Price Trend: 40" - 42" LED LCD HDTVs

Unless you've purchased a new TV in the past few weeks, chances are your current set is starting to show its age. Built-in apps, wireless streaming, and touch-screen remote controls are just a handful of new features you'll find in today's TVs.

TV technology has also changed. By now you might have heard of LED LCD TVs. This LCD backlighting technology is better than traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamp-based backlighting (CCFL) because it allows for thinner TVs, it's more energy efficient, and it results in better picture quality. (Check out our HDTV primer for further details on these TVs.)

Initially, LED-backlit sets were broken into two camps: Full-array LED-backlit sets with local dimming and edge-lit LED LCDs. Full-array LED sets with local dimming allow the individual LEDs (which are arranged throughout the entire back panel) to turn on or off as needed. This luminance control greatly improves the TV's contrast ratio.

Meanwhile, edge-lit models, which feature LEDs only along the edges of the screen, don't offer local dimming, but do allow for extremely thin cabinets (since the LEDs are only along the edges of the set). Although many people loved the thin designs, some consumers complained that edge-lit LED LCDs suffered from poor color uniformity. As a result, full-array LED sets with local dimming provided the better picture, even though they were slightly thicker than their edge-lit counterparts.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show both Samsung and Sony unveiled edge-lit LED LCDs capable of local dimming, marrying the best of both technologies. These sets have yet to be put to the test, but it's something to keep in mind as you browse through LED LCD HDTV deals.

That said, above we listed the best deals (shipping included when applicable) on all types of 40" and 42" LED LCD TVs. As you can tell, the first steady stream of deals hit in September. Prices are currently falling and early May data shows they will fall at least another $50 next month.

Click to see the latest deals on all 40" and 42" LED-backlit LCD HDTVs.