5 HDTVs from 2014 are good bargains in 2015

So you managed to resist both the Black Friday specials last year and the heavy Super Bowl TV promotions in January, but now you're ready to spring for a new set. You might be wondering whether the clearance models that retailers are pushing to make room for the new 2015 TVs are good deals. 

Maybe. If you're looking for a regular 1080p TV, our advice is to go ahead and get one, as the 2015 sets offer only incremental improvements. But if you're looking for a top-performing Ultra HD TV, we think it makes sense to wait a few months before taking the plunge. Here's why:

Almost all of the buzz at CES 2015 was generated by newer UHD TVs that have improvements that go beyond higher resolution. In fact, few companies were touting the 3840x2160 screens.

Instead, they were talking about high dynamic range and wider color gamuts—some using quantum dots—that will be available on many new 2015 sets, but not on leftover 2014 models. These technologies will make improvements in contrast and colors, although there will also have to be movies and TV shows that support it.

Right now the industry is working to create standards for this new content, so that TVs using different technologies can play it, whether it comes via a 4K streaming service or from one of the new 4K UHD Blu-ray discs and players expected by the end of the year.

Another reason you may want to skip a leftover UHD TV: You're looking forward to checking out all the 4K videos that will be on YouTube. Unfortunately, last year's UHD TVs don't support VP9, which is the video coding format scheme that YouTube will be using to stream 4K content. While most of last year's UHD TVs include HEVC decoders—the compression used by Netflix and the other streaming services to deliver 4K content—they don't have VP9, something that many 2015 UHD TV models will offer.

But it's a completely different deal with regular 1080p models. Most of the changes in the new sets are incremental, such as new interfaces for smart media platforms. That's why we think buying a 2014 set makes sense if you're looking for a 1080p TV.  

One other thing: You'll notice that we've included two plasma TVs in our list of five can't-miss models. It's true that companies are no longer making new plasma TVs, but they're still a great choice for those who care about picture quality. There aren't many left, so this may be your last, best chance to get a plasma before they're all gone.

Find the best flat-panel TV for your needs and budget with our TV buying guide and Ratings.

With that said, here are five great leftover TVs that are definitely worth considering:

• LG 60PB5600, $619. Available from Dell Online, this 60-inch 1080p plasma is no longer in our Ratings, but did well in our tests. It's a basic set without many features.

• Samsung PN60F5300, $650. This 60-inch plasma is still around at a few places, but Sears has it for just $615, which is less than some retailers are charging for its 51-inch sibling. It's a fairly basic set, but it has excellent picture quality.

• Panasonic Viera TC-55AS530U, $700. We found this step-up 55-inch LED-backlit 1080p LCD/LED TV from Panasonic at Best Buy. It offers excellent high-definition picture quality though its sound was only fair. It has a good number of features, including Panasonic's Life+ Screen smart TV platform.

• Vizio E650i-B2, $898. Walmart has this 65-inch 1080p LCD TV from Vizio, in its entry-level E series for 2014, for under $900, $200 less than when we last checked two months ago. It has excellent high-definition picture quality and the Vizio Internet Apps Plus smart TV platform.

• Sony Bravia KDL-60W630B, $800. This 1080p set, which we found at Best Buy, has excellent HD picture quality and the company's smart TV platform.

The first batch of 2015 TVs is just starting to arrive, so keep checking back for some of our First Looks on the most interesting sets, as well as our first full TV Ratings, in about a month.

—James K. Willcox