OLED or QLED? What are the differences between the main types of screens on smart TVs today? I separated here an LG A1 model, the most affordable 2021 OLED TV from LG, and Samsung sent the QN85B, one of the most recent QLED models launched in Brazil. Is there a difference in the scenes of movies and series in a dark environment? And in bright environments, can QLED illuminate more? I analyzed several scenarios and I will now show you the differences between them and which one best fits your needs.
OLED vs QLED: Which is the best TV display technology?
Before moving on to the side-by-side shots, you need to understand what the construction differences are for each product. And if you don’t want to, you can skip to the next chapter on Youtube.
QLED
QLED TVs are screens constructed from LCD screens. But instead of using backlighting on the edges or even some points, lighting points are added. To give you an idea, this QN85B model has 720 backlight points, thus forming a backlight matrix. This formation is called FULL ARRAY LOCAL DIMMING. That is, there are several backlight points that light up individually to illuminate that small place.
But look, not all QLED TVs have these backlight points, even some QLED TVs are edge-lit, like the TCL C725, which we tested here. This is the local lighting, in Edge Lit format, on the edges.
In front of the lighting layer, be it matrix or local lighting, there are other layers that filter the light, adding colors, the so-called Quantum DOTS, which give the QLED technology its name. After this layer, there are others, depending on the TV model. Because it has several layers, the TV consequently becomes thicker, as is the case with these two here.
OLED
OLED TVs, the mechanism is another. Each pixel on the TV, yes each pixel has its own lighting. On a 4K TV we have 8,294,400 lighting points.
Each dot emits a combination of the three primary colors, red, green and blue. The sum of each color, combined with the intensity of light that each pixel emits, generates the entire existing range of colors, this is what manufacturers call infinite contrast.
QLED vs. OLED: Quick Summary of TV Technologies
- OLED means “organic light emitting diode” (organic light-emitting diode).
- QLED significa “quantum dot LED TV” (Quantum dot LED TV.)
- OLED it’s a different technology than LCD, the main type of TV.
- QLED is a variation of the LED LCD by adding a quantum dot skin to the LCD “sandwich”.
- OLED is “emissive”, meaning that the pixels emit their own light.
- QLED, like LCD, is “transmissive” in its current form, and has an LED backlight.
Differences in practice
But does this difference in construction, one being backlit and the other illuminated pixel by pixel, does it make a difference in the image result? Let’s put them side by side now to test.
total dark
The first comparison we did was putting the TVs on full pitch. Inside a completely closed and dark room, to try to simulate the difference between the dark tones, a part where theoretically OLEDs dominate. Let’s see some images.
Here we have a classic image test, a completely dark background and some white dots running across the screen. The TV on the right is OLED and the one on the left is QLED.
We can notice some light leakage on the QLED, not much to tell you the truth.
Another example that I managed to simulate on camera to show was the subtitle playing. In still video, you can already see the difference in light leakage.
Also notice that when the subtitles are on, the TV works to turn off the lighting as much as possible and darken what doesn’t need to be on.
That work is Samsung software improving the image in real time for you to have the best experience possible.
Cores
Now we go through some scenes in the dark with bright colors. First notice the intensity of the colors, second note how similar the color of the OLED is from the first to the last pixel.
While QLED has brighter areas than others and even the colors are not as vivid, which demonstrates the lack of contrast.
greatest possible light
We put the two TVs outdoors, I know nobody watches TV in the sun, but for comparison purposes and to show where QLED excels.
This image you are seeing there, maybe I cannot express what I saw and what I managed to record in the camera lens, but the greater QLED lighting made me perceive more faithful colors in this scenario.
Interior with plenty of light
Another scenario was to place the TVs indoors, in a room where they were supposed to be. Positioned in a well-lit location. There will now be some images of dark scenes and also light scenes. See the fork (video), the difference in light emanating from the bottom of the TV is noticeable.
The viewing angle of the QLED, in this specific model, left something to be desired, when we put the angle in the recording, you notice the difference in tones. The OLED remains with the same colors and contrast.
Now, the further I move towards the center, the better the QLED image gets.
After all, what better screen for TV?
What can we take away from this content and situation? The difference between the technologies is noticeable, even for lay people. This video here in practice shows the contrast capacity that OLED panels have.
Then you ask me, but are QLEDs bad for the image? I answer you, nothing, quite the contrary. I really like the image quality and especially the lighting that QLEDs provide. In well-lit environments, they send the best. The image quality when playing videos on Youtube or even movies and series is incredible, especially in 4K models. There’s no need to be afraid to buy a QLED TV, its image is amazing too.
To answer your question, OLED screens are better. They feature much higher contrast, offering you an unrivaled dark scene viewing experience.
Prices
Prices are another determining factor. OLEDs tend to be more expensive, this is not the case here, the A1 is cheaper than the QN85B, they are different models too. The QN is an intermediate model, while the A1 is an entry-level OLED model, so to speak.
Now when we start looking for models over 55 inches, OLEDs are much more expensive than QLED models, so if you’re looking for a 65″, QLEDs will offer a better cost-benefit ratio.
So, do you have an OLED at home? Do you like her? And do you have a QLED or intend to buy? Send it in the comments.