What is Neo QLED? How is it different from QLED and OLED?

OLED, QLED, Neo QLED; there’s a lot of TV tech jargon out there that makes you wonder how these types of TVs are different from one another. Let’s see how Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs deviate from standard QLED models.

Samsung Quantum Dot Enhanced Displays

Neo QLED is an advancement of Samsung’s QLED (Quantum dot LED) technology that originally launched in 2017. Quantum dots are small particles illuminated by ultraviolet light behind the screen, producing different levels of light.

QLED screens therefore tend to be brighter, more vibrant and offer better color accuracy. Using LED lights, the light intensity is evenly distributed on the TV screen. However, Neo QLED uses mini-LEDs, and thousands more compared to the number of LEDs on a QLED screen. This results in better picture quality, as a TV panel can hold more mini-LEDs than standard sized LED lights.

Neo QLED vs. QLED vs. OLED

OLED (Organic LED) TVs offer individual pixel control as each pixel is paired with an LED. Neo QLED, on the other hand, illuminates multiple pixels with a mini-LED.

While OLED TVs offer exceptional brightness control and color reproduction, they fall short due to burn-in issues and degradation over time caused by dimming panels. Neo QLED screens don’t face these issues, making them a longer term investment as you won’t have to replace your Neo QLED TV due to burn-in.

Although OLED is a more widely supported panel, QLED tends to be more favored among consumers who really value the best TVs available. In 2017, Samsung stopped its SUHD (super ultra high definition) range of TVs and rebranded them as QLED (quantum dot light-emitting diode). QLED displays don’t produce their own light, but instead use their own backlighting and quantum dot color filters to deliver better contrast and color.

With revamped technology, Neo QLED TVs provide better viewing angles, offer more potential brightness, and reduce blooming effects.

Advantages of Neo QLED

The main selling point of Neo QLED TVs is their higher contrast ratios. This means there are more levels to control, so blacks will appear blacker, minimizing the dreaded halo effect sometimes seen on LCD screens.

OLED screens still offer the closest thing to true blacks, but Neo QLEDs perform better in this area than regular QLED models. Similarly, Neo QLED and QLED displays can offer higher brightness levels (up to 4,000 nits) compared to OLED (just under 600 nits), so they’re a much better choice if you plan to watch your TV in one room. more illuminated.

Neo QLED TVs, compared to OLED screens, tend to be better for gaming as they can be much brighter, meaning it will be easier to see what you’re doing on the screen. However, it’s also important to consider other factors, such as a high refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 ports, and 4K video support.

RELATED: What are brightness nits on a TV or other display?

Are Neo QLED screens expensive?

Samsung’s cheapest Neo QLED TV is the 50-inch Class QN90A, with a retail price of around $899.99 for the 2021 model. However, if you’re looking for a bigger screen on the market, the Class QN95B (2022) an 85-inch will set you back more than $5,400.

In other words, yes, Neo QLED displays are expensive, but they’re worth it if you don’t want to replace your TV on a regular basis due to issues like burn-in. Let’s face it, who does? Neo QLED TVs are so impressive, in fact, that they were our top pick in the TV category at CES 2022.

Is Samsung the only brand offering Neo QLED?

Neo QLED is simply Samsung’s name for its mini-LED technology. Other manufacturers like LG, TCL, and HiSense also make mini-LED TVs, but under different names. LG, for example, calls its mini-LED TVs QNED, which combine Quantum Dot and NanoCell technology, as does Samsung.

However, where Samsung has confirmed that it has already switched to vertically aligned LCD (VA) panels, it is likely that LG will continue to use its In-Plane Switching (IPS) displays (although nothing has been officially announced at the time of writing). . VA panels are known for offering better contrast compared to IPS, despite offering narrower viewing angles as a trade-off.

Depending on your preferences, if you’re happy with an IPS screen, you can get an LG QNED 55-inch 4K Smart TV for less than $1,000.

Why Samsung Neo QLED TVs are worth investing in

One of the main reasons to get a Neo QLED TV over an OLED is that you just won’t get a brighter screen anywhere else. This makes them amazing for HDR viewing, whether you’re playing the latest AAA titles on your next-gen console, watching your favorite wildlife documentary, or gearing up for movie night.