Is OLED Better Than 4K?

Are you looking for the differences between OLED and 4K? These two terms are often thrown around on TV listings, but is either better?

There are so many factors to consider now if you want the best TV out there. 4K TVs, 120Hz TVs, and even 8K TVs all offer different features, further clouded by marketing terms.

So, here's everything you need on OLED and 4K.

Is OLED better than 4K?

You cannot really compare OLED to 4K, as they are two completely different aspects of a TV display.

OLED refers to the type of panelling TVs use and how pixels are illuminated. OLED displays are self-illuminating, meaning each pixel can turn off and on, producing sharp contrasts.

4K instead refers to the resolution of the TV (3840x2160) - a step up from 1080p and 1440p displays.

Instead, you should compare OLED to QLED, or 4K to 8K, before deciding which TV to buy for your PS5, for example.

As 4K and OLED are not mutually exclusive, you can even buy 4K OLED TVs. Most OLED TVs from the likes of LG, Panasonic, and Sony tend to display 4K resolutions or higher. As such, we'd recommend only really looking at OLED TVs in 4K UHD.

OLED vs LED

In the battle between OLED and LED TVs, OLED has a better picture quality.

OLED pixels are self-illuminating, meaning they are able to turn themselves on and off when necessary. In contrast, LED displays need a backlight to illuminate their pixels. As such, OLED TVs offer sharper contrasts and blacks than their LED counterparts.

Because OLED TVs do not need a backlight, they tend to be thinner and use less energy, too.

LED TVs do have their benefits, however, especially in brightness. If you want a cheap TV, LED displays aren't too expensive, either.

READ MORE: Can the human eye see 8K?