OLED, which stands for “Organic Light Emitting Diodes,” is the top choice for most people. Its technology replaced the need for backlights, which are the lights that shine behind the LCD screen to illuminate them. If you’re buying a new TV, tap or click here to learn how to secure it. QLED stands for “Quantum Dot LED,” and it also uses a backlight. When light reflects onto the quantum dots, they emit light, though it’s less diluted than LEDs. Some may roll their eyes at the use of a backlight. But, if you’re in the market for a new TV, you’ll want to know what each has to offer.
Image Quality
When TV shopping, most of us focus on two things: image quality and the black levels or brightness. The OLED outperforms the QLED because it delivers images with a deeper black tone. The QLED advertises it has stronger colors than the OLED, but while the color may indeed be brighter, the drawback is when critics tested the Samsung Q7 QLED — especially with HDR material — it underperformed. The QLED offers a greater range of colors and can reach higher levels of brightness without losing saturation, but due to its LCD chips, it can’t reach absolute black. OLEDs are better for dimly lit rooms and can reach absolute black. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much in terms of color fading and it can be susceptible to screen burn if the same image is on screen too long.
Display
OLED and QLED TVs come with added features that can enhance your viewing experience. The LG OLED has Dolby Atmos and DTS Audio. These features create the feeling of surround sound. Four types of high dynamic range are offered: Technicolor, HLG, Dolby vision and HDR 10. And the Alpha 9 Processor creates high-quality images with less movement when the images are not moving. Samsung QLED features include Ambient mode, which disguises large displays and blends seamlessly into the wall behind it. Also, rather than having the HDMI and USB Ports built into the TV itself, Samsung keeps them in a separate box and then they are connected to the TV through a slim chord. This design element is great for those who want a cleaner and sleeker look to their TV. HDR10+ and HDR Elite create a good picture quality.
Size and Viewing Angle
The OLED can be purchased with a screen size of up to 88″ and the LCD screen operates with less limitation. This means you can find a wider array of screen sizes with the QLED. The QLED offers screens of up to 100″. But, the more aesthetic-centric user will prefer the thinner size of the OLED TV. It’s also lighter and uses less power than the QLED. The viewing angle refers to how the picture quality remains when you watch the TV from various spots in the room. You can capture the best picture when you sit directly in front of the QLED. Did you know there’s an actual formula to help you determine the best device size and distance to view your TV from? It’s viewing distance (in inches)/2 = recommended TV size for your space. For more information on how to pick the right size and correct viewing angle for your home, tap or click here.
Price
As new technologies hit the marketplace, they are priced at a premium. In time, these electronics become more accessible to the public and the price begins to drop. Today, QLED TVs are more expensive than OLEDs. If price isn’t much of a factor, QLEDs tend to range from about $800 for a 43″ all the way up to over $14,000 for a Sony 85″ 8K UHD HDR set. If you buy during the holiday seasons, these prices tend to drop. For example, this Samsung 43″ QLED 4K smart TV with HDR and Alexa compatibility is currently available at a nice discount. If you’re solely interested in price tags, the OLED TVs tend to range from about $400 for a 43″ up to about $2,000 for a 65″ 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV. There are currently no prices available for an 8K OLED set.
When purchasing a new TV, remember to consider your options. Don’t just buy whatever looks “good enough” and don’t be afraid to ask employees questions about specs, which brands get returned the most often and why. By clicking our links, you’re supporting our research, as we may earn a very small commission. Recommendations are not part of any business incentives.
