Thirty years ago, color TVs with CRT screens were considered cutting-edge technology. Today, TVs with CRT screens are no longer manufactured—they have become obsolete and were first replaced by plasma TVs, which have also become obsolete, and then by projection TVs, which are also no longer manufactured.
Nowadays, consumers mainly choose between LED and OLED displays, each of which has its own advantages. Laser TVs are also manufactured, but they occupy only a very small share of the market.
Features of LED TVs
Modern LED TVs are built on LCD panels with LED backlighting, which has replaced the older and less efficient CCFL lamps. LEDs provide light that passes through cells filled with liquid crystals of three primary colors: red, green, and blue.
When voltage is applied, the liquid crystals change their position. This change affects the polarization of the light passing through them, allowing different amounts of light to pass through. As a result, an image is formed on the screen.
LED TVs provide a clear and detailed image, but have limitations in contrast and black reproduction. Since the backlight is always on, light can leak around the edges of the pixels, making it impossible to achieve perfect black.
The next generation of LED TVs was QLED TVs. QLED is essentially a marketing term describing improved LED panels. These TVs use purer pixel materials to improve image quality, although the basic technology remains the same as in standard LED TVs.
Manufacturers continue to experiment with different types of backlighting—Edge LED, Direct LED, Mini LED, and Micro LED. However, major companies such as LG and Samsung do not consider traditional LED displays to be promising in the long term and have sold their LCD manufacturing plants to Chinese companies.
Features of OLED TVs
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology works differently. Each pixel emits its own light, eliminating the need for additional backlighting. Since each pixel can be completely turned off, OLED TVs provide perfect black levels, exceptional contrast, and accurate color reproduction.
OLED panels are thinner and lighter than LED panels and provide superior image quality. However, they can be susceptible to burn-in if used for long periods of time at high brightness with static content.
Initially, OLED panels used colored organic materials for red, green, and blue pixels. These materials degraded at different rates, leading to uneven wear and a shorter panel lifespan. Despite this issue, LG and Samsung invested in OLED production.
In 2013, Samsung introduced its first large OLED TV, the S9, but the model was a commercial failure. As a result, Samsung temporarily abandoned OLED development. LG continued to work on the technology and released its first OLED TV in 2016.
To reduce the risk of burn-in, LG developed WRGB panels, which include a white subpixel that reduces the load on the colored pixels. Another improvement that significantly increased brightness was the use of microlens structures that redirect internal light outward. These improved panels were designated Evo.
Later, Samsung returned to the OLED market with a different approach. Its panels use larger RGB pixels with organic diodes that emit specific colors, supplemented by color filters to form the basic color palette.
OLED is expected to remain the dominant technology in TV manufacturing in the coming years. At the same time, the cost of OLED production has fallen significantly in recent years, making these TVs increasingly attractive to consumers.
Which TV is better to choose, OLED or LED?
Of course, the future belongs to OLED. Despite flashy names such as QLED and Micro LED, LED technology has exhausted its potential. Despite a large-scale campaign to promote Micro LED by Chinese manufacturers in 2026, the technology itself has a number of technical limitations that will prevent LED from reaching the level of OLED. The main reason for this is the lack of true black.
Let’s talk about OLED. The panels have solved many of the burn-in problems that were characteristic of previous versions. Manufacturers have introduced OLED panel maintenance systems, which are programs that control the operation of pixels. When launched, such a program analyzes the current power consumption of pixels and makes adjustments. This eliminates residual images and extends the life of the panel.
Below in the table you can see the detailed differences between TVs.
| Criterion | LED TVs | OLED TVs |
|---|---|---|
| Color Accuracy | High quality but less realistic than OLED. | Wider color gamut with more natural and vibrant tones. |
| Contrast | Limited by the backlight of the LCD panel. | Perfect black levels due to pixel-level light control. |
| Brightness | High brightness across the entire screen, ideal for bright rooms. | Excellent localized brightness, but weaker for full-screen brightness. |
| Resolution | Up to 3840×2160 (4K), same as OLED. | Up to 3840×2160 (4K), same as LED. |
| Response Time | Fast but slower than OLED. | Extremely fast, eliminating motion blur and artifacts. |
| Energy Consumption | More energy-efficient (especially edge-lit models). | Consumes more power, particularly at higher brightness. |
| Thickness | Thicker due to the backlight. | Ultra-thin and lightweight due to lack of backlight. |
| Price | More affordable, suitable for most consumers. | More expensive, targeting the premium segment. |
