If you've been hunting down the best TV for you, then you've likely come across OLED and QLED as possible options, but which one is actually better?
With an abundance of top-class TVs out there - whether 4K TVs or 120Hz TVs - it can be difficult to choose as they all, frankly, deliver the goods in one way or the other.
But interestingly enough, there are a number of key differences between OLED and QLED that once known, could sway your choice significantly.
QLED vs OLED Differences
The main difference between QLED and OLED comes from how pixels are illuminated.
QLED - or 'Quantum dot LED' - displays rely on an LED backlight for their brightness. These use 'Quantum dots' to expand their colour spectrum even further.
OLED stands for 'Organic Light Emitting Diode', which explains their difference from QLED TVs. These displays do not have a backlight. Each pixel independently emits its own light depending on when they are needed.
Previous QLED/OLED guides may reference the thinness of OLED TVs compared to QLED. However, as 'Neo QLED' has introduced mini-LED backlights, these TVs are also pretty sleek.
In terms of picture quality, both can display high 4K resolutions at strong refresh rates, but the differences come in the brightness and contrast.
As QLED uses a backlight, it is capable of delivering a much brighter image than an OLED TV. However, as OLED TVs can turn off, individual pixels, this allows for sharper contrasts than the QLED displays, even if they use Micro-LEDs.
The final difference comes from their manufacturers. Samsung is the largest industry backer of QLED, and now they have revealed a number of QD-OLED TVs set to hit the market this year.
The same goes for Sony, with their exciting XR Bravia A95K that features QD-OLED technology.
LG has stuck to the more traditional OLED displays, but have gone the way of OLED Evo, which promises brighter than ever picture quality. Keep a sharp eye out for their C2 Series, which is set to be a big hitter later this year.
QLED vs OLED: Which is better?
click to enlargeAs with most of these choices, the decision of which is better really depends on what you value most.
OLED displays offer the sharpest picture quality over QLED TVs due to the contrasts they offer. While certain QLED and factors such as dimming zones can mitigate some differences in quality, the various means that you should do significant research into the QLED TV's specs.
Samsung is keen to express that OLED displays also risk Burn-in due to the nature of self-illuminating pixels, although this doesn't seem to be as widespread as initially suggested.
If you're not as fussed about the minute picture quality details, and just want a cheap 4K TV, you will probably find better deals with QLED TVs. These tend to be much cheaper than their OLED counterparts and can be found in smaller sizes, too.
Overall, OLED technology is likely the way forward for future displays. Samsung Display is creating its own QD-OLED panels, although the wider Samsung line appears committed to QLED, too.
READ MORE: Is it worth buying an 8K TV yet?