Somehow the holiday season is already not that far off, which means that it’s time to begin considering preparations and gifts. One genre that is sure to be popular, as ever, this year is electronics.

In recent years, home entertainment systems have come a long way – just five years or so ago, flat screen TVs were still considered luxuries, and home 3D programming was a sci-fi dream. With the digital switchover just around the corner, it now seems that just about everyone is upgrading their home to include the newest in high definition TV equipment. So what sort of TV might be a good gift this holiday season?

For those with limited knowledge of the flat screen market, it’s important to know that there are differences between the many different types of flat screens that are available.

You might see an appealing selection of plasma screens from Best Buy online, then browse through M&S LED TVs and wonder which option is better, as both seem to offer an expansive and clear picture. In the eyes of most people who are qualified to give advice on this topic, the LED television will generally be the recommended option.

Plasma screens were the first type of flat screen televisions to be offered to the public on a broad scale, and work by way of tiny pixels that light themselves to produce a sharp, clear picture. However, despite the excellent quality of some of the top plasma televisions, most people agree that LCD TVs (and LEDs, which are actually specific types of LCDs) provide superior viewing quality.

In an LCD television, rather than the pixels lighting themselves, they are backlit, which seems to produce a broader range of colour, as well as sharper contrasts. So if you are looking to buy someone a television this holiday season, an LED LCD TV is the highest quality option.

With this sort of advanced television, the recipient of your gift will notice massive improvement in his or her home entertainment. Not only is the picture superior (and compatible with HD for all your Christmas Blu-ray movies!), but it should be well suited for 3D programming (which look set to get more and more popular, especially for sports fans), and its aesthetic appeal should be greater than that of a non-flat screen.

All in all, an LED television is a great gift for any of your friends and family this Christmas!