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Best 2D-only televisions

If you want a TV that just does 2D well without paying extra for a feature you won't use, then check out our picks for the best non-3D models.

Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
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Ty Pendlebury
2 min read

Despite the industry's best efforts, 3D in the home has brought about little more than a yawn and a shift in the seats for most of the buying public.

The problem is very simply this: there's no content. TV manufacturers will quickly tell you it doesn't matter, that's what 2D-to-3D conversion is for, but when major studios can screw up a major conversion job on a movie like "Alice in Wonderland," what chance does your TV have?

Most TVs come with 3D these days, and the ones without tend to be on the cheaper side. If you're one of the people who would rather not pay for 3D, then while the pickings may be slim, they are significant.

We've chosen from the best non-3D TVs of the last 12 months, and present them below. As they are bare-bones TVs, you may miss out on some advanced Smart TV features, but this is something that a $50 Roku box could help fix.

Sharp Aquos Quattron LC-70LE732U

Sharp Aquos Quattron LC-70LE732U (70-inch)
For people who crave a colossal flat-screen TV and don't want a plasma or a projector, the 70-inch Sharp LC-70LE73U series LED-based LCD offers very good picture quality, especially in bright rooms.Read the full review.

Samsung LND550 series
The Samsung LND550's mix of features, style, and picture quality stands tall among the tough entry-level LCD TV crowd.Read the full review.

Sony Bravia KDL-46EX523 (46-inch)
The Sony EX523 series produces a solid though workmanlike picture at a price that competes well against similarly featured LED TVs. Read the full review.

LG 47LV5500 (47-inch)
The LG 47LV5500 is a decent performer at its price level and features a great Smart TV package, but in this case the 3D LW5600 model may be worth paying extra for. Read the full review.

Sony Bravia KDL-40BX420 (40-inch)
If you don't expect the world from the entry-level Sony KDL-BX420 LCD, its picture quality may be a pleasant surprise.Read the full review.



Looking for specs and more information? Compare these TVs head-to-head. Click through to the reviews for additional screen sizes.

Only TVs we've actually reviewed made the list, but if you have an alternate to suggest, leave a comment.