My Cart - 
Local dimming is one of those TV features that you may have heard of but may not know exactly what it means. There are already so many specifications to consider when purchasing a new TV, such as screen size and resolution, that it can be hard to keep up with everything!
This is especially true when you realise there are different types of local dimming as well… However, we can help. At Cheap LED TVs, we know everything there is to know about TVs, including their features, so have a look at how this spec can affect your TV viewing.
What is Local Dimming?
Local dimming allows LED TVs to improve the contrast in dark scenes by dimming areas of the screen that are supposed to be dark. Black colours look deeper while white and other colours look better and more vibrant.
But how does it actually work?
When you’re watching TV, the colours you see are created when small LED lights shine through the screen. However, the LEDs can light up dark zones as well, which affects the viewing experience, since they’re not supposed to be lit. So, in order to ensure this contrast, LED TVs can turn off areas of the screen to visually boost the image, allowing bright spots to remain bright and darker zones to be dark.
Local dimming, therefore, helps make the image on the TV as deep as possible.
Can Local Dimming Lead to Issues?
No tech is perfect, so some TVs may not implement this feature well. This is why understanding and researching specs like local dimming can help you find a good quality TV.
Local dimming may cause a few problems, such as a halo of light around bright images on screen. Sometimes, there may be a trail of light that moves with them as well.
Other issues can include losing details in black scenes or even having areas of the screen dimmed when they shouldn’t be.
What Are the Different Types of Local Dimming?
This TV spec is most important in dark rooms or with dark scenes, which means you may not see much of a difference in a brightly-lit room. Also, the more LED zones that can be used in local dimming, the better, since you’ll be able to enjoy an image with a lot more contrast and depth.
Not every TV has the same type of local dimming. There are three different categories and it’s important that you’re aware of them if you’re on the market for a brand-new set.
Edge-Lit
As the name suggests, LED lights are placed at the edges of the TV, allowing your screen to be thinner (great if you’re looking to wall-mount your TV as well). Of course, the LEDs need to be bright enough to light everything, including the centre of the image. Most TVs use this local dimming technique, which is also more energy-efficient.
However, there may be some image distortions, since colours and brightness may not be spread out as evenly as they should; some images can also appear clouded.
Back-Lit
If you opt for a back-lit TV, you can expect the LEDs to be behind the screen. This type of local dimming uses fewer LEDs than a full-array set, and which are placed into zones that light up or become dim simultaneously. When most of a scene is black, the TV dims the LEDs to create deeper blacks.
However, this means that the areas of the screen that should be brighter are also dimmer, which can have an impact on the way you watch TV.
Full-Array
This is considered by many as the ‘be all, end all’ of local dimming techniques, and it’s not difficult to see why. Full-array screens contain many small LEDs that become fainter on an individual level, so the TV doesn’t dim entire zones at a time.
This means that dark scenes become blacker while bright and colourful images remain light and vibrant. Therefore, the way the lights are placed provide improved contrast, so you can better enjoy 4K content (we have many 4K TV deals on offer, so check them out to see if any TV jumps out at you).
A downside of these TVs is that they cost more and the television itself tends to weigh more too. While this doesn’t mean you can’t wall-mount the TV, it may make it slightly more difficult.
Local dimming ensures that the black levels of your TV are enhanced, offering a better viewing experience. You can expect to find high-quality televisions at our store that provide the best image by implementing local dimming well, whether you’re watching a horror movie in the dark or playing your favourite games.
