Is it time to upgrade your television? TV technology has come a long way — sharper visuals, richer colors, and smarter displays. But with acronyms like QLED, OLED, and UHD tossed around, picking the right one can feel like decoding alphabet soup.
That’s why we put together this helpful guide to inform your TV-buying experience. We’ll help you determine if QLED is worth it, if OLED is more suited to your needs — or if you just want to keep things simple with a UHD TV.
OLED vs. QLED vs. UHD: What’s the Difference?
To summarize, these are the biggest differences between QLED, UHD, and OLED TVs:
- QLED: Uses an LED backlight to hit a screen of quantum dot particles that then supercharge the TV’s pixels for brightness and color.
- OLED: Removes the backlight in favor of LED pixels that emit their own vibrant light and colors independently. It does not use an LCD.
- UHD: Refers to resolution (usually 4K). Most QLED and OLED TVs are UHD, but UHD TVs don’t automatically include QLED or OLED tech.
Think of it like this: UHD describes the sharpness. QLED and OLED describe how that sharpness is achieved.
What Is QLED?
Though their names are only one letter apart, QLED and OLED are fundamentally different technologies — but both of them are UHD. Choosing one over the other will lead to distinctly different viewing experiences. If you’re confused, don’t worry — we’re about to clear everything up. First, let’s start with some simple definitions.
QLED stands for “Quantum Light-Emitting Diode.” The word “quantum” refers to the use of tiny particles called quantum dots, which, when hit by light from the TV’s LED backlight, emit their own spectacularly bright light and colors — also known as “transmissive” light.
In a QLED TV, the light from the LED panel travels through a quantum dot screen (among other layers) before reaching the liquid-crystal display (LCD) at the front of the TV, where our favorite shows and movies turn into recognizable images. All modern televisions, except for OLED TVs, use LCD screens that are lit up by an LED backlight.
Is QLED Worth It? Why it Might Be Right for You:
- Brighter screens for rooms with lots of natural light
- Vivid color and sharp details thanks to quantum dots
- Often more budget-friendly at larger sizes
- Available in a wide range of screen sizes (from 32″ to 98″)
What Is OLED?
OLED stands for “Organic Light-Emitting Diode.” What makes OLED technology fundamentally different when compared to QLED is its “organic” source of light. While QLED TVs use an LED backlight to brighten each dot on the screen, each dot IS its own light in OLED TVs. The LED pixels in OLED TVs are super thin and capable of producing their own bright lights and colors — or “self-emissive” light.
This difference in display technology — self-emitting (OLED) vs. transmissive light (QLED) — leads to all sorts of variations in image quality, energy use, and more. We’ll get into the specific distinctions between these two leading TV technologies in just a moment. Before that, let’s quickly clear up any misconceptions surrounding the term “UHD.”
Why OLED Might Be Right for You:
- Deep blacks and rich contrast
- Excellent from every angle (no “sweet spot” needed)
- Slim, elegant designs
- Fast response time for gaming and action scenes
What Is UHD?
UHD stands for “Ultra High Definition.” This simply refers to the TV having a 4K display resolution (though now there are some UHD TVs out there with an astounding 8K resolution). TV resolution is the picture quality of your TV screen and is determined by how many pixels are used to create the image you see. The more pixels there are, the sharper and clearer the picture will be. For instance, 8K resolution TVs have more pixels than those with 4K resolution.
UHD is not a “new” type of TV technology like OLED or QLED, but rather an improvement on the “full HD” 1080p LCD (liquid-crystal display) TVs that are now standard. A UHD TV operates like a QLED TV in that it has an LED backlight and LCD screen, but it lacks the QLED TV’s quantum dots used to improve color and brightness.
The most important thing to remember is that UHD is not technically a type of TV but rather a description of its 4K resolution. Although UHD and 4K are not the same, the terms are often used interchangeably.
The most important thing to remember is that UHD is not technically a type of TV but rather a description of its 4K resolution. Although UHD and 4K are not the same, the terms are often used interchangeably.
QLED vs. OLED: Which Is Better?
Now that you have a better understanding of how the technologies differ, check out how QLED and OLED TVs compare. Below are the pros and cons to consider regarding picture quality, lifespan, price, and more.
Brightness
Winner: QLED
When it comes to brightness, QLED TVs beat OLED. Thanks to their powerful LED backlight, QLED TVs are capable of producing much brighter light than the individual LED pixels in OLED TVs. And since the QLED’s quantum dots reach more vivid hues in the color spectrum, the colors on the screen won’t appear washed out — even in the brightest of rooms.
Contrast
Winner: OLED
The OLED wins out when it comes to contrast and black level. QLED TVs must block light from their LED backlight to make a scene appear darker, and even the best models suffer from blooming — where small amounts of light spill into the wrong areas causing a halo effect. This leads to washed-out, grayer-looking black levels. Meanwhile, OLED displays can simply turn off LED pixels that aren’t in use — and you can’t get any darker than no light at all!
