Should You Replace Your Old CRT? A 2025 Guide to Flat-Screen TV Choices

CRTs have been overtaken by flat panels. LED-LCDs (with QLED and Mini-LED variants) remain the mainstream choice for brightness and value, OLED excels in contrast and dark-room viewing but carries a small burn-in risk, and MicroLED is an emerging premium option. Match the technology to room light, usage (movies, gaming, streaming), and budget; recycle old sets responsibly.

Is it time to ditch the CRT?

Yes. By 2025, cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions are effectively obsolete for most people. Modern flat panels are thinner, lighter, far more energy efficient, and offer higher resolutions, smart OS features, and HDR picture modes that CRTs cannot match. If your CRT still works and you like its look, you can keep it - but for everyday viewing, a current flat screen will deliver a markedly better experience.

What flat-screen types are common now

LED-LCD (including QLED and Mini-LED)

Most TVs sold today are LED-backlit LCDs. They use an LCD panel with LED backlighting. Manufacturers market variations such as QLED (quantum-dot enhanced color) and Mini-LED (smaller, more numerous LEDs for better local dimming). LED-LCDs are bright, good in daylight, and typically cost less than OLED at the same size.

Pros: high peak brightness, strong performance in bright rooms, wide size and price range.
Cons: contrast and black levels usually lag behind OLED; local dimming quality varies by model.

OLED

Organic LED (OLED) panels light each pixel individually, producing true blacks and excellent contrast. OLED is popular for movies and dark-room viewing because of its deep blacks and wide viewing angles.

Pros: outstanding contrast and viewing angles, great for cinema and HDR content.
Cons: generally pricier at large sizes, and OLED panels have a small risk of image retention or burn-in with prolonged static content.

MicroLED (emerging)

MicroLED is an emerging technology that promises OLED-level contrast with higher brightness and no organic materials (reducing burn-in risk). It is currently expensive and mainly available in very large, premium models.

What happened to plasma TVs?

Plasma TVs, once known for deep blacks and wide viewing angles, are no longer produced by major brands. The last large manufacturers discontinued plasma lines in the mid-2010s, and LED-based LCD and OLED technologies replaced them in the mainstream market.

Practical buying considerations

• Room lighting: Choose bright LED-LCD/QLED for sunny rooms; prefer OLED for dark-room movie viewing.

• Content and use: Gamers should look for low input lag and high refresh rates; streamers want a smart TV platform with the apps they use.

• Size and mounting: Flat panels are thin and wall-mountable; measure for viewing distance.

• Energy and heat: Modern LED and OLED sets use far less power than old CRTs and plasma models.

• Longevity and burn-in: OLED offers superior picture quality but requires mindful use to minimize static images.

End-of-life and recycling

If you replace a CRT, recycle it responsibly. Many municipalities and electronics retailers offer e-waste recycling programs.

Choosing a TV in 2025 is more about use case than nostalgic preference. Match the panel type to your room and viewing habits, and you'll get the best value and picture for your needs.