Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) televisions have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to their ultra-thin profiles and stunning picture quality. However, as with any new technology, OLED TVs come with some significant drawbacks that consumers should consider before making a purchase. In this expert guide, we will delve into the 12 most compelling reasons why you may want to avoid buying an OLED TV.
A Quick Background on OLED TV Technology
Before examining why you may want to avoid OLED TVs, it‘s helpful to understand what makes them different from traditional LED/LCD televisions.
OLED stands for "Organic Light Emitting Diode." Rather than relying on a backlight like LED/LCD TVs, OLED televisions have pixels that emit their own light. This enables per-pixel dimming control, allowing for infinite contrast ratios and a wider viewing angle.
The basic structure of an OLED panel contains ultra-thin organic films sandwiched between two conductors. When an electrical current is applied, the organic compounds illuminate, producing brilliant colors and deep blacks.
OLED TVs first hit the consumer market around 2010 but were very expensive initially. Prices have dropped substantially in recent years, prompting more manufacturers like LG, Sony and Panasonic to release their own OLED models.
So in summary – OLED TVs can deliver exceptional picture quality thanks to per-pixel dimming capabilities. But they remain pricier than comparable LED/LCD televisions. And as we‘ll explore next, they also come with some potential disadvantages.
12 Drawbacks of OLED TV Technology
While OLED televisions produce a gorgeous image, they aren‘t perfect. Here are 12 compelling reasons why you may want to avoid purchasing an OLED TV:
1. Risk of Image Retention
One major weakness of OLED panels is image retention. This occurs when a static image remains on screen for an extended period of time, leaving a faint residual afterimage behind. This can be especially problematic for gamers or sports fans, where static screen elements like scores and logos are continuously displayed in the same spot.
LG and other manufacturers have introduced screensavers and pixel-shift technologies to minimize image retention. However, it remains a persistent issue on OLED displays. In severe cases, image retention can become permanently burnt into the screen.
2. Color Accuracy Depreciation
The organic materials used in OLED displays degrade over time. As the materials wear out, OLED TVs can experience shifting in color accuracy, especially in dark scenes. Colors may appear more dull or inaccurate compared to when the TV was brand new.
This color fading gets worse with regular usage. So while an OLED television may boast exceptional color reproduction out of the box, that performance can diminish in a matter of 1-2 years.
3. Questionable Long-Term Durability
Speaking of wear and tear, the general durability of OLED televisions also raises some questions. The organic compounds degrade during normal use, shortening the TV‘s overall lifespan. Unexpected failures or dead pixels can show up seemingly out of nowhere on older OLED models.
Most LED/LCD televisions last anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 hours before failure. The usable lifespan of some OLED screens is estimated to be around 30,000 hours. So their long-term durability may be less than traditional LED/LCD counterparts.
4. Narrow Optimal Viewing Angles
One shortcoming of OLED panels is they lose color accuracy and contrast when viewed slightly off-angle. The optimal viewing angle for accurate color and brightness is less than 30 degrees from center on some OLED models. Anything beyond that and the image can start to appear washed out.
So OLED televisions are best suited for smaller, centralized living room setups. The narrow viewing angles make them less ideal for open concept spaces or situations where viewers will be watching the screen from multiple angles.
5. Limited Upscaling Capability
Here‘s another limitation to consider – most OLED TVs lack advanced upscaling and processing capabilities. Upscaling is the process of converting lower resolution content like DVDs to match the native 4K resolution of the display.
However, with weaker upscaling engines, OLED televisions struggle to properly upconvert lower quality content. This results in more artifacts, noise and blurriness. So OLED TVs will not make lower resolution movies or TV shows look nearly as sharp compared to high-end LED/LCD models.
6. Underwhelming HDR Performance
OLED screens produce incredible contrast ratios thanks to their per-pixel dimming capabilities. But surprisingly, they can still fall short with High Dynamic Range (HDR) content.
That‘s because HDR video requires displays to produce a wide color gamut along with higher sustained brightness. However, larger OLED panels may only hit peak brightness levels of 500-600 nits. Many premium LED/LCD televisions today can sustain 1000 nits or greater across the entire screen.
So when it comes to HDR video quality, OLED TVs fail to keep up with the color volume and peak brightness of high-end LCD models. HDR content won‘t appear as vivid or life-like.
7. More Expensive Price Tags
Budget is always a consideration when shopping for a new television. And OLED TVs themselves carry noticeably higher price tags than comparable LED/LCD sets of the same size.
For example, LG‘s 55-inch C2 OLED TV sells for around $1300. Meanwhile, LG‘s 55-inch QNED85 LED/LCD television with mini-LED backlighting retails for under $1000.
Unless you‘re an videophile who prioritizes picture quality over everything, it can be hard to justify spending 20-50% more for limitations like shorter lifespan, viewing angle constraints and the risk of image retention.
8. Higher Risk of Permanent Burn-In
Speaking of image retention – one related defect called burn-in remains a lingering issue for OLED panels. Burn-in occurs when a static image element becomes permanently etched onto the screen. This can happen when logos, video game HUDs or desktop icons stay on-display constantly over weeks/months.
Burn-in cannot be repaired – those pixel degradations are there for good. And while screen shift technologies have minimized the chances of burn-in, it‘s still a costly defect that could ruin an expensive OLED television. Plasma screen TVs were notorious for burn-in, and it‘s still a threat for OLED.
