Two of the most common terms you’ve likely heard discussed are OLED and LED. It can be easy to confuse the two and end up totally lost when it comes to TV technology. What is the difference between these two? And is one actually better than the other?
Want to understand why discussion of the two terms often becomes so heated? Want to avoid the embarrassment of confusing the two? Then you’ll want to keep reading down below. In this article, we’ll take you through the distinct differences between the two technologies, and which is best suited for you!
How Do OLED And LED TVs Differ?
It can be easy to get OLED and LED confused. So what’s the difference? They’re both terms used to describe unique display types employed in TVs, and they both boast very similar spellings. However, the two generally differ in terms of how they produce an image and produce light.
LED TVs are very often confused with LCD TVs, but it’s worth noting that the two are actually technically the same. LED TVs make use of LCD (Liquid crystal display) panels, which are responsible for creating an image. The LED backlight, situated just behind this panel, produces the light that makes the image visible.
OLED TVs differentiate themselves from LED TVs thanks to the fact that OLED refers to both the display and the light source of the TV. The display of an OLED TV is made up of tons of pixels that not only produce an image but also produce their own light!
OLED and LED TVs differ in how they produce light. LED TVs use LED backlights to project the image from an LCD display. OLED TVs, on the other hand, use self-illuminating pixels!
Another type of TV display that you might find commonly confused with OLED and LED displays is QLED. QLED TVs are technically closer to LED TVs in terms of how they operate. Unlike an LED TV, a QLED TV makes use of quantum dots. Tiny particles imperceptible to the naked eye, that are responsible for creating images. These images are then projected out thanks to LED light arrays just behind the panel.
But, now that we’ve cleared up the difference between OLED and LED TVs, one question prevails: Which is better? Let’s take a look at the benefits of each display type to find out!
What Are The Benefits Of OLED TVs?
Superior Viewing Angles
OLED TVs make use of self-illuminated pixels, which eliminates the need for any backlight. This has the great benefit of widening the potential viewing angles. LED TVs make use of LED backlights to project an image out to the viewer. The LED backlights are designed to only emit light that travels at specific angles. This means that if you were to sit slightly off-angle from an LED TV, it would appear dull and dark because the light would have trouble reaching you!
The self-illuminated pixels of OLED TVs can project light at much wider angles. This makes it easier to watch even from an unwieldy angle.
OLED TVs are great for larger families who want to gather in the living room and enjoy a family movie night. The display technology used in OLED TVs ensures that everyone has the best seat in the house! It’s also worth picking up an OLED TV if you are an avid sports fan. Want to invite all of your mates over to watch the latest Premier League match? An OLED TV will ensure no one in the room misses out!
Slimmer Designs
Because OLED TVs don’t need to dedicate any space to a backlight, they are able to be produced with incredibly slim profiles. Some modern OLED TVs can be made so paper-thin that they’re almost imperceptible from a specific angle.
If you’re someone who prioritises space and convenience within their living space, then an OLED TV would be a perfect option for you. Their slim and modern-looking profiles help to create a beautiful minimalist look within the home.
The thinner shape of OLED TVs also helps to make them much more lightweight. If you’re worried about juggling a new TV into your living room, you can rest assured that an OLED model will be much easier!
OLED displays also have an edge when it comes to their application in handheld devices like smartphones and tablets. OLED displays allow such devices to be much thinner, and much lighter. And who wouldn’t want their smartphone to look like it came right out of the future?
OLED TVs are able to be manufactured in much thinner forms than many other competing TVs, thanks to the lack of a backlight. This also explains why OLED displays are so popular in mobile devices!
Greater Contrast
Because OLED pixels are self-illuminating, this means that they also have the power to switch on and off, as needed. This allows OLED TVs to achieve a far greater level of contrast. OLED TVs are able to create true black values by causing specific pixels to stop producing light! This allows night-time scenes in films and TV shows to look close to real life and makes it much easier to make out individual shapes on screen.
LED TVs are often at a slight disadvantage when it comes to contrast. Many older LED TVs make use of very limited backlight arrays. This means that some amount from the backlights will bleed out into darker areas of the screen. This causes black areas of the screen to instead appear as a dull grey!
Luckily, many modern LED TVs have taken great strides towards curbing this issue by introducing more complex backlight arrays. Many modern LED TVs place more individual LEDs into smaller spaces behind the screen, to allow darker parts of the screen to not be inundated with light!
Lower Electricity Usage
OLED displays don’t need to provide extra power to the backlight while also producing images. This means that they use far less electricity than LED TVs by comparison. This has also helped within the world of smartphones, as OLED displays have helped batteries last much longer on a single battery charge!
