The ABCs of TVs: What’s the Difference Between LCD vs. OLED?
These days, pretty much every TV sold is either OLED or LCD. OLED TVs tend to be more expensive, but are they worth the money?
To answer that, we need to look into how these displays work. With an LCD TV, a separate LED backlight illuminates all the pixels. With OLED TVs, each pixel creates its own light, which often results in better picture quality.
Of course, the LCD vs. OLED debate goes further than pixel quality. If you’re looking to buy a new TV, here are the main things you need to consider.
Brightness
In indoor lighting situations, LCD and OLED TVs are very comparable. Both TV types are bright and can look good even in a sunny room.
LCD gets a slight nod here because its backlight can make the whole screen brighter. OLED can’t create that kind of light output on a full screen. Still, this is much more important for phones than TVs.
With HDR content, the local dimming ability gives LCDs an advantage as well. That said, not all LCD TVs have that feature. Even if an LCD TV is HDR-compatible, that doesn’t mean it can display HDR content accurately.
Viewing Angles
This is one of the main downsides of most LCD HD TVs. If you’re not sitting dead center, the picture quality may change.
The good news: many LCD TVs use IPS panels nowadays. These panels offer much better viewing angles than their VA counterparts. You can also hire a TV wall installation service to place your TV in the best possible spot.
As for OLED TVs, their viewing angles are consistently excellent. No matter where you’re watching the TV from, its image will stay the same.
Contrast Ratio
When watching an LCD TV in a darkened room, you may notice edge lighting showing through. This can make black images appear less black.
These effects depend on the TV’s contrast ratio. This ratio is the difference between the darkest and the brightest a TV can be. A good LCD TV should have a contrast ratio of 1,000:1 or higher.
OLED TVs all tend to have high contrast ratios. If an OLED screen goes dark, its pixels will produce no light at all, creating a more realistic picture.
Colors
Many different types of TVs can produce excellent, natural-looking colors. Again, this often depends on the specific technology used.
LCD screens offer great color accuracy, as long as they’re calibrated properly. This is true for both VA and IPS screens. Modern OLED TVs also have no issues with vibrancy, though this used to be a sticking point for them.
The issue with OLED screens is the color volume. In very bright scenes, an OLED panel may struggle to maintain the right level of saturation.
LCD vs. OLED: Which Is Better?
Even with an unlimited budget, the LCD vs. OLED debate comes down to taste. If you’re still undecided, head to the nearest TV shop. This isn’t the perfect place to evaluate TV quality, but it’ll help you realize your priorities.
Looking for a more detailed TV buying guide? If so, keep reading our TV-related content!
