Hi there! Choosing a new TV can be downright perplexing these days. You face a dizzying array of tech terms like LED, LCD, OLED, and Quantum Dots. Marketing hype doesn‘t help. I‘m here to provide plain-talk guidance to help you decide between two of the most common options – full array LED TVs or OLEDs. I‘ll compare how they work, real-world performance, pricing, ideal usage scenarios and more. My aim is to simplify the key factors so you pick the perfect TV!
A Quick Comparison Overview
Full array LED TVs place LED backlights behind the entire LCD screen surface. Controlling these zones allows sharpening dark regions while keeping bright areas vivid. OLED TVs use organic LEDs for every individual pixel – no backlight needed. This gives OLED exceptional contrast and picture quality. However, full array LED technology has advanced impressively, nearing OLED performance in many regards.
OLED TVs render jaw-dropping contrast and colors for a cinematic experience – especially in darker rooms. But they cost thousands more than most full array LED TVs. The choice depends on your budget, room lighting, and types of content viewed most. If you want amazing quality with deep blacks, OLED rules. If you prioritize high peak brightness for HDR and gaming, while saving money, full array LED is compelling.
How Full Array LED TVs Work
The "LED TV" term is confusing because these units actually use LCD (liquid crystal display) panels to control pixels, like any normal flatscreen television. The LED acronym refers to how they are illuminated from behind.
Most affordable LED TVs utilize edge-lit LED backlights – a line of LEDs run along the edges, pointing inward. But on full array LED TV models, precise local dimming stems from hundreds, sometimes over a thousand LED zones distributed across the entire back panel surface area.
This extensive LED positioning allows very fine real-time control over backlight intensity in localized screen areas. When displaying dark scenes, the TV software algorithms can selectively dim LED zones to sharpen black levels in those portions. Bright regions can remain vividly and accurately illuminated. This innovative dimming approach significantly boosts contrast compared to conventional edge-lit LED TVs.
How OLED TVs Achieve Their Picture Magic
Rather than utilize LED backlights, OLED televisions employ panels with pixels made from organic LED materials that emit their own light. By directly transforming electrical current into light, no backlighting is required at all. This enables extraordinary image characteristics:
Perfect Black Levels: OLED pixels generate no light at all to show black portions of an image. This allows effectively infinite contrast ratios.
Vibrant Colors: Unfiltered by any liquid crystal layer, OLED pixels can reproduce colors with beautiful accuracy and saturation.
Wide Viewing Angles: OLED screens maintain color consistency even at extreme side viewing angles where LED/LCD TVs would shift.
Thinness: Without bulky backlights, OLED TVs measure just millimeters thin.
Quick Response Times: OLED pixels can switch on/off instantly, enabling exceptional motion clarity.
Real-World Performance Comparison
Let‘s explore how full array LED and OLED televisions compare across various practical metrics with the help of side-by-side data:
| Performance Metric | Full Array LED | OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Black Level & Contrast | Very Good. Local dimming of LED zones enables black levels nearly comparable to OLED. But some minor light bleed still exists. | Excellent. Per-pixel control means literally infinite contrast, even in dark rooms |
| Peak Brightness | Very High. The strongest full array LED TVs can achieve sustained brightness over 1,000 nits, improving HDR. | Varies. Most OLED TVs top out below 800 nits peak brightness, but keep in mind their pitch-black floor. New "OLED evo" panels nearing 1000 nits. |
| Viewing Angles | Good. Some color and contrast shift at wider angles, but fairly consistent for LED/LCD. | Excellent. Virtually no detail or color lost even at extreme off-axis viewing positions. |
| Pixel Response | Good. Fast enough for most content, but can exhibit motion blur during fast gaming/sports. | Excellent. Instantaneous pixel response time enables superb clarity with fast motion video. |
| Color Accuracy | Very good. Full array dimming preserves vibrancy across various content. | Excellent. Self-emitting OLED pixels can display exceptionally realistic and nuanced colors. |
| Lifespan & Burn-in | Excellent. LED/LCD TVs have very long operational lifespans without permanent image retention issues. | Good. OLED lifespan estimated ~5 years with moderate daily use. Static content risks permanent burn-in. |
Across most picture quality metrics, OLED TVs edge out full array LED models through the natural virtues of per-pixel illumination control. But full array LED TVs fare quite well themselves – much better than cheaper edge-lit LED televisions. Their advanced dimming and brightness capabilities provide striking, accurate images that should satisfy many buyers.