9. Peak Brightness Limitations
As mentioned earlier, OLED televisions can struggle to match the peak brightness levels of high-performance full array local dimming LED/LCD counterparts. Large OLED panels in the 65 to 77 inch range often top out at around 550 to 600 nits in terms of brightness.
However, today‘s premium full array local dimming LED/LCD models can sustain upwards of 1500+ nits across the entire screen. Others like the Samsung QN95B QLED TV exceed 2000 nits peak brightness.
This is a crucial advantage in brighter viewing environments. LED/LCD televisions can combat glare and ambient light much better than OLED screens. Images remain punchy and dynamic even with sunlight pouring into the living room.
10. Shorter Overall Lifespan
Here‘s a caveat we touched on earlier – the finite lifespan of OLED televisions due to organic material degradation. Typical LED-backlit LCD panels last anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 hours before failure or noticeable decline in picture quality.
How long do OLED screens last by comparison? Early estimates pegged average OLED lifespan at around 30,000 hours. However, thanks to improved panel coatings and manufacturing techniques, recent OLED generations are now expected to last up to 50,000 hours.
Even so, that remains up to 50% less than comparable LED/LCD televisions. Anyone who expects their expensive TV purchase to last 7-10 years may be taking a gamble going with OLED.
11. Limited Extra-Large Screen Sizes
Do you have your heart set on a massive 75+ inch television to anchor your home theater? OLED display limitations may shatter those big-screen dreams.
Engineering very large OLED panels is extremely difficult and costly. As a result, screen size options stop at 77 inches for most brands. And the 77-inch G2 OLED from LG still carries a staggering $3,000 MSRP.
Meanwhile, LED/LCD technology can comfortably scale up to 85 inches and beyond for more reasonable prices. So shoppers who want an extra-large display will get more bang for their buck with quantum dot LED or full array local dimming LCD televisions.
12. Fragile Physical Construction
One final drawback stems from the lightweight, wafer-thin physical design of OLED panels. They simply lack the resilience and ruggedness of traditional LED-backlit LCD televisions, which use metal rear casings and reinforced inner frames.
The paper-thin OLED module along with fragile glass front means even a minor impact could shatter the entire display. The risk of physical damage is another reason to potentially avoid OLED televisions if durability is a priority.
Alternatives to Consider Instead of OLED
Given some of the disadvantages outlined above, you may be wondering what display technologies make suitable alternatives to OLED televisions. Here are three options that side-step the pitfalls of OLED panels:
Full Array Local Dimming LED/LCD TVs
Full array local dimming (FALD) LED televisions can rival and even outperform OLED in certain areas like peak brightness and lifespan. FALD LCD sets use precise dimming zones and premium VA panel variants to deliver incredible contrast and black levels – nearing what OLED televisions can achieve.
Shoppers have an abundance of high-quality full array local dimming LED/LCD options these days from brands like Samsung, Sony and TCL. Given rapid advancements in LED panel technology and backlighting, a FALD model presents possibly the best alternative to OLED at more affordable pricing.
Quantum Dot LED TVs
Quantum dot LED televisions (often branded as QLED TVs) offer another compelling alternative with enhanced color and brightness. Quantum dots are nanocrystals that produce pure monochromatic red, blue and green light.
By expertly blending these quantum dot films within the LCD panel and LED backlight layer, QLED TVs can achieve up to 100% color volume inside the DCI-P3 color space. This allows richer, more dynamic colors that OLED panels cannot currently match due to green/blue emitter constraints.
Brands like Samsung, TCL and Hisense now offer high-quality QLED 4K television options at reasonable prices – minus the drawbacks affecting OLED screens. Consumers will enjoy gorgeous, accurate color reproduction without risk of uneven pixel wear or permanent image retention.
Mini-LED Backlit LCD TVs
Mini-LED backlighting presents possibly the most exciting challenger against OLED domination. Traditional LED LCD televisions use hundreds of large LED modules to illuminate the screen. However, mini-LED displays utilize tens of thousands of tiny LEDs just 0.2mm in diameter behind the LCD panel layer.
This incredible light density allows over 1,000+ local dimming zones on premium mini-LED television models. The result is unprecedented black level depth and pixel-level precision that outclasses even OLED – without risk of burn-in.
Mini-LED backlit LCD televisions still carry a cost premium over conventional LED LCD models. However, prices have already started falling quickly. Given rapid improvements in contrast and viewing angles, mini LED TV technology poses the biggest threat yet to OLED‘s superiority.
Key Takeaways – Who Should Consider Buying an OLED TV?
Despite some strong alternatives now available, OLED televisions still reign supreme when it comes to raw contrast ratio numbers and per-pixel illuminance control. Even with shortcomings like image retention and shorter average lifespan, no technology yet beats an OLED television when viewing dark room content like movies.
OLED makes the most sense for:
- Home theater enthusiasts who crave top-tier contrast and picture accuracy
- Movie buffs who do most of their viewing in dedicated home theater spaces
- Gamers and sports fans willing to risk potential image retention
- Early adopters drawn to the latest display innovations
However, more casual viewers may be better served by an equally vibrant LED/LCD television that offers higher peak brightness, fewer uniformity concerns and greater long-term durability at a more wallet-friendly price.
If terms like LED vs OLED still prove confusing, be sure to check out our expert buying guide covering all TV technologies. This will help match you with the right display based on viewing habits and budget.
