QLED and OLED are two of the most important technical terms in the world of 4K TVs. The question of which technology is the better one is rightly raised. Therefore we compare QLED vs OLED TVs on this page and explain you exactly which advantages and disadvantages QLED and OLED TVs have and for which purpose they are intended.
QLED and OLED compared
Which TV is better?
- Very deep blacks
- Contrast ratio of 10500:1
- Full Array Local Dimming with 96 Zones
- Wide viewing angle
- Very fluid, clear movements
- Color accuracy
- No Dolby Vision
- No DTS
- Perfect blacks
- Contrast of ∞:1
- Very wide viewing angle
- Clear movements
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X thanks to HDMI eARC
- Sound from Screen
- Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL)
- Brightness
- Risk for Burn-in
Samsung Q90T vs Sony AG9
Samsung Q90t and Sony A9G are two very powerful televisions that use QLED and OLED technology, respectively. To better understand the technology behind them, we will compare these two TVs and explain their advantages and disadvantages.
Like all current OLED TVs, the Sony A9G has a panel produced by LG Display. LG Display is a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics. That’s why the picture characteristics of all OLED TVs are largely the same. Perfect black, a very wide viewing angle and theoretically infinite contrast. Only the brightness rarely exceeds 1000 Nits, so OLED TVs have problems in rooms many light sources, however, these panels can handle reflections very well. The individual manufacturers therefore try to distinguish themselves with other features.
At Sony, these features are improved image processing, motion interpolation and improved sound – but this only applies to selected models. The Sony A9G is one of them. More about that later.
QLED TVs are not only available from Samsung, although the South Korean company introduced and coined this marketing term. Sony, TCL and Hisense also produce TVs with the same technology. QLED TVs use VA panels with an additional quantum dot layer that splits the backlight light into colors. This results in extremely accurate P3 color space coverage that even surpasses OLED TVs.
In addition, many QLEDs feature Full Array Local Dimming, which can produce a deep black even when backlit. Furthermore, they are incredibly bright, sometimes even up to 4000 Nits (!). Therefore they cut a good figure in bright as well as dark rooms. The contrast also reaches good values, so that HDR contents look good. But this is better with OLEDs. Also the viewing angle is worse with QLEDs, because they are limited by the VA panel. Some QLED televisions have an additional layer that counteracts this. However, this is at the expense of the contrast.
Detailed comparison: QLED or OLED
Comparison winner | |
Samsung QLED Q90T From the entire Samsung QLED lineup, the Q90T is one of the best TVs of the year. It offers excellent picture quality and is so bright that its colors sometimes look a bit too saturated, which is great for animated films. It's also a top notch gaming device because its input lag is extremely low, it has VRR FreeSync, and it even delivers [email protected] Hz on an HDMI port. With its HDMI 2.1 interface it's a great choice for the next generation of consoles as well as for movies, animated flicks, and TV shows. | Sony A9G OLED The Sony A9G uses an OLED panel from LG Display and therefore has to be expected features. But to stand out from the crowd of OLED TVs, Sony gave it some unique features. The processor provides excellent image processing and motion interpolation. Although it's poorly suited for gaming, it's one of the best devices for home cinema. Thanks to Sony Acoustic Surface Audio+, it integrates into your home sound system as a center speaker. Until now, this is a unique feature yet to be found on other TVs. |
| Panel type | VA Panel | OLED Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast ratio | 10500 :1 | infinitely :1 |
| Local Dimming | Full Array Local Dimming | OLED |
| Frequency | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| VRR | FreeSync | No |
| Input Lag | < 11 ms | < 27 ms |
| Motion Handling | ||
| Color space coverage | ||
| Ø brightness | ||
| Max brightness | ||
| Reflections | ||
| Operating system | Tizen 5.5 | Android Oreo 8.0 |
| HDR10+ | ||
| Dolby Vision | ||
| Dolby Atmos | ||
| DTS | ||
| HDMI 2.1 | ||
| Improved viewing angle |
Comparison winner | |
Samsung QLED Q90T | Sony A9G OLED |
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Our conclusion: Should I buy a QLED or an OLED?
Deciding on which TV to buy is not particularly easy. While both technologies deliver fantastic results that should please most people, it is wise to choose a device that fits individual needs and cuts a fine figure under your living conditions.
Generally, if you have a darker living space, or can darken your room, you should go for an OLED TV. An OLED’s dark room performance, particularly in terms of black level, uniformity and contrast ratio, is yet to be matched by LCD TVs. Additionally, they have a very wide viewing angle, so watching TV at an angle or with many people watching from multiple directions is no problem at all. While it should be noted that OLEDs are prone to suffer burn-in, modern technologies prevent this almost entirely. They are great choices for gaming, movies, TV shows, sports, and HDR content alike.
On the other hand, QLEDs are slightly better all-rounders. They are sufficiently bright for very well lit rooms and can still display gleaming highlights under very bright conditions. At the same time, they deliver fantastic dark room performance, but the black level and uniformity does not quite reach the performance of OLED panels. A disadvantage, however, is their limited viewing angle. Higher quality QLEDs have an additional screen on top of the panel that widens the viewing angle to counteract this problem. Consequently, such a TV will forfeit in contrast ratio. Still, QLEDs are also a great choice for movies, TV shows, sports, and HDR. If you have mixed feelings about Burn-In, you can comfortably go for a QLED TV. Rest assured you will a great time with both technologies.
