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This year? Last years? Next years models of tv's

Pghpooh

Pghpooh

Senior member
Went shopping at the local Best Buy store for a tv.
The kid followed me around offering advice, etc.
Mentioned the store was selling “last years models” at a much better price. Course you had to take the one hanging on the wall to get the good price.
My question is,, how do I tell last years model from the new and improved this year and next years models?
I don’t think I have ever seen the model years advertised on the manufacturers web sites.
How do I know I am getting this years or next years models???
Thanks
 
By the model number. I don't know where you'll find the list. Google a series and type 'release date.'

Keep in mind that the display models are on often, and in-store they max out the back lighting so it looks better. Your back light will die sooner.
 
I like to look at Amazon, usually they have a pretty good chart on the product detail pages that show the models for that year.

For Example:
Samsung 2011 models: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN55D8...1558741&sr=8-1

Samsung 2010 models: http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN55C7...1558829&sr=1-1

Panasonic 2011 Models: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIER...1558885&sr=1-1

Panasonic 2010 Models: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-VIER...1558857&sr=1-1

Sony 2010 have #00 or #10 like EX510 or EX500 the 2011 have #20 like EX520
 
While it is a bit more difficult when they are trying to sell the 'on the wall' one, in general I would say check out some reviews on particular models - as scary as it sounds, sometimes last years model is better then this years.

Also, unless you are getting a REALLY good deal the price on the 'older' one probably isn't work it. Each generation of recent TV's has been coming in at the previous generations 'clearance' price. So unless you have a compelling reason (ie: price or review) to buy an older model, it probably isn't worth it.

CNET I find tends to have pretty good reviews overall - and if you want a fun example of Old vs New, they still use a Pioneer 50" (FHD01 I believe) Plasma as their contrast ratio reference screen - that TV is over 5 years old. Oh how I miss Pioneer in the Plasma market.
 
talion83 said:
While it is a bit more difficult when they are trying to sell the 'on the wall' one, in general I would say check out some reviews on particular models - as scary as it sounds, sometimes last years model is better then this years.

Also, unless you are getting a REALLY good deal the price on the 'older' one probably isn't work it. Each generation of recent TV's has been coming in at the previous generations 'clearance' price. So unless you have a compelling reason (ie: price or review) to buy an older model, it probably isn't worth it.

CNET I find tends to have pretty good reviews overall - and if you want a fun example of Old vs New, they still use a Pioneer 50" (FHD01 I believe) Plasma as their contrast ratio reference screen - that TV is over 5 years old. Oh how I miss Pioneer in the Plasma market.
Click to expand...

It's most likely a Pioneer Elite 111FD or 101FD (2008/early 2009 models), the last generation Pioneers. However Pioneer TVs are the RARE example of old generations being better than the new gen. Most of the newer TVs now just improve on the previous generation's tech.
 
Last edited:
HI
Sorry it took so long to get back here. Just moved into a new house and the honey do list grows every day!! LOL
Thanks for the info. I'll be able to make a better choice when I buy.
 
Reviews from trusted independant sources are just coming in for the 2011's, so if you want to make an informed decision (well, as informed as possible), then waiting a month or two until more is known about the 2011's would be smart.

If you can't wait, then preliminarly, Samsung has fixed their buzz problem, but not their 24fps black level rise problem (not to be confused with Panasonic's black level rise problem), not possibly their "blinking" issue. Panasonic still doesn't look to have their floating-type issues completely solved, I don't know the status of their rising blacks issue for their 2011 sets.

So, all in all, 2012 will be the next target year where the manufacturers finally fix all their issues...if they choose to...

Chuck
 
After letting my eyes do the scrutiny and not the aisle manager in my latest TV buying quest I agree with Gintaras. If anything, I found new, base model LED 'backlit' TVs as a general category to have markedly inferiour image quality and grabbed an older Samsung 450 because it had the best over-all image of anything in the place or others.

What's happening here is the big difference in sets is increasingly not the display, but processing to compliment the display. The best pictures I saw were owned by the larger, more expensive sets with better processing. While these were mostly LED backlit, I'm sure the inclusion of LED rather than cold cathode had little to due with actual performance marks.
 
I think some of the 2011 models might have Google TV integrated into them.

Nice feature if they don't charge a premium for that option.
 
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