Samsung makes QLED televisions and LG makes OLED televisions, but the differences don't end there. Here's what you need to know.


As we move into the fall and winter of 2021, the advanced TV landscape is as confusing as ever for new buyers. The best TVs come with a fleet of tech-savvy features - HDR, Ultra HD 4K, 120Hz, and HDMI 2.1 - all manufactured by familiar brands competing for your dollar. The two big ones, Samsung and LG, use the same sounding terms to describe their more expensive models, but Samsung's QLED and LG's OLED are as different as day and night.
For the past few years, Samsung, the world's most popular TV maker, has been branding its TV "QLED". Its 2021 QLED lineup is huge, with Neo QLED models in 4K and 8K resolution, The Frame art TV, Serif, and Sero rotating TV all bear Q everywhere. Meanwhile, LG's 2021 OLED TVs include six series, ranging from the relatively cheap A1. A model that wraps like a poster and costs 100,000.

The OLED vs. QLED battle is ahead of Samsung and LG. TCL also brands its best TVs "QLED" and sells OLED TVs other than LG, namely Sony and Vizio.
So which is better? In our reviews, along with image quality, OLED beats QLED every time. An example came when we compared the best 2021 LG OLED TV - LG G1 series - with the best 2021 Samsung QLED TV, QN90A series. Samsung came closer than ever before to OLED image quality, but LG OLED still won. In another recent example, another LG OLED TV, the TCL 8K QLED TV, competed with the C1 series. Once again, OLED TV won. Here's why.

QLED vs. OLED: Quick summary of the TV technologies

Let's start with a quick breakdown.
OLED stands for "Organic Light Emitting Diode."
QLED (according to Samsung) means "Quantum dot LED TV".
OLED is basically a different technology from LCD which is a big type of TV.
QLED is a variant of LED LCD, the LCD "sandwich" incorporates a quantum dot film.
OLED is "Emissive", meaning pixels emit their own light.
QLED, like LCD, is "transmissive" in its current form and relies on the LED backlight.

A QLED TV is just an LCD TV with quantum dots

Importantly, the QLED is closer to the regular old LCD than the OLED, which I (and other experts) consider a separate class of television, as the plasma before it.

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Quantum dots are microscopic molecules that emit light of their own color when hit by light. In QLED TVs, the dots are present in a film, and the light that strikes them is provided by an LED backlight. This light then travels through a few other layers inside the TV, including a liquid crystal (LCD) layer, to create the image. Light from the LED source is transmitted through layers to the surface of the screen, so we call it "transition".

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Based on my reviews, here are some general comparisons I've made between the two.

OLED has better contrast and black level

One of the most important factors in image quality is the black level, and the nature of their emission means that OLED TVs can completely block unused pixels, literally for infinite contrast. QLED / LCD TVs, even the most efficient full-fledged local dimming best TVs, shed some light, which causes more washing, around the black surface and bright parts. Bloom

QLED is brighter

The brightest QLED and LCD TVs can be brighter than any OLED model, which is a special advantage with bright rooms and HDR content. However, in my tests, OLED TVs can still be bright enough for most rooms, and their high contrast still allows them to provide a better overall HDR image than any QLED / LCD TV.

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With LCD-based displays, different parts of the screen look brighter than others at all times, and the backlight structure can be seen in some content. Even the best LCDs fade, lose contrast and become colorful when viewed directly from seats other than the sweet spot in front of the screen. OLED TVs have almost identical screens and maintain loyalty to all except the extreme angles.

QLED can get bigger and smaller (and cheaper)


There are only six sizes of OLED TV on the market today.

    OLED TV sizes

    • 48-inch
    • 55-inch
    • 65-inch 
    • 77-inch
    • 83-inch 
    • 88-inch

    Meanwhile, as QLED TVs are LCDs they are able to be made in a much greater range of sizes. Non-QLED LCD TVs can get even smaller.

      QLED TV sizes

      • 32-inch 
      • 43-inch
      • 50-inch
      • 55-inch
      • 58-inch
      • 65-inch
      • 75-inch
      • 82-inch
      •  85-inch
      • 98-inch 

      • A big advantage, so to speak, is that QLED and LCD cost more than 65 inches in mainstream size than OLED. Large televisions are the fastest-growing segment of the market and show no signs of slowing down. 77-inch OLED TVs cost 3,000 and up, which is significantly higher than most 75-inch QLED TVs, and the difference in size is even greater.

      What about OLED burn-in?

      Burn occurs when a permanent part of the image on the screen - the navigation button on the phone or the channel logo, the news ticker, or the scoreboard on the TV, for example - does not matter on the screen. Anything is visible. All OLED screens can burn, and everything I know is more sensitive than LCD displays, including QLED.

      All things considered, however, burning should not be a problem for most people. From all the evidence we've seen, burns are usually caused by a single, static image element, such as a channel logo, being left on the screen for too long, over and over again. This is a problem if you keep Fox News, ESPN, or MSNBC on screen for several hours a day and don't watch many other programs for example. But as long as you show different things, chances are you will never experience them.


      As I mentioned above, when I compared the best 2021 OLED to the best 2021 QLED, OLED still won - just as it had in previous years.
      What about the future? Samsung is actually working on its own OLED TV (again), investing 11.1 billion in new facilities to create "QD display" tech, which is basically OLED with a different name - and Quantum Dots, Nech. Rumors pin 2022 because early customers can buy it.

      Best 65-inch TV for the money

      For screen size, 65 is the new 50, and large TVs are cheaper than ever. Here are our favorites.


