OLED TV - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
If you've been to the television section of any big box store lately, you may have noticed something amazing: cutting-edge televisions are producing a picture that's brighter and more vivid than ever. It's not just hype: New TVs are taking 4K resolutions even further with an exciting new technology: organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.
If you thought plain old HD was awesome, you'll be...wowed by the new levels of color, depth, and clarity available on OLED TVs.
Read our OLED TV buying guide to better understand what the OLED revolution is all about. Then take a look at the product list above to see which models we recommend the most.
Why OLED TVs are Special
OLED televisions are the next generation of television, mainly due to the technological advances that drive them. There are a few key technologies that OLED is based on that make OLED TVs unlike anything you've seen before. Consider the following.
Each pixel lights up individually. In traditional LED panels, the pixels light up in groups and across the board; and light bleeds, which can create inaccurate color reproduction. Instead, in OLED TVs, each pixel is lit individually, so each pixel has a unique color profile that doesn't share lighting with other pixels. The result is a television image that reveals amazing clarity.
The black color is much deeper. In OLED TVs, when a pixel needs to be black, the TV simply doesn't light that pixel. This is a significant improvement over LED TVs, which attempt to display black, often resulting in washed-out grays. With an OLED TV, the blacks are much deeper, creating more noticeable contrast and a more realistic look.
OLED TVs come with all the other premium features. Features like high dynamic range (HDR), picture-in-picture (PiP), increased refresh rate, and the latest smart TV technologies aren't exclusive to OLED TVs. However, since OLED TVs are priced the same as luxury TVs, they almost always come with a full arsenal of premium TV features. Another way to put it: OLED panels are part of the luxury TV experience, and most TVs round out that experience with every feature imaginable.
OLED vs. QLED
A few manufacturers are producing OLED TVs, and others are competing by introducing similar technologies. For example, "QLED" technology has been introduced as a rival to OLED televisions. So how do the two stack up?
OLED, short for “organic light-emitting diode,” is a completely unique television technology that individually lights and colors each pixel. Instead of relying on backlighting, OLED TV panels are the light source itself – and the difference in picture quality over traditional LED-based panels is staggering.
The bottom line: While QLED TVs are a nice upgrade, if you have a choice, always go for OLED. It is superior technology both on paper and in practice.
- OLED TV audio
Although we're used to TV screens looking brighter and firmer every year, no one expects their TV audio to compete with a home theater speaker setup. Even sound bars often sound much better than TV speakers. However, with OLED TVs, many manufacturers are changing their tune and include speakers that can double as home theater speakers. If you're not sure which of the new options is right for you, consider the following tips.
Some OLED TVs include a built-in sound bar. To enhance the OLED TV experience, some manufacturers have designed OLED TVs with built-in sound bars; They also place the internal electronics of the TV and radio inside the sound bar, making the TV panel as thin as possible. Soundbars produce decent, but not amazing, audio, so if you plan on upgrading the sound, keep in mind that if you have an OLED TV with a built-in soundbar, you'll need to keep the soundbar close to... even if you don't. you use
Some OLED TVs support premium audio formats. Since 4K Blu-ray soundtracks come with high-quality audio, some OLED TVs can mimic surround sound with them. No more two-channel TV audio; If you're curious about what formats like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos sound like, an OLED TV can offer a great introduction.
If you're looking for a true surround sound experience, plan on purchasing a third-party speaker setup. While manufacturers have made some respectable improvements to the audio on their TVs, one thing remains true: no TV speaker can compete with a proper surround sound setup with a separate A/V receiver and speakers. If you're an audiophile and want the best sound available, plan on investing in additional equipment.
Tips
When deciding which OLED TV to buy, consider these tips.
If you plan to use an optical cable to connect your OLED TV to a home theater speaker system, consider using an HDMI cable instead. There are all kinds of audio formats when it comes to movie and TV soundtracks, and there are multiple ways to get your TV's audio to an amplification source like a receiver. The best connection method is an HDMI cable – it will send whatever audio signal your TV supports. If you are using an optical cable, any format beyond Dolby Digital or Digital Theater Sound (DTS) – such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X – will not be available.
Turn off any power saving features before viewing any 4K or 4K HDR content. Most OLED TVs include features designed to limit the amount of power the TV consumes; Such features are often labeled “energy saving” or “eco mode.” In some cases, enabling this mode will make the TV dimmer to conserve power. In cases where you want to ensure you're seeing image quality at its best, disable these features.
Never run any manual tasks unless your TV shows a problem. Most OLED TVs include 'pixel refresh' - a process by which pixels are reset - but it runs periodically on its own, so there's no need to run it manually. If your TV starts to have display problems, such as ghosting, the pixel refresh feature may solve the problem.
FAQ
Que. Does the OLED TV have any “burn-in” problems?
Ans. It is possible but unlikely. If you leave a single static image on an OLED TV for an extended period of time – around 100 hours or more – that image could leave a permanent mark on the screen known as “burn-in.” However, OLED TVs aren't as susceptible to burn-in as the plasma TVs of yesteryear, and it's really only a risk if you leave a program or channel on for hours. If your TV stays tuned to one station all day, the station logo in the corner may be permanently etched into your OLED panel. For most viewers, this is resolved by varying what appears on screen and never leaving it on one screen for too long.
Que. Can I have a 3D TV on an OLED TV?
Ans. Yes, it can on legacy models. Most major TV manufacturers stopped including 3D as a feature in 2017, and it can currently only be found on select projectors. If you're a 3D enthusiast, you'll need to find an OLED TV made before 2017.
Que. Do I need to buy any special cables to use an OLED TV?
Ans. While it's true that HDMI 2.0 cables are a necessary upgrade to view 4K content at 60 frames per second (fps), most 4K video content is shot at 30fps, which works well with the standard older and more common HDMI 1.4 cable. Some video game consoles and PC games support 60fps, so if you're a hardcore gamer, you might want to consider upgrading your HDMI cables – but everyone else can continue to use the same old HDMI cables they always have.
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