Sharp LC-LE640U series (photos)
With great pricing and decent picture quality, the Sharp LC-LE640U series makes a strong case for mainstream TV shoppers who want to go bigger.
Overview
Our tests didn't reveal world-beating picture quality, but the 640U does offer accurate color and a matte screen--the latter especially important in rooms where ambient light control is an issue. Its weaknesses, namely lighter black levels and less-than-perfect uniformity, leave the door wide open for competing plasmas to score higher, but I have a feeling that Sharp's ultra-aggressive pricing, and the mass-market appeal of LED/LCD, will guarantee the 640U its own sweet spot among the most popular big-screen TVs of 2012.
Corner detail
Stand detail
Side view
Inputs (back and bottom)
Inputs (side)
Side panel controls
Remote (overview)
Remote (detail)
Main menus
Apps
If you're comparing by content, Sharp falls short of most major-name competitors, missing Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, and even Pandora and Napster (the latter two were available on 2011 Sharps). Its interface is simple enough, consisting of a launcher strip across the bottom of the screen. Higher-end models get a "full-screen" interface option and a Web browser.