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If you’re buying a new TV, chances are you’re trying to decide between the two most popular types of TV technology available today: OLED and QLED TVs. Each has its pros and cons, but I recommend going with a QLED TV for a few reasons.
They’re Cheaper Than OLEDs
OLED televisions have come down in price over the years, and the best QLED televisions can sometimes cost as much as OLED TVs. However, in my experience, QLED TVs come in so many different configurations that it’s often easy to find an inexpensive option that still gives you a pretty solid viewing experience. For instance, aSony 65-inch OLED TVcosts upwards of $2,000, while anLG 65-inch QLED TVthat can give you a very similar viewing experience is priced at around $1,000.
Of course, if you want a television that can produce the best possible picture quality, you’ll want to go with an OLED. But QLED televisions still win hands down if you’re looking for a model that can strike the right balance between features, performance, and affordability.
There’s More Variety
OLEDs have significantly expanded their range in recent years with more sizes and models, but the variety still pales compared to QLEDs. Although QLED technology hasn’t been around for too long, it has quickly gained traction and seen widespread adoption by a number of manufacturers.
Whether shopping in-store or online, you’ll find more QLED models available across sizes, brands, and price points compared to OLEDs. This variety means you’ll have an easier timefinding the right television for your living roomand viewing needs if you go with a QLED.
QLED Televisions are Bright
Although OLED TVs have better contrast, leading to less washed-out visuals in the darker areas of the screen, QLEDs take the cake for their brightness. QLED televisions use backlights to produce brightness, as opposed to using pixels to create light. These LED backlights produce extremely bright visuals, which is great if you’re looking to place your TV in a bright room or watch a lot of television during the day.
In comparison, OLED TVs rely on light-producing pixels to generate brightness. Even the best-quality OLEDs are, thus, unable to keep up with QLEDs in terms of peak brightness levels. This isn’t usually a problem if you’re watching television during the night or in a darker room, but you’ll certainly want to take this factor into consideration based on the viewing conditions in your home.
Less Screen Burn-in
Burn-in refers to a visible mark that is created on the screen when a still image is displayed for an extended period of time. I’ve seen this happen most often with channel logos. While all TVs are susceptible to screen burn-in, OLEDs are especially sensitive to it. Now, if you’re only going to watch television a few hours a day, this isn’t that much of a concern.
But if you think you and your family members combined might end up streaming content or gaming for a large part of the day, you’re better off investing in a QLED TV that is more resistant to screen burn-in. If you still decide to go with an OLED, be sure to familiarize yourself withways to prevent screen burn-in.
Limitations of QLED TVs
While I don’t see myself switching to an OLED TV in the near future, you should know that QLED TVs are not automatically the right choice for everyone. QLEDs have certain drawbacks, too, that could affect your viewing experience. For instance, in terms of viewing angle, OLEDs offer far more flexibility than QLED televisions. OLEDs are also more energy-efficient than QLEDs.
Another area where OLED TVs win is the level of contrast they deliver. OLED TVs can turn off unused pixels completely, significantly improving contrast and black levels. Even the best QLEDs can’t do this. You’ll notice this, especially when watching movies or shows with a lot of dark or high-contrast scenes. Additionally, QLED TVs also have a higher response time than OLEDs, which can be a critical factor for gamers.
Despite these limitations, as a casual viewer, my QLED TV more than meets my needs, and I really don’t see myself switching to an OLED anytime soon.
