Ever since the death knell tolled for plasma TV—the pinnacle of TV image quality—those who care about a top-performing picture have been on a quest for the holy grail of TV technology. OLED, which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, just might be the answer. The technology is quite different from current LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology in that, unlike LED TVs that use LED backlights to light up parts of the screen, OLED TV sets illuminate each pixel individually, which results in real improvements in picture quality. OLED technology also allows for screens to be incredibly thin—so thin, in fact, that they can theoretically be rolled up like paper. OLEDs are also available in flat and curved models, for what some believe is a more immersive viewing experience.
OLED performance: what’s the big deal?
So why is OLED getting rave reviews for picture performance? For one, light output on OLED TV sets is very good—almost as good as LED sets—making these models great options for a room with ambient light from windows. Black levels (how dark your TV can get) on OLEDs are also fantastic. If you are watching Interstellar or Gravity on an OLED TV, the vast expanse of space will look very dark—a total absence of color—instead of a dark grey that washes out the image. Because OLED can turn off individual pixels completely, these sets produce true blacks. This is also why OLED contrast—the difference between the lightest and darkest parts of your TV—is also top-notch. Absolute blacks plus high brightness make the technology a winner when it comes to creating a dynamic, realistic high-contrast image.
Another great benefit of OLED TVs is that it doesn’t fall prey to some of the off-axis viewing anomalies associated with other technologies, so the onscreen image looks great no matter where you sit within a room. Stellar image uniformity means the brightness across the entire screen is even for a consistent, beautiful image. In terms of resolution, almost all OLED TVs are 4K Ultra HD resolution models, which is four times the resolution of high-definition TV. At larger sizes, 4K Ultra HD OLED TVs are breathtakingly lifelike. Add to that energy efficiency, and you really can’t go wrong.
Is OLED here to stay?
OLED appeared in stores in 2013, but currently, OLED TV sets are only available from LG. With DisplaySearch estimating that 35,200 OLED TVs were sold globally in the first quarter of this year, OLED is still a bit of a niche. However, with manufacturers investing significantly in the technology, we can expect to see OLED sets becoming more and more common in the years to come.
We invite you to come in and demo an OLED set to see the technology for yourself. If you’re not ready for OLED just yet, we also have some amazing LED models with cutting-edge technology that offers a high-performance, picture-perfect image. Come in or call us today to upgrade your TV to a larger, high-performance model in time for all the great fall programming and sports coming down the pipeline, not to mention the 2016 Olympics. We’re here to help guide you to a wonderful image that you can enjoy for years to come.