Main Differences Between LED, OLED, and QLED in TVs

At first glance, choosing a TV might seem straightforward. But that’s only until you start delving deep into the matter. Once you begin examining the most important characteristics of the device, you’ll inevitably encounter the need to choose the type of display panel. Just the sight of those unfamiliar abbreviations can be overwhelming… And if you’re not tech-savvy and encountering the terms LED, OLED, and QLED for the first time, then this article is definitely for you. We’ll delve into the differences between these types of display panels, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, so you can make an informed decision when purchasing a truly quality TV set!

What you need to know about LED, QLED and OLED

Quality, image clarity, brightness, and vibrant color reproduction – these are the first things each of us pays attention to when choosing a television. Only then do we consider all other characteristics, the presence of certain functions, and additional features. And no matter how you slice it, the picture should please the eye! That’s why it’s so important to understand the existing types of built-in display panels in televisions, so you won’t regret your purchase later on.

So, what exactly is a display panel? It’s the screen, or to be more precise, the main element of its construction responsible for displaying images and transmitting colors in general. The panel consists of very small elements – pixels – which form the complete image on the display. Today, the most popular types of displays on the market are LED, OLED, and QLED. They all differ in their operating principles, color reproduction, saturation, contrast, and energy efficiency. To make it easier for you to understand all these modern technologies, we suggest taking a detailed look at each type of display panel separately.

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LED TVs

TVs with LED technology are an enhanced version of the previously popular liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The matrix of such displays is illuminated by LEDs, which can be positioned either at the edges of the screen or across its entire surface. You may not notice the difference in the placement of the LEDs right away, but it exists. In models with uniform LED placement, there is no brightness drop-off in the center of the image. Is this critical? More often than not, no. Because if you’re getting a TV for watching your favorite TV shows, movies, or streams, you won’t notice a significant difference.

Advantages of LED TVs

1. Price. The cost of such TVs remains perhaps the most affordable, especially when compared to models equipped with OLED and QLED technologies.
2. Good color reproduction and detailing. The picture on the display will be of decent quality, rich in colors and shades.
3. Support for HDR technology. Unfortunately, not all LED TV models support video with extended dynamic range, but if this is important to you, it is quite possible to find such a TV.
4. Durability. LED panels do not burn out. Even though this phenomenon is rare among modern TVs, LED technology is least prone to it.
5. Wide range of screen sizes. LED TVs are available in both small and quite large sizes.

Drawbacks

1. Display of black color and contrast. Yes, these indicators are not perfect in all LED TV models. This happens precisely because of the peculiarities of the display construction. As a result, black color may appear somewhat grayish. But it cannot be said that this significantly affects the image.
2. Matrix response time. This point is more relevant to people who enjoy gaming on consoles. For video games where speed of movement and reaction to game events are important, the response time of the matrix will be inferior to OLED and QLED technologies. Gamers should take this into account.
3. Viewing angle. LED panels, let’s put it this way, don’t have the best viewing angles. Therefore, when watching the TV at a large angle, the color and contrast of the picture may noticeably change.

OLED TVs

Undoubtedly, OLED is the most advanced technology. The feature of this panel lies in the use of organic light-emitting diodes, which are themselves a source of light. And, as you may have guessed, the need for additional backlighting, as in LED displays, is eliminated on its own. Thanks to this, TVs with OLED screens stand out for their superior color reproduction, including black.

Despite its technological sophistication and popularity, this type of panel has its pros and cons, which should also be taken into account when choosing equipment.

Advantages of OLED TVs

1. Incredible color reproduction. OLED technology involves turning off certain pixels to achieve high brightness and “infinite” contrast. It’s also important to note that black color on such panels will be truly black, without glares, reflections, or other visual peculiarities when displaying images on the screen.
2. Wide viewing angles vertically and horizontally. You will enjoy clear and vivid images regardless of the TV’s placement.
3. High response speed. This is a very significant advantage of OLED panels. Instant pixel response ensures the absence of halos, trails behind rapidly moving objects on the screen.
4. Support for HDR technology. In OLED TVs, this technology is implemented at a quite high level. You will be able to perceive the picture with all its details, fully enjoying watching your favorite movies.

Drawbacks

1. Price. It wouldn’t be fair to call this a major drawback, as the cost is justified by the image quality. However, you should be prepared that the price for devices with OLED panels will be higher than for similar LED and QLED ones.
2. Pixel burn-in. Unfortunately, pixels have a limited lifespan. Over time, brightness and color may change, and residual images from static pictures (logos, icons, etc.) may appear on the screen.
3. Limited selection of screen sizes. The most compact OLED TVs are 43 inches. Currently, this is the minimum diagonal available on the TV market. The most popular models are 55 inches.

QLED TVs

QLED technology, while not fundamentally different from OLED, is its direct competitor. Many modern televisions are equipped with this type of panel, and, to be frank, they have already gained the favor of a huge number of people.