If you’re someone who wants to cut down on energy usage throughout the home, then an OLED TV would be a perfect fit in your living room!
Improved Picture Quality
While both LED and OLED TVs are great for enjoying 4K resolutions or higher, OLED TVs do have a slight advantage. Unlike most other displays, OLED TVs not only produce red, green, and blue light but also create white light. Though it may only be one extra colour, this helps OLED TVs to create far more complex and rich colours.
OLED TVs are able to use this white light to contrast against the true black values created by the self-illuminating pixels. This means that images on an OLED TV appear much sharper and much clearer.
The extra white light produced by OLED TVs also helps them to take advantage of HDR technology to create more vibrant colours that help every frame of your favourite films to pop!
What Are The Benefits Of LED TVs?
Much More Affordable
OLED TVs might have truly incredible contrast and colour depth, but it’s important to keep in mind that those added benefits will result in a much higher price tag. If you are on a strict budget, you might be better suited to an LED TV. LED TVs are amongst some of the most affordable displays on the market, and they can still easily go toe-to-toe with their OLED or QLED counterparts when it comes to resolution.
An LED TV would also be a fantastic purchase if you did not need to make use of some of the extra features associated with OLED TVs. Let’s say you only watch TV with one other person, in such a case, you wouldn’t have to worry about providing wider viewing angles!
Improved Brightness
Though OLED TVs are able to use light to their advantage, to aid in contrast and image quality, they do lack in brightness. The individual pixels cannot produce as much light as the backlights found in LED screens. OLED TVs tend to have a peak brightness of around 1,000 nits. LED TVs, on the other hand, can reach an incredible 5,000 to 8,000 nits of brightness! If you really want to make the TV the centrepiece of your living room, then an LED TV would be a great option.
The lower brightness is partly a defensive measure, to keep OLED TV pixels from burning out. However, the lower brightness of OLED TVs can make them very annoying when placed in brightly lit rooms.
If you’re often struggling to keep sunlight from entering your living room, then an OLED TV may not be the best option. Sunlight would very easily glare against the screen! LED TVs, on the other hand, would be able to produce enough light to easily compete with intrusive sunlight bleeding in from your curtains!
Protected From Screen Burn
Perhaps one of the most common issues levied against OLED TVs is their susceptibility to screen burn. Screen burn is an irreparable issue that can see a TV’s lifespan cut incredibly short! It occurs when a static image is left on an OLED TV for an extended period. Though you might not assume it, leaving a static image on your OLED screen uses a significant amount of energy. The pixels will be burdened to such a degree that they run the risk of burning out!
Though many modern OLED TVs make use of distinct features to help prevent this issue, such as screen savers and auto-shut-off timers, it’s still an issue that haunts many OLED TV users.
LED TVs would largely be saved from such a horrific fate thanks to the fact that they make use of a backlight. However, it is still worth noting that the backlight can be damaged by overuse!
Is OLED or LED Better?
It’s not easy to state whether OLED truly is better than LED. After all, both display types are still widely used. If OLED were truly better than LED, then LED displays would have been entirely phased out!
OLED does boast an advantage when it comes to creating lifelike images and greater contrast, thanks to their self-illuminating pixels. However, LED TVs are able to offer much greater brightness and much lower prices!
Which of the two stands out as the best depends on what you want to use the display for! Want a TV that multiple friends can gather around? Grab an OLED! Looking for an affordable TV that you can place in a brightly lit room? Grab an LED! Make sure to carefully consider the benefits of each display type to find the one for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OLED Or LED Better?
The answer to this will always depend on the intended use of the screen. Both OLED and LED TVs offer highly unique benefits, so you should look for the display that works best around you. If you’re willing to pay a little more for a TV with greater contrast, then OLED would be right for you. If you want to save money, then LED would be best for you!
Is OLED Worth The Extra Money?
Absolutely! OLED TVs are able to create far more detailed and eye-popping imagery than many other TVs. This is thanks to their unique self-illuminating pixels that can turn on and off on command. The added benefits of OLED TVs do result in a heftier price tag, but if you have the money, it’s a more-than-worthy investment!
Which Lasts Longer LED Or OLED
Modern TVs are built to last. Most TVs can easily last more than 10 years, provided they are well cared for. Both LED and OLED TVs are able to last 10 years. However, it’s important to note that the increased risk of screen burn with OLED TVs means they may have more trouble reaching 10 years!
Why Would You Use OLED Instead Of LED?
It’s likely you’d choose an OLED TV over an LED TV if you need a screen with much greater visual contrast that has wider viewing angles. If you want to enjoy big-screen blockbusters with friends, then an OLED TV is the best choice for your living room! LED TVs are greater for those on tighter budgets!
