Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you‘re likely an avid TV and home theater enthusiast like me. Choosing a new TV can be overwhelming these days. You’re probably aware of basic LCD and OLED tech. But terms like QD-OLED may sound confusing and mysterious!
Well, fear not! In this guide, we’ll demystify exactly what these glittering tech abbreviations mean. More importantly, I’ll compare Samsung’s quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) displays versus LG’s acclaimed standard OLED TVs. You’ll learn how they differ in critical areas like picture quality, features, performance for gaming and movies, design, and future-readiness.
Arm yourself with these insights so you can decide which advanced display technology is the best fit for your needs!
Quantum Dots & OLEDs – A Primer
Before we dive into comparing Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED televisions, it’s helpful to understand what display technologies they utilize under the hood.
What is QD-OLED?
You’re likely familiar with OLED, or organic light-emitting diode displays, which have revolutionized TV image quality over the last decade. OLED pixels directly emit their own light when electricity flows through their organic (carbon-based) compounds. This gives OLED TVs unmatched black levels and contrast since individual pixels can turn completely off.
QD-OLED combines the benefits of self-emissive OLED pixels with a quantum dot nano-particle layer. Quantum dots are tiny semiconductors that emit extremely pure, almost monochromatic colored light. Their size determines the light’s wavelength. Arrange red, green and blue quantum dots into a film overlaying an OLED panel, and you get superior brightness, a wider color range, better accuracy, and enhanced viewing angles compared to plain OLED.
Samsung leverages their industry-leading quantum dot film expertise with their new QD-OLED TVs. The LG OLED TVs we’ll compare utilize conventional OLED emitters without nanoparticles.
How is an OLED Pixel Constructed?
Let’s geek out briefly on how OLED pixels function. An organic electroluminescent layer sits between a positively charged anode and a cathode layer on a backing board. When voltage passes through, this emissive organic compound layer releases photons as visible light. More voltage means brighter light. No power equals no light emitted – allowing perfect blacks.
Adding a quantum dot color conversion film atop the light-producing OLED stack leads to major picture quality improvements…as we’ll explore next!
Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED TVs – Picture Quality Breakdown
We obsess over new display technologies for good reason – image performance impacts everything we watch on our TVs! Let’s scrutinize how QD-OLED and today’s best LG OLED models differ when playing movies, TV shows, games, and more.
Black Levels & Contrast
When an OLED pixel turns off, it produces perfect black with zero light emission. This gives OLED an effectively infinite contrast ratio. QD-OLED also achieves impressively deep, inky blacks – on par with conventional OLED. But darker black levels don’t always translate into better contrast. That’s where higher brightness comes in…
Peak Brightness
Here’s where QD-OLED assertively surpasses normal OLED – brightness! LG’s best 2022 OLED TVs achieve ~800 nits peak brightness for HDR highlights. That’s decent but limited compared to LED LCDs. Samsung’s 55” S95B QD-OLED display reached over 1000 nits in testing. Newer QD-OLED models target a blistering 2000 nits using dual blue OLED emission layers!
Brighter highlights combined with perfect blacks yields phenomenal contrast on QD-OLED. This expanded contrast truly elevates HDR content mastered for 1000+ nit screens.
Quantum Dot Color
The quantum dot layer also unlocks a wider color range with increased accuracy. Samsung QD-OLED televisions cover over 85% of the stringent Rec. 2020 color space. LG’s latest models hit upwards of 90% DCI-P3 gamut coverage.
ButRec. 2020 support means QD-OLED reproduces some highly saturated reds/greens outside even P3. Plus, quantum dots emit colors at very precise wavelengths. This color volume and accuracy is especially helpful for next-gen gaming and animation.
Viewing Angles
One weakness of conventional OLED panels has been color and contrast shifting when viewed from off-center seats. Enter QD-OLED with its quantum dots emitting light evenly across wider viewing angles up to nearly 180°. LG has made recent improvements here as well, but Samsung QD-OLED currently has the edge.
Response Times & Motion Handling
Here, both brands essentially tie. Self-emissive OLED pixels can switch on/off almost instantly for fast response. Combined with black frame insertion and advanced processing, motion stays smooth with minimal noticeable blur. This makes both technologies well-suited for sports and high fps gaming.
While standard LG OLED TVs still achieve spectacular image quality – true blacks, vibrant color, and rapid response set them apart from any LED LCDs on the market – the expanded brightness range, wide gamut quantum dot color, and enhanced off-angle viewing give Samsung QD-OLED panels a slight performance lead.
