With the launch of the first rollable TV in January 2019, a TV which can roll itself back to its base when not in use, the world can brace itself for further exciting innovations in the TV industry now and in future. One of the key areas of focus in this sector is picture quality. The most important influencers of picture quality are the number and size of pixels and their mode of illumination. Understanding the technical differences between TV features that influence picture quality is the key to making the right selection. Below is a comparison of some of the most distinct modern technologies used, and how they affect the watching experience.
OLED vs QLED
Similar to the war between plasma and LCD about two decades ago, this might be one of the most popular rivalries of the modern-day. While QLED is an adaptation of the pre-existing LCD technology, OLED, which stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, are completely new. The key difference in the two panels lies in how they use light to generate their pictures. QLED TVs originate from the installation of quantum dot color filters on LCD backlights. This tweak makes for an impressive improvement in picture quality from the traditional LCD display.
On the other hand, OLED displays use carbonized films that produce their light individually with the help of an electric pulse. In this case, every pixel emits its own light and switches off completely when needed to be black. The result is an astonishingly realistic black, super-fast refresh rates, and remarkably accurate contrast. This unparalleled video clarity in OLED screens to has led to their rapid increase in prominence.
Although the OLED type displays boast of superior picture quality, it’s still a close-run competition with the QLED screens. At the moment, QLED screens are still the mainstream home entertainment option. Prospects of a hybrid between the two tech systems are high, and could further enhance the viewing experience.
4K vs 8K
It is not uncommon to see TV brands promoting themselves as Ultra HD or 4K to indicate that they are an improvement from the traditional High Definition. Primarily, 4K offers four times more pixels than in a 1080p (HD) display, hence the name. 8K (Full UHD) displays, on the other hand, offer 16 times more pixels than standard 1080p resolutions over the same screen size. 8K shows extraordinary clarity, and reveals slightly more details even in fast-moving scenes. Although the 8K promises increased performance, 4K is a fairly close competitor. Besides, real differences in the smoothness of the screens can only be visible in large screen size formats such as 80 inches or more.
With these high screen resolutions, there is no noticeable pixelation when one is seated close to the screen, as compared to traditional HD. However, screens of these high resolutions must be fed with videos of matching definition for one to truly enjoy their intended experience.
With the world taken by storm by the launch of the rollable TV, it is time for companies to roll their sleeves up and bring home fresh tech. Consumers can see a clearer future, as the war on picture quality means that the existing TV tech will continue seeing massive innovations.