The Really Big Picture: 50- and 52-Inch HDTVs

Thanks to lower production costs, higher demand, and the introduction of 2008 models, prices on many big HDTVs have become much more affordable, even for buyers on a limited budget.

We ran eight 50- and 52-inch HDTVs through our rigorous PC World Test Center evaluations and found that one of the least expensive sets in the group, the Vizio GV52LF, performs nearly as well as much more expensive sets like the top-performing Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR4. The combination of solid performance and a price nearly 40 percent less than the Sony's vaulted the Vizio into the second spot on the chart. In first place, the Samsung FP-T5084 didn't perform quite as well as the Vizio, but it offers a better array of features and doesn't cost much more.

Visit our Top 5 50- and 52-inch HDTV chart for more details.

--Greg Adler