Plasma panels, which generate pictures using gases trapped between two sheets of glass, have a wide viewing angle but can require noisy fans to keep them cool.
Could there be an alternative? Some in the industry are betting on paper-thin, foldable screens that use organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs.
Companies such as Seiko Epson, Philips, DuPont Co and Siemens-owned Osram are developing the technology, which does not require the backlight needed in LCD panels, making them more energy efficient and much thinner.
But researchers face a serious challenge in stretching the life of the light-emitting materials so they last long enough for a TV, and analysts say OLEDs are unlikely to be ready for use in screens for several years.
And don't write off the cathode ray tube just yet. Although plasma screens produce stunning pictures, some experts feel they are still not a match for the best traditional TVs.
"For those that want better definition, we still recommend traditional cathode-ray tube TVs," said Kim Jung-woo, a TV retailer at a major electronics outlet in Seoul.
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