Which Should You Get, the Panasonic TC-P50G10 or the TC-P50S1?

By Edward McKellen

Sometimes, when shopping for an HDTV, you find yourself choosing between two like models which are both great options. When this happens, you'll want to compare every aspect of the two models to find out which one suits you better. For example, let us compare the Panasonic TC-P50G10 with the similarly excellent Panasonic TC-P50S1.

Both the Panasonic TC-P50G10 and the TC-P50S1 have sleek, glossy brack frames with a distinguishing silver strip at the bottom and hidden speakers which have become the new design standard for HDTVs. The frame of the TC-P50G10 is thinner, though, and is in fact, one of the thinnest ever manufactured by Panasonic. Aside from this, the TC-P50G10 has a silver wash on the frame to add to the silver strip and comes with a round black non-swiveling stand while the frame of the TC-P50S1 has more rounded edges. The latter comes with a rectangular stand like the previous models.

When it comes to picture quality, the TC-P50G10 and the TC-P50S1 have the same basic strengths and weaknesses, namely the ability to create outstandingly deep black levels combined with excellent shadow detail and the lack in color accuracy, respectively. The TC-P50G10 has a THX mode, though, which gives it an edge over the TC-P50S1. In this mode, TC-P50G10 displays even better images, with better shadow detail and increased color accuracy, allowing it to better recreate the movie theatre experience.

Connectivity-wise, the Panasonic TC-P50S1 has an adequate number of inputs and outputs with three HDMI ports and an SD card slot which allows you to share your pictures more easily with your friends. On the other hand, the TC-P50G10 offers more extensive connectivity options. Aside from the three HDMI ports and the SD card slot, it also comes with an analog audio output, a VGA port so you can plug in your computer and use your HDTV as the monitor, and a LAN port for the Viera Cast feature.

Another good thing about the Panasonic TC-P50G10 and the Panasonic TC-P50S1 is that they both carry the innovative Viera Link feature, which is similar to Sony's Bravia Sync or Sharp's Aquos Link. This feature allows you to control all of your HDTV-compatible devices with the push of a button on the remote control instead of having to turn them on and off individually. This makes it easier for you to watch movies and also keeps you from forgetting to turn off any device when you are done watching. Aside from this, both the TC-P50G10 and the TC-P50S1 come with a game mode, an anti-reflective filter and a pixel orbiter which helps prevent temporary image retention or screen burn-in.

The TC-P50G10 has one additional feature that stands out from the rest - the Panasonic Viera Cast. This feature allows you to use your HDTV just like a computer and access popular online content like YouTube videos, Amazon Video on Demand, Picasa web albums, weather reports, stock information and others without buying any other device. You will need an active internet connection to enjoy this feature, though, and the sites you can access are still limited.

If you're after lower electric bills, the TC-P50G10 and the TC-P50S1 are both worth considering since they consume less energy than previous models and most Plasma televisions, although they still consume more energy than their LCD counterparts. The Panasonic TC-P50S1, in particular, has commendable power-saving features, and comes with an Energy Star 3.0 rating in addition to its NEO PDP panel.

Both Panasonic Viera HDTV models also come with similar on-screen menus, although the Panasonic TC-P50G10 has five color temperature presets instead of just three. Indeed, the TC-P50G10 and the TC-P50G10 1080p Plasma HDTVs may seem difficult to distinguish at first. Upon closer examination, though, the Panasonic TC-P50G10 has more to offer and is therefore, worth the slightly higher expense, although both still remain excellent choices when shopping for an HDTV. - 33374

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