TVs have come a long way since their inception back in the early 1900s. From cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs to fully-fledged OLED models, the viewing experience has been upgraded to a whole new level. However, as new tech continues to emerge, keeping track of their names and their features can be a bit of a headache. Coming to the topic of this guide, if you have recently bought a TV or have been hunting for a good deal to get one, you might have come across the terms QNED, QLED, Mini LED, Micro LED, and OLED. These are nothing but the type of screens used in your TV to display the content. But do their names give you any idea of which tech is better? No, right? Well, this is where this guide will come in handy. Here, we have shared all the details regarding the various LED technologies used in TVs, their differences, and also our take on which tech is best for your needs. So, let’s get right into the details.
Basically, there are only two major screen technologies used in TVs nowadays. These are LED and OLED. Both these techs have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, LED TVs are more suited for rooms that are bright throughout the day, whereas, OLED TVs are best for those who want crisp colors, high contrast ratio, and a very immersive viewing experience. However, unlike LEDs, OLED panels struggle a bit when it comes to running in a high-brightness mode. That said, there are many types of LEDs and OLEDs which we have shared details about below. So, continue reading.
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QNED, QLED, Mini Led, Micro Led & OLED technologies: What are the differences & which one is best for you?
Before diving into the differences between the various LED and OLED tech, here’s the prime difference between the two:
LED tech relies on Light Emitting Diodes to provide the light to the LCD display which then determines how much of the light gets passed through it to generate images. There are plenty of LED configurations that a TV can use to send the required light to the LCD screen; their USP is providing good quality at an affordable rate. Now, when it comes to OLEDs or Organic Light Emitting Diodes, this tech doesn’t require a backlight to generate images, as each pixel in an OLED screen can be fully controlled, turned on, or off as per needs. While this means that the image quality and contrast level are improved along with the eradication of backlight bleeding issues, these TVs are significantly priced higher than LED TVs. So, to bridge the gap, LED TVs have a bunch of options for you to choose from. Here’s everything you need to know:
QLED
One of the most popular LED screens is QLEDs, as these are very close to the OLEDs in terms of quality. In QLEDs, or Quantum Light Emitting Diodes screens, Quantum Dot tech is used. Instead of the usual white light used in LED screens, QLED screens get a blue light source that passes through a quantum dots layer. This allows the QLEDs to provide a very vivid range of colors at various levels of brightness. But there are some caveats. Of course, you can’t compare them with OLEDs, as screen bleeding (blooming) issues are there. In addition to this, motion blur can be experienced in fast-paced scenes.
Should you buy an QLED TV?
If you are someone who uses a TV in a very bright room and also want a good viewing experience, full of colors, and good and vibrant contrast levels, then QLED TVs are your best option. Although priced on the higher side, they are the best alternatives to OLEDs, given their price tag.
QNED
Similar to the functioning of QLEDs, QNED, or Quantum Nano Light Emitting Diode screens, operate on the same principles where the backlight is sent to a layer of quantum dots to produce vibrant images. However, unlike QLEDs, a new layer of Nano Cell techology is added in front of the quantum dots layer for better contrast. Backlight bleeding issues are mitigated using this Nano Cell layer, which helps improve the contrast levels significantly.
Should you buy a QNED TV?
Well, apart from the extra nano-cell tech layer, QNEDs are basically QLED screens. However. due to this extra layer, the brightness and contrast levels of the screen are enhanced significantly. So, if you consume a lot of content that has to be color-accurate, then QNED is a good choice. But do note that they are priced higher than QLEDs. For a balanced viewing experience, we recommend going for the QLED screens, but for a slightly enhanced experience, you can get a QNED TV.
Mini LED
Coming to Mini LEDs, these screens are a bit better than the Full Array screens as the LED sizes are reduced to 1/100 of the usual size. This leads to better and more accurate and precise color production than usual LED screens, along with more localized dimming zones for deeper blacks. Adding to that, Mini LED TVs usually have a better life span compared to Full Array, but all these come at a higher price tag.
Should you buy a Mini LED TV?
If your budget is tight, but you don’t want to compromise a good viewing experience for the price, Mini LED TVs are the best choice to go for. But do note that there will be uniformity issues every now and then, as calibrating every LED to the same level is nearly an impossible task. Despite this, these screens are a bang for the buck.
Micro LED
Micro LED screens have the closest technology to that of OLEDs, as each individual LED emits their own light, instead of having to rely on a backlight. However, due to their complex construction and yet to be featured in affordable options, they are not as popular as QLEDs or QNEDs.
Should you buy a Micro LED TV?
If you are someone who likes to watch content on a very big screen, and budget is not an issue, then you can go for a Micro LED TV. These screens are not usually available in mid-range screen sizes. That said, they are known to provide extra crisp colors with accuracy, along with high brightness levels, which the OLEDs lack. So, if budget is not a concern, then get a Micro LED TV for the best viewing experience at variable brightness levels.
OLED TV
As stated earlier, OLED TVs are far superior in terms of picture quality than any of the variants of the LED TVs, but they do lack in one area. That’s brightness. OLEDs struggle to maintain color accuracy and performance in high brightness levels, but at decent brightness conditions, they can really shine. In addition to this, OLEDs are also known to suffer from screen burning issues but that isn’t a thing now as there are many prevention measures in place to make sure this doesn’t occur. These screens have wider viewing angles, are very slim in size, and can handle motion pretty well.
Should you buy an OLED TV?
If you like gaming on your TV and watching content, then OLEDs can be a very good choice, considering that your budget isn’t restricted. Since the response time of OLED screens is pretty low, they are suitable for gaming as well. But as stated earlier, they don’t offer the best experience in bright conditions. Another thing to keep in mind is that OLED screens are not usually available in bigger-size TVs. So, if you are willing to compromise on these areas, go for an OLED.
With that said, we hope now you have a clear idea of which screen to choose for your content and gaming needs from your TV. If you find this guide informative, don’t forget to bookmark Android Gram for more such helpful guides.
