Navigating the OLED TV Market: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Your Guide to buying the best oled tv

Overview

Navigating the world of TV technology can be overwhelming with the plethora of options available in the market today. One of the leading technologies that has gained significant attention is OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) TV. Offering exceptional color accuracy, perfect black levels, wide viewing angles, and outstanding uniformity, OLED TVs are considered a top pick among consumers. This buying guide will delve into the crucial aspects you need to consider when purchasing an OLED TV, ensuring you make an informed decision that suits your viewing needs.

Key features

  1. Screen Size: Consider where you will be placing the TV and how far the seating will be. Bigger isn't always better, but you should choose a screen size that suits your room and viewing distance.
  2. Resolution: The higher the resolution, the sharper the picture. OLED TVs are available in 4K and even 8K resolutions, providing stunning detail and depth of field.
  3. High Dynamic Range (HDR): This feature improves the color and contrast of the picture. Make sure your OLED TV supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, or both.
  4. Refresh Rate: The refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), describes how many times the image on the screen is refreshed per second. Higher refresh rates (like 120Hz) can provide smoother motion, especially for fast-moving action in sports and video games.
  5. Smart Features: Most OLED TVs come with smart features, including built-in streaming services, internet browsing, and voice-controlled assistants. Consider which of these features are most important to you.
  6. Ports and Connectivity: Make sure your OLED TV has enough HDMI and USB ports for your needs, as well as Wi-Fi or Ethernet for internet connectivity.
  7. Sound Quality: While OLED TVs are known for their excellent picture quality, sound can vary. Consider a model with built-in sound technology like Dolby Atmos, or plan to invest in a separate sound system.
  8. Brand and Price: Choose a reputable brand that fits within your budget. High-end brands like LG and Sony are well-known for their OLED TVs, but there are more affordable options available as well.

See the most popular oled tv on Amazon

Important considerations

Pros

  • Superior Image Quality: OLED TVs deliver better image quality compared to other types of TVs because of their ability to display deep black levels. This results in a high contrast ratio, making colors appear more vibrant and lifelike.
  • Fast Refresh Rate: Thanks to the use of organic compounds, OLED TVs can refresh at a much faster rate than LCD or LED TVs, reducing motion blur and providing a smoother viewing experience, especially for fast-action content like sports or action movies.
  • Wide Viewing Angles: OLED TVs maintain their color accuracy and contrast even when viewed from an angle. This is a significant advantage for larger households where everyone may not be able to sit directly in front of the TV.
  • Thin and Lightweight Design: OLED TVs have a thinner and lighter design compared to LED TVs as they do not require a backlight. This makes them easier to mount on walls and more aesthetically pleasing.
  • Energy Efficiency: OLED TVs are more energy-efficient than LED or LCD TVs. This is because each pixel in an OLED TV is individually lit, so when the screen needs to display black, it simply turns off the relevant pixels, saving energy.

Cons

  • Burn-In Risk: OLED TVs are susceptible to burn-in, this occurs when an image or logo stays on the screen for an extended period, and could potentially damage the TV permanently.
  • Price: OLED TVs tend to be more expensive than other types of televisions. This high cost can be a barrier for some consumers.
  • Brightness: Although OLED TVs offer exceptional contrast and black levels, they often do not get as bright as their LED counterparts.
  • Lifespan: The lifespan of an OLED TV is shorter compared to LED TVs, as the organic materials used in OLED panels degrade over time.

Best alternatives

  1. LED TVs - Though they can't achieve the same black levels as OLEDs, LED TVs have a longer lifespan and they are much cheaper. They also have a brighter image which makes them suitable for well-lit rooms.
  2. QLED TVs - These TVs, introduced by Samsung, are a variation of LED TVs. They offer better color accuracy and saturation than traditional LED TVs due to an additional quantum dot layer.
  3. Mini-LED TVs - These are an advancement of traditional LED TVs. They have smaller LEDs that provide better control of local dimming, leading to improved contrast ratios and HDR performance.
  4. MicroLED TVs - This is a newer technology that uses microscopic LEDs to create an image. They offer similar benefits to OLEDs like perfect blacks and a vast color range, but they have the potential to be even brighter.

Related tools, supplies, and accessories

  • OLED TV Wall Mount Bracket - A necessary accessory for mounting your OLED TV on the wall for optimal viewing.
  • High-Speed HDMI Cables - These cables are necessary for connecting your OLED TV to various devices such as a game console, Blu-Ray player, or streaming device.
  • Surge Protector Power Strip - A vital accessory for protecting your OLED TV and connected devices from power surges. It also provides additional outlets for connecting other devices.
  • TV Screen Cleaner - Specialized cleaner to keep your OLED TV screen clean and free from dust, fingerprints, and smudges.
  • Sound Bar or Home Theater System - Enhances the audio quality for a more immersive viewing experience on your OLED TV.
  • Universal Remote Control - A convenient accessory that allows you to control your OLED TV and other connected devices with one remote.
  • Wireless Keyboard - Useful for easier navigation and typing when browsing the internet or using apps on your OLED TV.

Common questions

  1. What is OLED and how does it differ from LED/LCD TVs?
    OLED, or Organic Light Emitting Diodes, is a type of display technology that offers superior image quality compared to traditional LED/LCD TVs. Unlike LED/LCD, which requires a backlight to illuminate the pixels on the screen, each pixel in an OLED display emits its own light. This allows for perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and wider viewing angles.
  2. Are OLED TVs good for gaming?
    Yes, OLED TVs are excellent for gaming. They offer a very fast refresh rate, low input lag, and superior image quality. Plus, newer models also support advanced gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).
  3. How long do OLED TVs last?
    The lifespan of an OLED TV can vary based on how often it's used, but typically, you can expect an OLED TV to last for around 100,000 hours of viewing time. That's roughly equivalent to watching TV for 8 hours a day for 30 years.
  4. What is the risk of burn-in with OLED TVs?
    Burn-in can occur on any type of TV, but it's more commonly associated with OLED displays. This is because the organic compounds that emit light in an OLED display can degrade over time, which can lead to permanent damage if the same static image is displayed for long periods. However, most modern OLED TVs come with features to mitigate this risk, such as pixel shift technology and screen savers.
  5. What is the best size for an OLED TV?
    The optimal size for an OLED TV depends on the size of your room and how far you'll be sitting from the screen. As a rule of thumb, the viewing distance (in inches) should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the size of the screen (in inches).
  6. What are the top brands for OLED TVs?
    Some of the top brands for OLED TVs include LG, Sony, and Panasonic. Each of these brands offers a range of models with different features and price points to cater to various needs and budgets.

Trivia

Did you know that OLED TVs are so thin they can be as slim as a pencil? In fact, LG, a leading manufacturer of OLED TVs, once created an OLED TV model that was so incredibly thin, it was only 2.57mm - almost the same thickness as a stack of four credit cards! Now that's a TV that won't take up much space in your living room. However, while this incredibly thin design is visually striking, it's also led to some people jokingly expressing their fears about losing their ultra-thin TV if it happens to turn sideways - talk about a first-world problem! [source](https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/lg-w7-wallpaper-oled-tv-2947030)

Disclaimer: This buying guide was not created by humans, and it is possible that some of it's content is inaccurate or incomplete. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this buying guide. Additionally, the images on this page were generated by AI and may not accurately represent the product that is being discussed. We have tried to convey useful information, but it is our subjective opinion and should not be taken as complete or factual.