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QLED vs. OLED: Which Is Better?
When you’re in the market for a new TV, you’re likely to encounter terms like QLED, OLED, and UHD. But what do these terms mean, and how do they differ?
What Is QLED?
QLED stands for Quantum-dot Light-Emitting Diode. A QLED display is just like a regular LED display, except it uses ultrafine particles called “quantum dots” to supercharge its brightness and color. In short, displays that use QLED tech deliver better colors.
Though QLED was introduced by Sony in 2013, Samsung now sells QLED TVs and has partnered with other QLED manufacturers such as Sony, Vizio, Hisense, and TCL.
Quantum dots are small particles that glow when light shines on them. They’re very tiny, smaller than even a virus! Because their size is so precisely controlled, the resulting light that they put out can also be controlled just as precisely. They’re also very stable, so their effect doesn’t wear out over time, unlike LED displays, which can suffer from this problem.
However, QLED isn’t perfect, so Samsung introduced Neo QLED to improve QLED displays with mini-LED technology.
Can QLED Burn-in?
Generally, OLED TVs—more on this in the next section—are more prone to burn-in than QLED. However, QLEDs can also experience burn-in. While OLED manufacturers don’t always cover the burn-in issue in their warranty because the risk is higher, many QLED TVs are covered against burn-in for ten years. According to Samsung, most of its QLED TVs (and Neo QLED TVs) have a ten-year burn-in warranty.
What Is OLED?
An Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) is manufactured using a material that glows similarly to the heating element in a toaster when hit with electricity.
OLEDs, as the name suggests, are made of organic compounds. The organic compounds work in conjunction, as each LED color requires a different organic compound composition.
Depending on how much electrical current each OLED pixel receives, it will produce a different light frequency. With a strong current, the OLEDs will produce more light and vice versa. Moreover, an OLED display will deliver extremely dark blacks, with no blooming around the bright objects on a dark background.
One potential downside of OLED displays is the risk of burn-in, which can occur when static images are left on the screen for long periods. Different factors, such as content type and usage patterns, can contribute to burn-in, so you should be aware if you buy an OLED TV or monitor. However, if it happens, there are fixes for screen burn-in on different display technologies, including OLED.
Can OLED Be Repaired?
Yes, they can be repaired. However, if your TV is out of warranty, you’ll have to pay for the repair. It’s also important to note that the warranty typically doesn’t cover the burn-in with OLED panels, which means you may have to pay for the repair anyway.
How Much Does an OLED TV Cost to Repair?
On average, OLED TV repairs can cost between $100 and $400, depending on what is broken.
What Is UHD?
UHD isn’t a type of display technology. Rather, it stands for Ultra High Definition, a display resolution.
It’s a step up from Full HD, which is 1920 x 1080 and referred to as 1080p. Ultra High Definition (UHD) quadruples it for a resolution of 3840 x 2160. While this is sometimes referred to as 4K, true 4K resolution is actually 4096 x 2160
We can’t compare QLED vs. UHD since they are not the same thing. However, we can compare UHD with other display resolutions like Full HD. We can compare QLED or OLED with other display technologies like Neo QLED, QD-OLED, and NanoCell. Technologies like QLED, OLED, and others can all support UHD resolution.
QLED vs. OLED: Which Is Better?
When comparing OLED to QLED, OLED delivers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles. On the other hand, QLEDs generally offer higher brightness levels, larger screen options, and a more affordable price range. QLED displays also tend to have longer lifespans without the burn-in risk associated with OLED.
QLED vs. OLED: Which Is Better for Gaming?
QLED TVs generally come with 2 to 8-millisecond response times, while OLED TVs are considerably faster, with 0.1-millisecond response times. OLED TVs are the way to go if you want to use one with a gaming PC. Read our article on the best TVs for gaming if you need specific recommendations.
Considering all the advantages and disadvantages of QLED and OLED TVs, it would make the most sense to choose an OLED TV. However, in the end, your budget and needs should inform your choice of display technology for your next TV.
Who Should Buy a QLED?
QLED TVs are a great option for anyone looking to buy a new TV without spending a lot. They provide great value for the money and have been revised and improved by Samsung for multiple years.
There are solid QLED TVs on the market, such as the Samsung Q60D and TCL’s QM7, that don’t cost much. However, don’t expect QLED TVs to deliver the very best of what OLED technology offers.
Who Should Buy an OLED?
OLED is the way to go if you can spend a little more and the budget isn’t a problem. They have better viewing angles, deeper blacks, and a better contrast ratio than QLED displays. Some of the best OLED TVs include LG’s C4 and Samsung’s S90D.
Who Should Use UHD?
If you have at least $300 or more to spend on a TV, UHD or 4K is the way to go. And if you’re willing to do some research, you can get a 4K TV for a bit less than that. With a budget like that, it’d be a bit weird to go with anything lower than UHD since 4K is becoming a standard resolution and, hence, cheaper.
But if you don’t have enough budget for 4K UHD and need a TV right now, you can use a cheaper 1080p option and upgrade later. However, if you can wait until one of the best times to buy a TV to make a purchase, you can be sure to get a 4K one for slightly less than $300.