      Superior 4K Ultra HD: Unlike Dolby Vision HDR (High Dynamic Range) for highly vibrant image, image description with color and detail
      Mini LED technology: uncompromising contrast, brightness, and uniformity to look incredible in any environment
      Product Size (WxHxD) with Stand: 56.9 "x 35.7" x 13.7 "; Product Size (WxHxD) Without Stand: 56.9" x 32.9 "x 2.8"
      QLED: Quantum dot technology provides better brightness and wider color volume.
      Contrast Control Zones: Contrast has been improved individually in 240 localized zones to highlight the difference between bright and dark areas of the image.
      Easy Voice Control: Working with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to help you find movie titles, launch or change channels, and even switch input, using only your voice does. Also available via the Roku mobile app or voice-controlled remote control.
      THX Certified Game Mode: Take a competitive edge with the best viewing experience for big screen gaming. Never miss an action due to an image smear, response time, or input interval, and enjoy the game as intended by the creators.
      4 HDMI input (1 eARC): Connect all your favorite devices via four HDMI inputs including 1 eARC so that audio and video sources can be easily synchronized and provide better quality sound.

      LG OLED G1 Series 65” Alexa Built-in 4k Smart OLED evo TV (3840 x 2160)

      OLED EVO: The next invention in OLED brings a brighter, more punctured viewing experience with our latest, next-generation panel. Dimensions of TV with Stand (WxHxD) -56.9 x 35 x 11.2 inches
      Gallery Design: Your content becomes art with a TV that climbs the wall without shadows like a picture frame. It's the perfect statement with an incredibly thin bezel and no difference from screen to the wall. Also, turn your home into an art gallery with gallery mode.
      OLED display: See your content come alive in more than 8 million pixels. Each pixel is freely turned on and off so you can see your content in full black, with over a billion rich colors and unlimited contrast for a viewing experience like no other.
      a9 GEN 4 AI Processor: Picture and sound adjustment is done automatically with our best processor. The a9 Gen4 AI processor uses in-depth learning algorithms to detect 4K scenes and genres to make your content look great no matter what or when you're watching.
      Hands-free voice control: Hands-free voice control lets you control your TV with your voice just by saying "Hi, LG".
      WiSA READY: Connecting high fidelity speakers with WiSA connectivity is easy - and wireless. Enjoy the high quality and deep surround sound. Channel support up to 5.1.

      SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED QN90A Series - 4K UHD Quantum HDR 32x Smart TV with Alexa Built-in

      Quantum matrix technology with mini LEDs: a stunning image driven by small hyperfocused light cells.
      SAMSUNG NEO Quantum Processor 4K: Upgrade each image to 4K with multi-layered neural networks.
      Quantum HDR24X: Bright colors that bounce off the screen provide vibrant contrast. * * The Quantum HDR range claims light on internal testing standards and is subject to change according to the viewing environment or specific conditions. Is.
      Alexa Built-in: Ask your TV more. Just ask Alexa to open apps, change channels, search for movies and shows, play music, control your smart home devices, and more. To talk to Alexa, hold down the mic button on your remote. If you have hands-free enabled, just say "Alexa" and ask a question.
      Motion Accelerator Turbo +: 4K up to 120Hz exceptional speed increase.
      Object Tracking Sound: The sound that moves with the action.

      TCL 65-inch Class 4-Series 4K UHD HDR Smart Roku TV

      Dimensions (WxHxD) with stand: 57.4 "x 35.3" x 12.6 "| Without stand (WxHxD): 57.4" x 33.2 "x 3.3" | Weight with stand: 38.1 lbs Weight without stand: 37.9 lbs
      Stunning 4K Ultra HD: 4K resolution provides stunning detail and a remarkable visual experience.
      High Dynamic Range: HDR provides bright and accurate colors for a lifetime viewing experience.
      Thousands of streaming channels: Enjoy over 500,000 movies and TV episodes available to stream sports, news, music, kids and family, food, science and tech, fitness, foreign languages, ​​and more.
      Simple, personalized home screen: your favorite broadcast TV, streaming channels, gaming console, and other devices are in front and in the middle. No more input or no complex menu rotation. Like apps on a smartphone, all your favorites are at your fingertips when you turn it on.
      Easy Voice Control: Working with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to help you find movie titles, launch or change channels, and even switch input, using only your voice does. Also available via the Roku mobile app.
      Connectivity technology: HDMI
      Power source type: corded electric

      Sony X90J 65 Inch TV: BRAVIA XR Full-Array LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Google TV with Dolby Vision HDR and Alexa Compatibility

      Cognitive Processor XR - Revolutionary TV processing technology that understands how humans see and hear in order to provide pure black color, high peak brightness, and intense contrast with natural colors.
      XR TRILUMINOS PRO - Discover everything you see with billions of accurate colors and see the quality of the inspiring image that is beautiful to the natural and human eye.
      Full LEDs and XR Contrast Booster - Accurately controlled backlighting brings real-life depth and detail to life with deep black colors and high peak brightness.
      GOOGLE TV - Browse 700,000+ movies and TV episodes seamlessly from all your favorite streaming services. View content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, YouTube, Apple TV app, and more.
      Bravia Cover - Bring home the cinematic experience. Enjoy streaming high-quality movies with BRAVIA CORE, especially on selected Sony TVs.
      Perfect for PlayStation 5 - Get the most out of your gaming with special featured BRAVIA XR TVs with 4K / 120fps for PS5 consoles as described in HDMI 2.1 and has a short input interval of up to 8.5ms ۔
      Works with ALEXA - Ask Alexa to change channels, adjust volume, and turn your TV on / off via an Alexa-enabled device.

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