Marketplace Tech The latest TV innovations have their critics
Dec 10, 2025
As the Black Friday rush leads to TV upgrades, some viewers voice their disdain for modern displays. A group of purists prefers the cinematic charm of older plasma screens, claiming new tech feels unnatural. Experiences of stuttering motion leave some unsettled, sparking debates over motion smoothing. Insights on how modern TVs render low-frame-rate films reveal why they can feel choppy. The clash between new features and traditional viewing preferences highlights a fascinating divide in the world of home entertainment.
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Viewers Who Prefer Old Plasmas
- Rahul Banerjee and Vikrant Lal notice modern TVs make cinematic motion look "surreal" or like the image is skipping.
- Banerjee returned two OLEDs and bought a used plasma for $40 because the older screen felt more natural.
A Passionate Plasma Partisan
- Loll 2 calls themselves a "plasma partisan" and prefers a 15-year-old TV over modern models.
- They argue the older set "looks better than anything that's on the market right now."
High Clarity Harms Film Motion
- Advances that improve sports viewing (clarity, brightness, sharpness) can degrade cinematic motion for film content.
- Lower frame rates in movies interact with instant frame display to create stutter and an unnatural slideshow feel.