Plasma displays used ionized gas cells to deliver deep blacks, wide viewing angles, and smooth motion. Once popular for large HDTVs, plasmas were phased out in the mid-2010s as LED/LCD and OLED technologies matured.
"HD Ready" originally meant a TV could accept HD signals (720p/1080i) but didn't guarantee a native 1080p panel or built-in tuner. Today, look for native resolution, HDMI version, HDR, and HDCP support rather than legacy badges.
A modern look at Pioneer's plasma HDTVs and the Elite series: why they stood out, what features they offered, and why the industry moved from plasma to LCD/LED and OLED.
CRT HDTVs used cathode ray tubes to display high-definition signals (commonly 720p and 1080i). Once a competitive, lower-cost alternative to early plasma and LCDs, CRT HDTVs declined as flat panels became thinner, larger, and more energy efficient. Today CRTs survive mainly in retro-gaming and niche professional uses.