The giants of consumer electronics are engaged in a constant battle of developing better display technology. Recently Samsung and LG locked horns over who could come up with a TV that displayed sharper images and crisper colors.
There are two major types of TV display tech in the market, OLED and QLED, being backed by LG and Samsung respectively. Let’s understand how this tech works and find out which one is better for today’s demanding consumer.
What is OLED?
OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diode is a thin film composed of carbon. This film is placed between two conductors and emits light when an electric current passes through it. The pixels seen on the TV screen is a result of the light produced. This technology allows for better contrast levels, muted brightness and extremely fast image refresh rates.
What is QLED?
QLED or Quantum Light-Emitting Diode technology consists of quantum dots that are used to generate images. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that are capable of producing red, blue, and green light. QLED is a newer technology that supports flexible and large-sized displays without loss in picture quality.
There are two types of QLED displays,
- Photo-Emissive QLED
- Electro-Emissive QLED
Currently only Photo-Emissive QLED products available in the market, the more sophisticated Electro-Emissive tech is still being developed.
Samsung QLED Vs LG OLED
Now that you understand how the technology works, let’s compare the two flagship brands and learn which one produces better displays.
| Feature | Winner |
| Image Sharpness | LG OLED |
| Sharper Blacks | LG OLED |
| Image Brightness | Samsung QLED |
| Better Colors | Equal (Minute variation) |
| Color Contrast | Samsung QLED |
| Viewing Angles Flexibility | LG OLED |
| Image Burn-In | Equal (Minute variation) |
In a Nutshell
CNET reviewers ran detailed tests and compared these two technologies. They discovered that the LG E7 outperformed the Samsung Q7 in terms of picture quality. Other reviewers reached similar results. That being said, experts agree that quantum dot technology has a lot of potential. However, both of these display technologies can help you get the best movie viewing experience at your home.
The Future of QLED
There is a way to scale up quantum dots by making them self-emissive. A QLED display that uses emissive quantum dots will have sharper contrast ratio as well as better colors. During CES 2018, Samsung showed off a concept model of an emissive LCD TV called a “Micro LED”. This hasn’t hit the market yet, so there is no way to review or compare quality. But judging from the reactions of the tech gurus at CES, Samsung has created an amazing product that will outrank LG OLEDs.
Author Bio:
The article is written by Alferd Poor of the HDTV Professor. He is a display technology expert who has worked with some major online tech websites in this vertical with over 20 years of experience in the industry.