The Technology Difference
What is OLED?
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) uses self-emitting pixels. Each pixel produces its own light and can turn completely off. This creates perfect blacks because there's no backlight bleeding through. Major OLED TV makers include LG, Sony, and now Samsung with QD-OLED panels.
What is QLED?
QLED (Quantum Dot LED) is Samsung's marketing term for LED TVs enhanced with a quantum dot layer. It's still LCD technology with a backlight, but quantum dots improve color accuracy and brightness. QLED TVs cannot produce true blacks because the backlight is always somewhat visible.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | OLED | QLED |
|---|---|---|
| Black Levels | Perfect blacks (pixels off) | Near-black (backlight visible) |
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite | High (with local dimming) |
| Brightness | Good (800-1000 nits typical) | Excellent (1500-4000 nits) |
| Viewing Angles | Excellent | Good (degrades off-axis) |
| Burn-in Risk | Possible with static content | None |
| Response Time | Near-instant (0.1ms) | Fast (1-4ms) |
| Price (55") | $1,200-2,500 | $700-2,000 |
| Lifespan | ~100,000 hours | ~100,000 hours |
When to Choose OLED
You watch movies in a dark room
OLED's perfect blacks shine in dark viewing environments. No blooming around bright objects, no washed-out shadows. If you're a cinephile who dims the lights for movie night, OLED delivers a cinema-like experience.
You're a gamer
OLED's near-instant response time eliminates motion blur and ghosting. The 2024-2025 OLEDs support HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, VRR, and ALLM—everything you need for PS5 and Xbox Series X gaming.
You watch from multiple angles
OLED maintains picture quality at wide viewing angles. If your seating arrangement has people watching from the sides, OLED looks consistent from any position.
You value overall picture quality above all
For pure image quality, OLED is currently the best consumer TV technology. The infinite contrast and per-pixel lighting create an image that's difficult to match.
When to Choose QLED
You watch in a bright room
QLED's superior brightness (up to 4000 nits on top models) overpowers ambient light. If your living room has lots of windows or you watch during the day, QLED maintains a vivid picture where OLED might look dim.
You watch news, sports, or have logos on screen
Static elements like news tickers, channel logos, and sports scoreboards can cause burn-in on OLED over time. QLED has zero burn-in risk, making it better for content with persistent on-screen elements.
You want a larger screen for less money
QLED TVs are significantly cheaper, especially at larger sizes. A 75" QLED costs what a 55" OLED costs. If screen size is a priority and budget matters, QLED delivers more inches per dollar.
You want maximum brightness for HDR
QLED's brightness advantage means specular highlights in HDR content pop more dramatically. Sunlight, explosions, and neon signs are more impactful on a bright QLED panel.
What About Burn-in?
Burn-in is permanent image retention from static content displayed for extended periods. Modern OLEDs have significant burn-in mitigation:
- Pixel shift: Subtly moves the image to prevent static elements
- Logo luminance detection: Dims static bright areas automatically
- Screen savers: Activate during inactivity
- Pixel refresh: Runs automatically to even out wear
For typical home use (varied content, not 24/7 news), burn-in is unlikely within the TV's useful lifespan. However, if you watch CNN all day or use the TV as a PC monitor with static taskbars, QLED is the safer choice.
What About QD-OLED?
QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) combines OLED's self-emitting pixels with quantum dots for improved color and brightness. Samsung and Sony offer QD-OLED TVs that get brighter than traditional OLED while maintaining perfect blacks. It's currently the best of both worlds but at premium prices ($1,800+).
The Bottom Line
Our Verdict
Choose OLED if you watch movies, play games, or prioritize picture quality in a controlled lighting environment. The perfect blacks and infinite contrast create the most cinematic experience available.
Choose QLED if you watch in bright rooms, leave news/sports on throughout the day, want a larger screen on a budget, or are concerned about burn-in. The brightness advantage is real and meaningful for daytime viewing.
Consider QD-OLED if budget allows and you want the best of both technologies—OLED's blacks with improved brightness and color.