Have you ever wondered which generation your LED or LCD TV belongs to? It’s worth noting that the main difference between these types of TVs lies in the backlighting they use. However, LCD TVs with cold cathode backlighting are a thing of the past, and now people mostly talk about LED TVs.
Generations of LCD and LED TVs
| Generation | Time Period | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Generation (LCD TVs) | Mid-2000s | Introduction of flat LCD TVs; small size, low resolution, thin and lightweight design. |
| 2nd Generation (LCD TVs) | By 2008 | HD and Full HD resolutions became standard; introduction of screens larger than 32 inches; decline of plasma TVs. |
| 3rd Generation (LCD/LED TVs) | 2008-2010 | Transition to LED technology; mass adoption of LED TVs by 2010; rise of Samsung and LG, decline of Japanese manufacturers. |
| 4th Generation (LED TVs) | Early 2010s | Production of 3D-enabled displays; introduction of 120Hz-capable TVs; entry of Chinese companies into global markets. |
| 5th Generation (LED TVs) | 2014 | Production of larger 50-60 inch screens; shift to UHD resolution; increased pixel density. |
| 6th Generation (LED TVs) | 2017 | Introduction of quantum dot technology; ability to display a billion shades. |
| 7th Generation (LED TVs) | 2018 | Introduction of 8K resolution; niche market due to high cost and limited content; continuation of 8K production. |
| 8th Generation (LED TVs) | 2020 | Introduction of Dual-LED (white plus blue) and Mini LED TVs; enhanced backlighting technology with smaller LEDs. |
The first generation of LCD TVs: by the mid-2000s, the industry had overcome the problem of delayed response times, which led to the production of flat-panel LCD TVs. These early models were small and had low resolution, but their thin and lightweight design set them apart from the bulky CRT and heavy plasma TVs of the time.
Second-generation LCD TVs: By 2008, display technology had advanced significantly. HD and Full HD resolutions became standard and screens larger than 32 inches were introduced. This was a significant leap in television technology, offering larger TVs with picture quality rivaling plasma panels. The advent of these LCD televisions prefigured the decline of plasma televisions. At the time, Japanese companies such as Sharp and Sony led the market in LCD panel production.
The third generation of LCD TVs saw the transition to LED technology. By 2008, the production of LED TVs began, and mass adoption followed in 2010. During this period, industry giants Samsung and LG set up their display manufacturing facilities, gradually pushing Japanese companies out of the market by the mid-2010s.
Fourth generation of LED TVs: in the early 2010s, manufacturers began producing 3D-enabled displays. Although the production cost of 3D displays was similar to conventional displays, the process required production modernization. LG added a particular polarizing film to its displays, and Samsung developed 120Hz-capable TVs. Despite these innovations, 3D TVs have yet to gain widespread popularity. However, their higher price has allowed Chinese companies such as TCL and Hisense to enter global markets by offering more affordable alternatives. By 2014, 3D TV production had ceased.
The fifth generation of LCD (LED) TVs: As manufacturing and production technology advanced, factories began to produce TVs with large 50—and 60-inch screens. However, it became clear that Full HD resolution was no longer sufficient, prompting display manufacturers to invest in new technologies that offered higher pixel density and UHD resolution. Mass production of UHD TVs began in 2014.
The sixth generation of LED TVs: Advances in the chemical industry introduced new materials for display panels known as quantum dots (quantum dots is the marketing name for ultra-pure materials). These ultra-pure materials allow light to pass through at specific wavelengths, producing crystal clarity in the three primary colors: blue, green, and red. This allows televisions to display a billion shades—60 times more than before. TVs with quantum dot displays have been on the market since 2017.
The seventh generation of LED TVs: 8K, began production in 2018. Although many experts questioned the need for such high resolution, and the high cost of 8K TVs made them less competitive than 4K models, the industry continued to produce them using existing 8K production lines. Today, 8K TVs remain a niche market with a small share of the overall market.
The eighth generation of LCD (LED) TVs: display manufacturers are trying to improve picture quality without the possibility of significant technological solutions, so in 2020, dual-LED (white plus blue) TVs were released, as well as Mini LED TVs, which are backlit by small LEDs, but there are a lot of them.
Today, you can find TVs with displays of the fifth and later generations on sale. Some OEMs produce TVs with displays of previous generations, but these are very cheap TVs, leading TV manufacturers use newer panels. It is possible to meet TVs on quantum dots with parameters typical for TVs released before 2015, but this is most likely just marketing.
The future of LED TVs
LCD technology in the form of LED displays has exhausted itself, which is why LG and Samsung, which owned a fairly large part of the TV display market, have abandoned the production of LED screens, selling their factories. Now all production of TV LED displays is in Chinese companies. According to experts of the TV market, the market of LED TVs is also gradually shrinking, and the future of TVs is OLED technology, this direction continues to be pursued by LG and Samsung, which recently presented some quite interesting solutions LG OLED panel EVO with mirrors to increase the brightness of the panel, and Samsung QD-OLED panel for TVs.
