How to Buy a 3D TV as a Gift (For Yourself)

You’ve likely heard some of the HDTV hoopla and want to know whether this is yet another fad that will soon fizzle away, leaving your family with a 55-inch wall-hanging anachronism. In short, it’s not—thanks to Avatar and the commitment being made to 3D by Hollywood, HDTV makers, and TV programmers, especially sports. Don’t be surprised if you get invited to your first 3D Super Bowl early next year.

Most 3D sets come with at least one pair of active shutter 3D glasses; extra pairs will run you about $150 each. Of course, 3D HDTVs make excellent 2D HDTVs as well, and you won’t need the glasses to watch it. On a 3D HDTV, the screen flashes alternating full HD frames 60 times a second, one for each eye. Radio emitters in the sets send a sync signal to the glasses that invisibly “shutters” on/off for each eye corresponding to these flashing frames, a high-tech version of you looking at an object by alternately opening and closing each eye in sequence.

For more advice on how to buy a 3D TV as a gift for your family, keep reading. For all your holiday shopping advice, check out our Gadget Gift Guide.

What About The Glasses?

Not all 3D glasses are created equal. All 3D glasses require power to shutter, and some are powered with a built-in rechargeable battery and have a microUSB charging jack. A single charge usually provides around 250 hours of 3D viewing. Others run on button batteries and last around 100 hours and then need to be replaced. Unfortunately, no manufacturer offers a choice—once you choose your 3D HDTV, you’ll have to live with whatever type of glasses come with it. Each manufacturer’s TV/glasses combo has slightly different sync signals. In all cases, glasses know when they’re receiving a sync signal; when they don’t, they shut off to preserve power. There are efforts afoot to create a universal standard, but don’t expect cheap universal glasses anytime soon.

Plasma or LCD?

Just like in a movie theater, 3D really pops in a dark room. Of course, watching TV in a dark room isn’t always practical—those guys coming over to watch the Super Bowl probably don’t want to go stumbling around feeling for the nachos in the stygian darkness. If you’re a movie watcher and can control your room light, opt for plasma, which gives deeper blacks and performs better in a dark room. For well-lit 3D viewing, you want an LED LCD, which is able to better overcome ambient light. Size also matters: The bigger the set, the more impact the 3D will have. A 50-inch set is the smallest you should consider for 3D.

How to Buy a 3D TV as a Gift

• Glasses, and Plasma vs. LCD
• Content and Price
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