HELP! What Does OLED & QLED Mean?

Posted June 21st, 2021

Every year it seems like new technology terms pop up and it gets harder and harder to keep up with the changes. Two of the biggest technologies to emerge in the last few years is OLED and QLED. You can't walk past a display of TV's these days without seeing these big letters displayed in their glory in some way.

If you're thinking about replacing a TV set you're going to want to understand if either of these technologies is something you want or need. Grab a cup of coffee and get settled in while we break these down in this week's QC 2-MINUTE TECH.

The Definitions

TV's on the market today are being lit using LEDs. LEDs use less power, run cooler, can provide better contrast, and allow TV's to be thinner than they used to be. OLED and QLED may have a lot of the same letters, but the only similarity is that they are both using LEDs; they are just using them differently.

But what do all the letters mean?
• OLED - Organic Light-Emitting Diode
• QLED - Quantum Dot LED

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) means that each LED light behind the screen operates independently and can turn on and off as needed. All other LED TV's will operate the LED lights in small groupings. OLEDs produce the blackest blacks because each individual LED can turn off and black is being obtained at the pixel level. This allows precision, sharpness, and blacks that cannot be matched by any other technology. Colors really pop on OLED screens and it allows for better viewing angles.

Quantum Dot LED (QLED) means that there is an extra layer of nanocrystals between the LED lights and the viewing screen. All LEDs have various layers of color filters that the light travels through in order to produce the colors that show up on the screen. QLED TV's utilize an extra layer of red and green crystals to produce more pure and saturated colors than typical LED TV's. Additionally, when the LED blue backlight combines with these crystals it provides a backlight that is much whiter. Colors are extremely vibrant and bright on QLED screens.

Real World Choice

So if I were buying a TV which would I get? These are both excellent choices, but let us give you a real-world opinion. If the room where the TV will be is very bright, the OLED will show more glare. Black screens show reflections. So if that were the case, you might choose QLED for the brighter colors and more vibrant screen. However, if your room can be dark or you are creating a movie room, there is absolutely no better choice than an OLED screen.

Keep in mind that you can always visit one of our stores to see these technologies in person. You may have an idea of what you want, but seeing with your own eyes can change everything! And bonus, our associates are on hand to demo these and walk you through the differences. Be sure to check back here regularly as we break down more technology confusion and keep you up-to-date with the latest trends!