Comparing Gaming-Friendliness
Gaming monitor-level features are increasingly demanded by console and PC gamers. Samsung and LG both check those boxes.
VRR Support – Variable refresh rate (VRR) matches the TV’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate for smooth, tear-free visuals. Both brands support VRR via HDMI 2.1 and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro or Nvidia G-Sync compatibility.
Auto Low Latency Mode – ALLM automatically switches to low latency picture modes when gaming without you digging through menus. Again, both QD-OLED and LG OLEDs offer this.
4K 120Hz – With HDMI 2.1 inputs enabling 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, response times take center stage. Here is where OLED’s virtually instantaneous pixel response pays dividends for crystal clear motion clarity in supported games.
For enthusiast gamers, either technology paired with next-gen consoles or high-end video cards makes an exceptional choice!
Smart TV Platforms
With broadband-fueled streaming growth, a TV’s smart platform almost matters as much as the display tech itself nowadays.
Samsungcontinues to advance their acclaimed Tizen smart TV OS. Effortlessly switch between apps with the minimalist tabbed interface. Tap into unique Samsung ecosystem conveniences between phones, tablets, and televisions.
webOS has evolved into a polished, intuitive operating system for LG TVs. Simple app switching, innate Magic Remote point & click operation, and dashboard customization fit LG‘s displays perfectly. Access over 300 free LG Channels spanning movies, shows, sports, music and more – no paid streaming subscription needed!
Both webOS and Tizen feature voice control integration with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and their own branded assistants. Casting from mobile devices or screen mirroring for collaboration is easy on either platform too.
Styling & Design
A premium modern TV should look the part as well with sleek styling that disappears when mounted to let that glorious picture shine.
Samsung’s 2022 QD-OLED S95B exemplifies this ethos with a near bezel-less “Infinity One” design consisting of a single sheet of glass with an impossibly thin depth from edge to edge. The minimalist style easily blends into living spaces.
LG’s newest G2 “Gallery” OLED TVs achieve a similar aesthetic goal but in their own way. The Gallery Stand wall mount pulls the display flush and allows for throttled cables. LG also emphasizes craftsmanship with finely finished metallic stand options. Slim bezels and equal thinness maintain a streamlined, futuristic style.
Both Samsung and LG OLED televisions epitomize high-end industrial design – slim, modern, and engineered to disappear when enjoying content. It comes down to which unique take you prefer! But wall mounting makes the most of their stylish form factors.
What Does the Future Hold?
If you invest in a premium Samsung QD-OLED or LG OLED TV today, you likely intend on enjoying it for years without major compromise. Can we expect even better versions of self-emissive quantum dot and OLED panels moving forward? Absolutely!
Dual-Layer QD-OLED
As hinted earlier, Samsung is already developing stacked dual blue OLED emitter structures capable of doubling brightness to ~2000 nits peak compared to first gen QD-OLED displays. This allows HDR specular highlights to really dazzle!
LG OLED EX
LG refuses to stagnate either. Their OLED EX technology utilizes customized deuterium compounds and more efficient manufacturing for next-level brightness and color improvements in 2023 models and beyond.
MicroLED Displays
Further down the road, an emissive display breakthrough called MicroLED, using microscopic LEDs per pixel, promises to combine the perfect black levels of OLED with substantially increased brightness, durability, and density. Both LG and Samsung plan to introduce large television-sized MicroLED models in coming years.
The Verdict
After digesting all that, the choice ultimately depends on your priorities around room lighting, viewing angles, price constraints, and desired screen size. LG makes OLED TVs approaching a staggering 100 inches! Both brands deliver phenomenal self-emissive TVs that massively outclass LED LCDs – rich colors, infinite contrast, thin designs included.
But QD-OLED does stand apart with up to 2-3x higher peak brightness compared to current LG OLED models. This headroom better handles daytime viewing while maintaining stunning contrast and black levels. Wider viewing angles also give Samsung an edge for off-center seats.
On the flip side, LG OLEDs provide the most mature self-emissive display platform available in larger sizes for less money. Their colors, perfect blacks, blistering response times, and streaming-friendly webOS smart platform are tough to beat at the 65” sweet spot acceptable to most buyers.
As you can see, there’s a lot to weigh when choosing! Hopefully now having the differences between these bleeding edge TV technologies clarified will help you decide on the perfect display to fulfill your home theater dreams. Let me know if you have any other questions!
