OLED TVs have revolutionized home entertainment with their stunning picture quality, perfect blacks and vibrant colors. However, this innovative display technology does come with some notable downsides that consumers consistently cite as drawbacks.
Before investing in an OLED TV, it‘s important to understand the key disadvantages commonly raised in customer complaints and reviews. Below we detail the 4 most prevalent issues and whether they should deter you from OLED.
1. Premium Pricing and Costly Repairs
The first major complaint about OLED TVs is their premium price point, especially compared to more affordable LED/LCD alternatives. There are several reasons driving the higher costs:
Complex manufacturing – Producing the organic materials that light up each individual OLED pixel is a more intricate process than LED/LCD production. This intricate process contributes to higher per unit costs.
Rare organic materials – The OLED manufacturing process relies on organic compounds that are rarer and pricier than the widely available inorganic materials used for LED/LCD panels. Limited access further drives up pricing.
Low economies of scale – As a newer display technology with only a few major manufacturers like LG, OLED TV production volumes are still relatively low. Without mass production, prices remain elevated.
Research and development costs – Manufacturers invest heavily in R&D to enhance OLED performance and lifespan as an emerging technology. These costs ultimately get passed onto consumers.
Adding insult to injury is the high cost of repairs. According to CNET, fixing a broken OLED TV often "costs almost as much as buying a new one". This is because the OLED panels themselves tend to run $1,500 to $3,000 just for parts. Compare this to a few hundred dollars to replace an entire entry-level LED TV.
If pricing is your main concern, LED/LCD TVs provide the most budget-friendly alternative. High-end models still offer excellent 4K resolution and smart capabilities.
2. Susceptibility to Burn-In
The second major complaint about OLED TVs – exhibited prominently in Amazon reviews – is image retention or "burn-in." This phenomenon manifests as a faint shadow left on the screen after displaying static image elements for extensive periods.
For example, the channel logo bugs and news crawls on 24/7 news networks can create stubborn burn-in effects on OLED panels. This uneven aging of pixels also threatens avid gamers who play for hours at a time with static HUDs and scoreboards occupying the same screen space.
What causes OLED burn-in? The organic compounds lighting up each pixel degrade at variable rates depending on usage. Displaying high-contrast static images accelerates differential degradation, creating "tracks" visible under certain lighting. While modern OLED TVs have built-in pixel refreshers and screen shifting to minimize uneven wear, they can‘t eliminate it entirely.
However, burn-in is far less common under regular mixed usage. Tech Radar‘s OLED burn-in test displayed FIFA clips continuously for over 9,000 hours with no visible retention. So gamers or sports fans need not worry as long as content varies periodically.
Those concerned about image retention may prefer QLED TVs. Their inorganic quantum dots avoid burn-in risk while providing richer colors than basic LEDs.
3. Limited Peak Brightness
OLED fans praise the technology‘s stunning contrast. Blacks look perfectly dark next to searing bright highlights. However, achieving peak brightness is where OLED displays fall short of LED-based rivals.
The main reason OLED TVs can‘t match the sustained maximum nits (brightness units) of the competition is an automatic limiter. This mechanism deliberately throttles brightness output after detecting risk of overheating or panel damage from excess current over large surface areas. For context, an LG C1 OLED hits around 800 nits peak compared to nearly 1,500 nits for Samsung‘s QN90A QLED.
Displaying HDR video content demands high brightness. So movie buffs wanting the full cinematic impact in sun-drenched living rooms should consider QLED or innovative Mini LED panels going up to 2,000 nits. That said, OLED remains king for darker, contrast-rich content given its pixel-perfect black levels.
4. Shorter Lifespan
The final common complaint about OLED TV technology is shorter useful lifespan compared to LED or LCD displays. Rather than a backlight, OLED pixels directly emit their own light as needed. But unfortunately, the emissive organic compounds degrade over time – exhibiting lower brightness after several years.
LG promises up to 100,000 hours of panel usage across newer OLED generations. Yet consumers routinely report noticeable dimming or color shifting much sooner – sometimes in 2 to 3 years. This phenomena is caused by the aptly-named "black spot defect" where darker spots form temporarily or permanently due to uneven voltage distribution and material deterioration.
You can maximize the working life of an OLED TV through careful preventative measures:
- Avoid static imagery and looped video
- Enable built-in pixel refresher and shift features
- routinely turn off the TV to prevent overheating
- Keep brightness levels low for longer content sessions
- Use protective settings during gaming sessions
When lifespan is a key consideration, LED/LCD and especially durable QLED panels last significantly longer – often 10 years or more with regular use.
Are OLED TVs Still Worth Buying?
Despite the drawbacks covered, OLED displays still make sense for many buyers. Gamers, cinephiles and casual streamers alike consistently praise OLED‘s stunning contrast and color performance which beats virtually any LED/LCD.
The key is managing expectations around pricing, peak brightness goals and longevity. Protecting against static images and enabling OLED-friendly settings also helps maximize satisfaction and panel lifespan.
In the right setting, an OLED TV delivers an unparalleled viewing experience. Those seeking top-tier movie night performance will likely deem the drawbacks acceptable trade-offs. Plus with manufacturers like LG actively enhancing brightness, fighting burn-in and scaling production, OLED shortcomings will diminish over time while positive aspects continue dazzling fans.
Top Alternatives to OLED TV Technology
If the downsides of OLED seem too daunting, plenty of strong LED and quantum dot-powered alternatives exist at more affordable price points:
LED/LCD TVs – Basic LED backlighting provides the best value while still offering excellent 4K resolution, smart connectivity and HDR support. However, expect some trade-offs around black levels, viewing angles and motion handling.
QLED TVs – Quantum dots create noticeably better color, brightness and contrast compared to basic LED – nearing OLED quality. The advanced inorganic particles avoid burn-in as well. QLED brings better brightness than OLED at sizes under 85 inches.
Mini LED TVs – Shrinking LED down to miniature scales boosts contrast almost to OLED levels via better local dimming. Expect high peak brightness too but for a price premium over basic LCD.
For most, basic LED/LCD strikes the ideal price/performance balance. But videophiles with some extra budget should consider stepping up to quantum-powered QLED or Mini LED for better future-proofing and spectacular image quality rivalling OLED.
The Bottom Line
OLED certainly revolutionized TV tech with self-lit pixels and scintillating contrast. Early adopters happily paid premium pricing for the massive quality leap. However, the pendulum swung almost too far to deep blacks over sustainability and peak brightness.
While remaining the pinnacle display technology in 2023, OLED is losing ground to LED-backlit quantum dot and mini LED competitors offering nearly equal wow factor for less cost long-term.
Still, no TV visuals dazzle quite like OLED in a dark home theater. As manufacturers like LG, Sony and Panasonic coax better brightness from organic LED tech, they may reclaim the value perception crown as well. For now, we recommend OLED with eyes wide open to the shortcomings. Savvy shoppers should weigh personal preferences, room lighting and watch/play habits before deciding between OLED and its latest LED-based challengers.