Dim environment viewing like movies clearly benefits OLED thanks to the Limitless black level depths. But full array LED TVs excel in brighter room situations given their vivid colors and high lighting dynamics favorable to HDR content.
The Price Gap Between OLED and Full Array LED TVs
One of the most pressing questions facing TV buyers is likely to be cost. There exists a massive price premium commanded by OLED technology over full array LED televisions of equivalent screen sizes:
| TV Type | 55" Model | 65" Model | 75" Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level Full Array LED | $500 | $800 | $1,300 |
| Midrange Full Array LED | $700 | $1,100 | $1,800 |
| Basic OLED | $1,300 | $1,800 | $3,000 |
| High-End OLED | $2,500+ | $3,500+ | $5,000+ |
As you see, while excellent full array LED TVs are available under $1,000 even for large 65-75 inch screen sizes, comparable OLED televisions cost at least 60-100% more. This price premium for OLED persists across all brands and model lineups. However, costs for both technologies are gradually declining each year. Value-oriented full array LED TVs continue getting cheaper, while new production efficiencies and economies of scale are slowly reducing OLED pricing.
But for now, the thousands of dollars difference remains a major factor for buyers. Picture perfection has its price with OLED. Thankfully, full array LED technology has progressed immensely, offering exceptional image quality at far lower cost.
Which Rooms Suit Each TV Technology Best?
Placement environment also affects the ideal television technology for you. Let‘s compare relevant factors:
Lighting Conditions – Full array LED TVs thrive even in sunlit living spaces. Their elevated brightness and resulting contrast hold up well. OLED truly excels in dedicated darker home theaters to achieve inky blacks.
Off-Axis Seating – OLED screens maintain color and contrast when viewed from almost any angle. LED/LCD TVs slowly degrade at wider perspectives.
Gaming & Sports Use – Full array LED TVs provide lower input lag and better motion resolution that serious gamers and sports fans appreciate.
Take note of your room layout, seating placements, lighting, and primary content viewing habits. This helps inform optimum television technology. There are no strictly "right" answers here – personal preferences and priorities differ!
But those wanting a supremely cinematic experience in darkened spaces will enjoy OLED most. For brightly-lit mixed usage at a more affordable budget, full array LED remains compelling.
The Verdict? Select Carefully Based on Budget and Needs!
In head-to-head image quality assessments, OLED TVs set the bar for contrast, color gamut accuracy and viewing angles. Their self-illuminating pixels create an unrivaled sense of depth and realism. If you have plenty budget, and primarily watch movies in darker rooms, OLED delivers incredible television.
But full array LED TV technology has caught up remarkably in recent years while costing far less. Exceptional full array dimming and increased brightness capacity enable gorgeous dynamic range and black levels that stun even videophiles. Major manufacturers like Sony and Samsung keep honing algorithms and backlight control to close the gap.
For buyers wanting huge screen sizes or those operating in sun-drenched living spaces, reasonably priced full array LED TVs make excellent sense without substantially compromising on picture fidelity. Perhaps best of all, rapid improvements in full array local dimming bring OLED-quality images closer to mainstream affordability each year. The lines keep blurring!
Carefully weigh the lighting environment, your price range, preferred content types and viewing habits in the decision. But you‘ll end up thrilled with whichever advanced TV technology you pick! Let me know if you have any other questions.