The feature of this type of screen lies in the use of LEDs on quantum dots, which allows for obtaining cleaner basic RGB colors. TVs with QLED technology are equipped with additional backlighting, like ordinary liquid crystal models. The main advantage of this technical symbiosis is that the picture on the screen will be more vivid, colorful, and contrasted. Yes, QLED technology outperforms OLED in some parameters, but not to the extent of setting the quality standard. We suggest considering the pros and cons of this panel so you can draw your own conclusions when choosing equipment.

Advantages of QLED TVs

1. Wide color spectrum display. As we’ve already noted, color reproduction is excellent, and the images on the display are realistic and highly saturated. There can be no complaints here.
2. No pixel burn-in. Unlike OLED, QLED panels do not have this issue.
3. Compatibility with HDR. Watch your favorite movies with perfect detailing and high brightness levels.
4. High response speed. And here, QLED pleasantly surprises. However, when comparing QLED and OLED technologies, the latter performs significantly better in this aspect.
5. Viewing angle. QLED TVs have a wide viewing angle, so regardless of their placement, the picture on the screen will not change its color characteristics and detailing.

Drawbacks

1. Depth of black color reproduction. This parameter is implemented quite well in the technology, but still lags behind OLED.
2. Price. The price range for these TVs varies widely. You can buy a device at a low cost, but the picture quality may not satisfy you. And if color reproduction and contrast are at a high level, the price of such a TV will approach OLED models.

The basic characteristics of different types of matrices have been dealt with, and now we’re going to go over other important parameters.

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Comparison of energy efficiency of TVs with LED, OLED and QLED matrices

The power consumption of modern TVs does not reach extremely high levels. It depends to a large extent on several factors:

• Energy efficiency class (indicated on the box and in the device’s passport, marked with a letter, for example, A. The more plus signs after the letter, the less electricity the device consumes)
• Screen diagonal
• Brightness
• Resolution (for example, 4K and 8K TVs will consume more power)
• Volume level
• Smart TVs with additional features (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, program recording, etc.).

Energy consumption also depends to a large extent on human factors, but we won’t delve into the details and will consider the average energy efficiency values of TVs with LED, OLED, and QLED technologies with a 55-inch diagonal.

LED

The amount of energy consumed by LED TVs is determined by the brightness level of the display backlighting. You can adjust the intensity of the picture illumination yourself. On average, a TV with an LED panel will consume between 70 and 150 watts per hour.

OLED

Today, OLED TVs are considered the most energy-efficient due to their unmatched color reproduction and consistent power consumption. This is because the panel has the ability to turn off individual pixels, consuming minimal energy when viewing shows, movies, or any other entertainment content with dark scenes. 55-inch OLED TVs consume approximately 80-150 watts per hour.

QLED

QLED technology enhances color brightness to a higher level. It is precisely because of the deep image processing on the screen that these panels consume more energy. On average, a QLED TV will consume between 80 and 200 watts per hour.

Durability and reliability

When buying a new TV, everyone wants it to last as long as possible and, at the same time, not cause unnecessary trouble. The service life of devices with different types of screens will vary. Again, much will depend on the operating characteristics of each individual model. Therefore, we will share average statistics:

• LED – up to 100,000 hours
• OLED – up to 30,000 hours
• QLED – from 30,000 to 50,000 hours

Seeing such a seemingly colossal difference in the “longevity” of screens, many will conclude that TVs with OLED and QLED technologies are not worth considering for purchase. And it’s a shame.

Firstly, you’re paying for the image quality that will bring you enjoyment. And secondly, 30,000 hours is not so little – almost three and a half years of continuous, around-the-clock TV viewing. With the device operating for 8 hours a day, this service life will last more than 10 years. By the end of this time, you’ll likely want to upgrade to a more modern device yourself.

Comparison of the price range of TVs with different types of matrices

Let’s take the most popular diagonal size – 55 inches, and also consider the four market leaders in TV technology that produce TVs with all the types of screens discussed in this article – Samsung, Sony, Philips, LG.

* Price depends on additional features and specifications of the device

TVs with LED technology

• Samsung – from $380 to $1470
• Sony – from $480 to $1570
• Philips – from $380 to $1110
• LG – from $380 to $1750

TVs with OLED technology

• Samsung – from $1090 to $2200
• Sony – from $450 to $3750
• Philips – from $1090 to $2560
• LG – from $760 to $2640

TVs with QLED technology

• Samsung – from $400 to $3500
• Sony – the model range is not available on the market
• Philips – the model range is not available on the market
• LG – from $480 to $1270

Analyzing the prices of TVs with different types of screens, it can be confidently said that finding a device that will fully meet your budget and stated requirements will not be difficult. The price difference is not significant within a specific price segment (budget, mid-range, and flagship models), which allows you to consider any TV, whether it’s LED, OLED, or QLED.

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