QLED and OLED TVs have much in common. Generally, factors such as display resolutions (1080p, 4K, 8K), specific HDR format compatibility, smart TV technologies, and form factors (for example, flat or curved screen) vary by manufacturer and model, regardless of the LED technology used to display images. Here, we take a look at how the two technologies differ in ways that can affect your TV viewing experience.
Overall Findings
Your best choice in a TV depends largely on your viewing habits. If you use your TV for gaming and watching TV and news—content that doesn’t demand the true blacks that more artful productions such as movies might demand—a QLED would work well for you. If you watch TV in low lighting, OLED will produce the image quality and depth you’ll appreciate.
Under the Hood: How They Work
The underlying technology that brings realistic images through your screen differs drastically for QLEDs and OLEDs. An LED back or edge light provides the light source that passes through the LCD chips to produce an image (LED/LCD TV).
QLED TVs
Quantum dots are artificial nanocrystals that enhance brightness and color performance. When a light source hits the dots, each one emits a color of a bandwidth that’s determined by its size. Large dots emit reddish light, and progressively smaller dots skew towards green. The nanocrystals are commonly placed on a layer referred to as QDEF (Quantum Dot Enhancement Film), as illustrated below.
OLED TVs
OLED technology creates images from pixels generated by organic compounds without needing an extra backlight, as illustrated below.
Picture Quality: Seeing Is Believing
Both technologies produce sharp, realistic images, but they perform differently with regard to color and light. QLED delivers a broader range of colors than OLED and retains color depth even when you brighten the display. However, it can’t produce a true black. OLED produces deep, dark, true blacks with even color, even when viewed at an angle. Such fidelity comes at a cost, though. OLEDs are susceptible to burn-in if the same image is displayed for a long time.
Prices: How Much Will You Pay?
Generally, you’ll pay more for an OLED TV, but prices vary depending on the time of year, promotions, and bundling. As with most technology, you generally can expect prices to go lower as new models, screen sizes, and technologies appear on the market. Samsung is the primary maker of QLED TVs, followed by Vizio for the U.S. market. TCL offers QLED TVs in Asian and some international markets. LG is the primary manufacturer of OLED TVs available in the U.S., followed by Sony. Panasonic, Philips, Loewe, and Bang & Olufsen sell OLED sets in Europe and other select markets. Hisense, Skyworth, and Changhong sell mainly in the China market.
Form Factors: The Aesthetics of the Set
Both types of TVs are available in a variety of sizes. OLED TVs are thinner and lighter than their QLED counterparts, giving rise to interesting innovations like LG’s forthcoming roll-up TV.
Final Verdict: It All Depends
QLED and OLED TVs are about evenly split when it comes to advantages and disadvantages. OLED is the best choice if you watch mostly movies and streaming content, are picky about getting the deepest blacks, watch in a dimly lit or light-controllable room, and are somewhat energy-conscious.
Addendum: Looking to the Future
Whether QLED and OLED TVs become as popular as traditional LED/LCD TVs depends on the makers’ ability to lower production costs, make screen sizes consumers prefer, and constantly improve performance. Emerging technologies can affect popularity, too. For instance, Samsung and other developers are working on a solution that combines quantum dots with OLED (dubbed QD-OLED) for better color performance and brightness without the drawbacks of current QLED and OLED TVs. Another solution from Samsung is microLED TVs that allow shoppers to create custom screen sizes and resolutions by assembling display modules.
