, Crystal LED rule

by Robert Wiley and Jack Burden, editors/reviewers

The following Top LED TV models are shipping in 2012 Currently. Our selections are based on features, value, picture quality and Overall rating

Sony KDL-55HX850

This is one of Sony's top end TVs for 2012 and has the unique OptiContrast panel which is Sony's way of telling you that contrast is very high – that is deep, saturated blacks and very bright white and lights. Light coming through images is very good and we are impressed with the 3 dimensional quality of 2 dimensional programming.

Sharp LC-70LE847U

For pure size you might want to give Sharp a try. The company is scoring with their huge LED TVs and the LC70LE847U is a popular model. This middle tier 2012 edge lit LED from Sharp has an upgraded Smart TV Central suite, while including Sharp's patented Quattron quad-color technology which adds the Yellow pixel to RGB and 240Hz processing speed.

Samsung UN55ES8000

Aside from the Smart Interaction gadgetry on the UN55ES8000, you get a fantastic picture inside an almost frame-less beautiful design. Contrast and Black levels are excellent.

Samsung UN55ES6100FXZA

This mid tier model combines excellent HD picture quality with all the Smart TV features offered and at a reasonable price. While it does not have 3D, it does have all of the Smart TV features and a 240Hz clear motion rate fast signal processing.

LG 55LM6700

For a great combination of features, picture quality and value take a look at our full review and see the video of this outstanding offering from LG, the 55LM6700.

Panasonic TC-L55ET5

Panasonic has some nice LED TV offerings as well for 2012. The TC-L55ET5 has passive 3D, but very good viewing from side angles due to a wide color enhancer.

Best LED TV 2012 Prototypes (from CES 2012)

1st Place

Sharp showed an amazing 8K LED backlit Television. The pixel density is so sharp that in many instances we believe the picture was better than real life. This was a prototype and not shipping any time soon. But it made Sharp's own 4K LED Television pale in comparison. I think it's picture detail is better than my eyes can see. The picture is so defined that there would be no need to have 3D anymore.

Oh, and did we mention the size of the screen – try 80 inches.

2nd Place

Sony showed their new Crystal LED Television and while we do not expect this to be a television that many would go out at the price in which it will enter the market, it is a great looking 55" LED Television. So, in second place we award the Sony Crystal LED the best in that category for the innovative way in which the led backlights actually are attached to the RGB crystals to produce a picture that will trump traditional LED backlit LCD televisions in both viewing angle and screen uniformity by lots.

3rd Place

LG's 84" mammoth 4K screen comes in next on our best LED TV list. This is another prototype and not shipping any time soon but let's suffice it to say that the UD ultra definition 4X resolution and size of the screen is impressive when you stand in front of it. LG has some great color and back-light technology in their normal line to contribute to it as well.

4th Place

Sharp again, this time with a 55" 4K LED Television which supposedly will ship this year. Same as the LG above except in a smaller size. The detail and definition are not anywhere close to Sharp's 8K prototype, but still a far cry above anything on the market. This UD Television is also already designed to upscale and up-convert current 1080p signals to the 4K resolution – so let's add that the technology is far down the road from the others. Sharp's goal is to create an upconversion from current 1080p signals that presents a picture that is "true to life" in detail anyway.