If you’ve ever wandered into the TV section of an electronics store—or more likely, spent hours researching online, you’ve probably come across two big buzzwords: QLED and OLED. Both promise stunning visuals, deep contrast, and vibrant colour. But which one actually delivers the better picture, and more importantly, which one is right for you?
Let’s start with the basics.
What is QLED?
QLED stands for Quantum Dot LED. It’s essentially an upgraded version of LED-LCD TVs, using a quantum dot layer to enhance brightness and colour accuracy. Samsung popularised the term, and most QLED TVs still rely on a traditional backlight shining through layers of LCD panels and filters. That backlight means QLEDs can get extremely bright—great if you’re watching in a sunlit room or want your HDR content to pop. They also tend to be more affordable and come in a wide range of sizes.
What is OLED?
OLED, on the other hand, is a whole different beast. Short for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, every pixel in an OLED display emits its own light. That means OLEDs don’t need a backlight, which allows for absolute blacks and stunning contrast. If a scene on screen is meant to be pitch black, an OLED pixel can literally turn itself off. That’s why OLEDs are beloved by movie buffs, gamers, and anyone obsessed with picture quality. They also have better viewing angles, since the light comes directly from each pixel rather than being filtered from behind.
But OLED isn’t perfect. It’s not as bright as QLED in well-lit rooms, and there’s always a tiny worry about burn-in—where static elements like news tickers or HUDs in games might leave a faint ghost image over time. That said, modern OLEDs come with all sorts of software tricks to prevent this.
Key differences
Brightness: QLED TVs generally achieve higher peak brightness levels, making them well-suited for brightly lit rooms or watching content during the day. OLEDs typically can't reach the same brightness but perform excellently in dim or dark viewing environments.
Black levels and contrast: OLED is the clear winner here, with the ability to switch off individual pixels entirely. This means blacks are truly black, resulting in infinite contrast. QLEDs rely on backlighting that can sometimes cause slight “blooming” or light bleed around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
Viewing angles: OLEDs maintain color accuracy and contrast even at wide viewing angles. QLEDs, being based on LCD technology, can suffer from color washout or reduced contrast when viewed from the sides.
Longevity and burn-in: OLED screens may experience burn-in, where static images cause permanent discoloration if displayed for extended periods. QLED TVs generally do not have this issue, making them more durable with heavy use or static content.
Price: OLED TVs tend to be pricier due to their complex manufacturing process, although prices have fallen over recent years. QLEDs usually offer a wider range of sizes at more affordable rates.
Which one should you buy?
So, which is better? It depends on your priorities. If you want deep blacks, rich contrast, and a more cinematic experience, OLED is your winner. If you prefer a punchy, bright display that works well in daylight and don’t mind a slightly less perfect black level, QLED is a solid choice.
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