Next Generation Display Technologies
In the world of display technology, the battle for the most captivating visuals rages on. Whether it's for a giant video wall grabbing attention in Times Square or a personal screen delivering an immersive home theater experience, two display technologies have emerged as frontrunners: QLED and OLED. While their names might sound like close cousins, QLED and OLED offer distinct advantages and cater to different needs. Let's delve into how these technologies work and which one might be the perfect fit for your viewing needs.
QLED stands for quantum-dot light-emitting diode. QLEDs are essentially a type of LCD (liquid crystal display) technology. QLEDs take the already existing LCD screen and add an additional layer made up of "quantum dots." The quantum dots are of various sizes and each size corresponds to a different color. By placing this quantum dot layer between the LCD screen and the LED backlights, the color saturation and accuracy is improved.
Another new technology that is competing for its share in the home entertainment market is OLED. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode. Unlike LED LCD screens, which have multiple individual points of light, OLED is made up of sheets of organic carbon-based material. When electricity is applied to this material, light is emitted. Each pixel in an OLED screen gives off its own light and color. Because there is no need for additional backlighting, OLED screens are typically thinner than LCDs. OLEDs also give off light in a more diffuse manner. OLEDs are known as being self-emissive.
Both OLED and QLED are excellent choices for modern consumers who are searching for amazing image quality and color. Both are UHD (Ultra HD) capable. UHD is 4 times the resolution of HD (high definition).
So what are some of the differences between QLED and OLED and why purchase one over the other?
One of the biggest advantages of an OLED display is the ability to achieve true black. OLED is made up of individual pixels each producing its own light. When part of the screen needs to be black, the pixels are simply turned off, with no light being produced. This gives a deeper true black, and also produces better contrast.
With QLEDs on the other hand, when a similar portion of the screen needs to be black, the backlights are merely dimmed, and the light is also blocked as it passes through the LCD layer, which has parts that act as shutters that open and close. This technique, while being mostly successful, is not perfect, and leads to blooming, where very small amounts of light leak through in areas that should be black, and can also cause a glow around images. Because of this, QLEDs cannot achieve a pure black, but rather, the black appears as gray.
Another one of the differences between QLED and OLED is the viewing angle. Most TV displays have the best image when viewed directly in front of the screen. The further to the side one goes, the more distortion, less clear, less contrast and worse colors. This is the case with QLEDs. A benefit of OLEDs is that they don't suffer from this problem. The picture retains its sharpness, clarity and brightness from all but the most extreme viewing angles. OLED has the advantage here with wider viewing angles, sometimes up to 160 degrees with newer models.
One area where QLEDs outperform OLEDs is in terms of brightness. The many LED lights used for backlighting create a more powerful light. TV brightness is measured in units called "nits," and QLEDs are typically at least 2 times the brightness level of similar-sized OLEDs. While this is a big difference between QLEDs and OLEDs, manufacturers are working to improve the brightness levels of OLEDs. For people who prefer watching their television sets in a darkened room to recreate that theater atmosphere, this is not a drawback and less brightness will be gentler on the eyes. However, for daytime viewing in a brightly lit room, QLEDs would have a clear advantage, with many times the brightness level.
Another advantage that QLEDs have is that they don't experience burn-in. Image retention occurs in TVs when a static image is on the screen for a prolonged amount of time, and part of the image remains on the screen even after the original image is no longer there. Usually this is temporary and will dissipate over time. Rarely, it can be permanent, and this is called "burn-in," as the image is permanently burned in to some specific pixels.
Although OLEDs have the potential to suffer from burn-in, it's very rare and shouldn't occur with normal use. If a static image is displayed for prolonged periods of time--for instance, 10 hours a day for 2 months in a row--it may get burn-in. Certain situations would be more likely to create burn-in, such as display TVs in storefronts having repetitive programming, or playing the same video game over an extended period.
QLEDs are more affordable. Although OLEDs are coming down in price, they still remain the pricier option between the two technologies. It will cost more to buy a similar size screen with OLED, but many would argue the superior picture quality and contrast make up for it.
Here OLEDs have QLEDs beat. Without the need for backlights, less power is consumed with OLEDs and they are more energy efficient.
As well as being more affordable, QLEDs also have the benefit of having a longer life span than OLEDs, which tend to break down more quickly.
Choosing an OLED or a QLED for home use is largely a personal preference. Factors to consider would be the price point of each, and how the screen will be used. If the viewing will be mostly in daylight, the brightness from a QLED would be a huge advantage. On the other hand, if the darkened theater experience is sought after, with a premium placed on deep contrasts and true blacks, then OLEDs have the edge.
For grabbing attention in bright environments like outdoor advertising (DOOH), QLED's superior brightness wins. In cinemas, where picture quality reigns supreme, OLED delivers unparalleled contrast and viewing angles.
In control rooms, the decision gets trickier. OLED offers superior color accuracy, but QLED's resistance to burn-in makes it suitable for displaying static information for long periods.
Meeting rooms and stages offer more flexibility. QLED's affordability and good picture quality make it a well-rounded choice for meeting rooms. For stages, OLED excels in low-light environments with its superior picture quality, while QLED might be better for very large or brightly lit stages.
Ultimately, the best display technology depends on your specific needs. Consider factors like content type, viewing distance, and ambient light before making your decision. Consulting a display specialist can provide the most tailored advice for your business.
Currently, there are many developments in the works for ways to improve some of the common drawbacks of both QLEDs and OLEDs. For instance, QLEDs suffer from low contrast and an inability to create a true black. To address this, mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs have been developed.
Mini-LEDs are essentially the same as current LED LCDs, but they simply increase the number of LED lights used. Thousands of mini-LED lights are used to backlight the display. Because there are so many small lights, more control can be exerted over the various local dimming areas of the screen. This results in less blooming and better contrast.
Micro-LEDs go a step further, and use a different technology. Micro-LEDs are made up of micrometer-sized LEDs which can create their own light and color. Because of this, the lights can be shut off completely, and true black can be attained. They are similar to OLEDs in that they are also considered self-emissive.
And finally, to address some of the problems experienced with OLEDs, primarily its brightness levels, QD-OLEDs have been developed. These add a quantum dot layer to a standard OLED, thus increasing its brightness and color quality.