Color
Winner: Tie
Color is still up for debate. QLED TVs may offer a better viewing experience in bright conditions, while OLED TVs are known for providing deeper and darker shades of black. Where OLED technology once ruled this category, nowadays, there is no discernible difference between the quality of the two TVs’ color processing.
Size
Winner: QLED
In the world of TVs, bigger is almost always better. A bigger TV means a more immersive experience and better viewing for everyone involved. That said, QLED TVs have a clear advantage over OLED. OLED TVs are limited in size compared to QLEDs, which are available in everything from compact models to massive 98-inch screens.
Viewing Angle
Winner: OLED
Everyone knows the sweet spot for watching TV is front and center. But what about the people who get left with a place far off to the side? If you love movie nights with friends and family, an OLED TV will ensure no one misses out on the action. OLEDs deliver consistent color and clarity from almost any angle. QLED tends to lose contrast and color accuracy the further you move from the center.
Response Time
Winner: OLED
In TV-speak, response times are how long it takes (in milliseconds) for a pixel to activate, deactivate, or change its output. Faster response time means the image on the screen will be crisper and quick to react to changes in color and light.
In terms of response time, OLED TVs are generally much faster than QLEDs — something you’d want when playing video games, watching sports, or sitting at the edge of your seat during an action film. This is because OLED pixels are individually controlled and can instantly change color and luminosity rather than wait for a backlight to shine through multiple screen layers like on a QLED TV.
Lifespan
Winner: Tie
For now, it has yet to be seen which one has a longer lifespan. While there have been concerns about TV burn-in on OLED TVs, improvements have made this less of an issue. But one thing is for sure: the LED backlight in LCD TVs (including QLEDs) has a proven track record of longevity and consistency. Nevertheless, you’ll likely get years and years of use from either model before it begins to decline in quality.
Energy Efficiency
Winner: OLED
QLED TVs have a lot more “stuff” built into them that requires power, including the LED backlight, the quantum dot screen, and several other layers. Not only does this make them bulkier than OLED TVs, it often makes them less energy efficient, too! In contrast, the lack of a backlight and the use of super-thin LED pixels in OLED TVs allows them to be slimmer, lighter, and more energy-efficient than QLED TVs.
Price
Winner: QLED
Price is always a factor when it comes to tech. Currently, QLED TVs have the advantage in price when it comes to mainstream TVs larger than 65 inches. Still, it’s worth noting that as more competitors enter the market with OLED TV offerings, the price difference between the rival technologies may start to even out.
OLED vs. QLEDÂ Comparison Chart
UHD vs. OLED: What’s the Difference?
UHD and OLED may sound like competing TV types, but they actually describe different aspects of a television. UHD tells you how sharp the image is. OLED tells you how that sharp image is created — and whether it’ll look better, deeper, and smoother. Plus, almost all OLED TVs are UHD TVs because OLED displays naturally come in 4K resolution (or higher). However, not all UHD TVs are OLED — many use LED or QLED panels instead.
UHD vs. QLED: What’s the Difference?
When comparing the difference between UHD and QLED TVs, things get a little tricky here, too—because QLED TVs are also UHD, but not all UHD TVs are QLED.
So, when trying to understand the difference between QLED and UHD, think of QLED as UHD with a turbo boost.
Final Thoughts: OLED, QLED, or UHD?
Choosing between these display types depends on what matters most to you:
- Choose OLED if you’re all about movie marathons, contrast, viewing angles, and premium picture quality.
- Choose QLED if you want bold visuals in a bright room, budget-friendliness at bigger sizes, and advanced smart features.
- Choose UHD if sharp resolution is your top priority and you’re okay without extra features like enhanced brightness or contrast.
No matter your pick, Rent-A-Center makes it easy. You can upgrade to the latest UHD, QLED, or OLED TVs with flexible payments and free delivery included—all without using credit.
The Future of TV Technology
As technology continues to evolve, new advancements promise to revolutionize the way we experience television. Three emerging technologies that hold great promise are QD-OLED, mini-LED, and ink-jet printed (IJP) OLEDs.
- QD-OLED (Quantum-Dot Organic Light-Emitting Diode): QD-OLEDs are a hybrid TV display technology that combines the quantum dots of QLEDs with the OLED panel, cultivating the best of both worlds.
- Mini-LED: Mini-LED technology enhances traditional LED backlit displays by using smaller LEDs, allowing for more precise lighting and contrast control.
- Ink-Jet Printed OLEDs (IJP OLEDs): Ink-jet printing technology—something to look forward to—allows OLED panels to be produced using inkjet printing techniques. The possible result? —a more cost-effective and mainstream version of OLED TVs.
Head to Rent-A-Center for Great Deals on the Best TVs
Now that you have a clearer picture of the differences between QLED, OLED, and UHD displays, you probably know which TV type is right for you. Bring home the TV you want, all without using credit! You’ll also enjoy the benefits of free delivery and flexible payment options that are right for you!
And with our Worry-Free Guarantee, there’s no need to compromise on your first-choice TV. Shop online, or visit your local Rent-A-Center to upgrade your TV shopping experience today.