All the acronyms make buying a new TV more difficult than it needs to be. From HDX to UHD, and now QLED, what if you buy the wrong one? Rest assured that our media experts are here to make sense of all these terms and to make sure you get the ones you need without paying a cent extra.
QLED or UHD TVs?
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- Direct full array backlight
- Quantum Dot
- 4K Quantum processor
- Object tracking sound
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- 4K ultra HD
- Roku operating system
- Voice assistant compatible
- HDR and HDR10
Defining QLED and UHD
There are times when these terms are directly in competition with each other, such as ultra high definition (UHD) and HD or full HD. Then there are times when the technologies are not mutually exclusive, are non-competing standards, and can co-exist in the same device.
QLED and UHD are the latter. UHD stands for ultra high definition, and is also referred to as 4K, pertains to resolution. In other words, how clear and sharp images are. QLED stands for quantum light-emitting diode, which is a term for TVs in regards to color technology. More specifically, a QLED TV is one that uses Quantum Dot by Samsung.
One is for color, and the other is for resolution. As you can probably gather, you can have both technologies in one TV, and the Samsung TV we have chosen above is one such example.
QLED is Samsung’s pride and joy, and has largely replaced their standard LCD TVs (liquid crystal display), as well as the LED phase. Just as a side note, many people wonder how Samsung TVs’ QLED compares to OLED, or organic light emitting diode models. OLED panels are created by LG, and the biggest difference is that OLED TV pixels aren’t lit, because they emit their own light. QLED requires a lighting panel to light up the pixels in QLED displays.
Features of QLED and UHD TVs
In order to really understand the visual impact of QLED VS UHD, our media engineers will compare them in depth.
Visual Quality and Resolution
The visual quality in both UHD and QLED TVs are incomparable. A UHD TV focuses on the sharpness and clarity of the picture quality, to create the most realistic images. QLED TVs have QLED panels that focus on color enhancement, brightness, and vividity.
You may find TVs that are both UHD and QLED, like our team mentioned before, and even UHD that do not have QLED but instead use another color technology such as HDR. However, you can almost never find a QLED TV alone that isn’t UHD.
The winner in this section would really depend on what the viewer wants. Our team recommends QLED TVs to those who value bright colors that are visually captivating over being able to see every detail. If you are someone who enjoys the fine lines and clarity, and feel that brighter colors are secondary, then our team recommends a UHD TV.
Brightness
In short, QLED TVs excel in this section. QLED technology by Samsung was designed to have the best color output and brightness. The main difference between QLED and UHD is the focus of the technologies but also the color shade upgrade.
The little Quantum Dots can be controlled with utmost accuracy for color, which will broaden the spectrum of hues and elevate the brightness. A UHD TV operates on resolution and does not offer any sort of color or brightness improving technologies, which makes the winner very clear.
However, some QLED TVs do not have dimmable backlighting and use edge lighting instead. You may think the lack of local dimming could be a drawback, and you would be right. Our team says it’s important to look for options that have dimmable backlighting zones.
Winner: QLED
Technology
Our media experts believe that learning how something works is paramount to making the right purchase choice. As said, QLED TVs use Quantum Dot, which is a filter that has tiny particles that are very precisely controlled. These Quantum Dot particles give the best color accuracy in a QLED TV.
A QLED TV uses a LED to illuminate the pixels, and they are all lit by LED backlight technology and cannot be controlled individually. The lights in the LED panel travel through the other layers to the LCD display. There are usually 4 LED lights that work together, and the result is very even and balanced without burn in.
UHD TVs are irrespective of the panel and are just about the resolution. UHD and 4K are often used interchangeably, and they have a very high pixel density. UHD displays can come in 4K or 8K, which are simply higher resolution versions. 4K has 2160×3840 pixels while the latter contains 16x more pixels than regular full HD 1080p.
A UHD TV usually has a larger display, which really gives you a more encompassing viewing experience. If you like 3D, then our media team strongly suggests UHD as there will be more clarity and depth to your content.
There is no clear winner in this battle between UHD VS QLED since their technology is completely different. QLED is in regards to TV panel technology while UHD is based on pixels.
Response Time
What about motion blur? This is a big issue among those who love fast-paced movies and gamers. The quick answer is TVs that offer UHD resolution typically offer a higher and faster response time compared to a QLED TV. Standard LCD TV and sometimes OLED TVs can also offer high response times.
The response time is a case where higher is worse than lower. A higher response time means the TV will need more time for the pixels to keep up with the changes in color. A lower response time means the changes can be made more quickly.
Again, this also depends on the TV you have. You may notice more motion blue in older TV displays even if it uses QLED TV Technology. Another generalization is many QLED TVs that are priced higher will also have a lower response time compared to ones at more affordable prices.
Winner: QLED
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency will again depend on your smart TV model. It depends on the LCD panel the TV brands use to illuminate the TV screens. TVs don’t take a ton of power to begin with, so the energy efficiency may not be very noticeable.
Both types of tech are energy efficient. A QLED TV’s Quantum Dots are much more efficient compared to other LCD TVs and especially plasmas. Although UHD smart TVs are larger in size than most, they are also incredibly efficient since there are brightness controls in some.
Gaming and Entertainment
Our experts say a lot of the winners in these sections will depend a lot on personal preference. For gaming, there are those who would prefer a Quantum Dot [1] screen over a regular LCD screen without enhanced color, but there are also gamers that put emphasis on the visual clarity and want UHD.
Like we said, UHD is now ubiquitous among TV models, with options of 4K QLED. A QLED display will almost always be UHD, but UHD TV models can possess other color-enhancing technologies.
The same can be said for entertainment such as movies and TV shows. Do you want more color and brightness or clarity and attention to detail? Again, our media team reminds our readers that you don’t have to choose since there are plenty of 4K QLED models.
Samsung is responsible for the Quantum Dot technology, but they aren’t the only brand that has these Quantum Dot filters. You can also find QLED in TCL and Hisense TVs.
(Looking for your TV cam? Here’s where you can locate the camera on your smart TV)
Pricing
To get both technologies, you are definitely looking at mid-range to high-end models for your next TV. Since UHD is more common, you can get a UHD vs QLED TV for a lower price. QLED usually costs a bit more to have, but if your TV has both, they would traditionally come at a higher price. However, a higher-priced TV usually has a longer lifespan.
Now as Samsung adopts the technology in more and more of their TV models, you can find ones that are slightly more affordable. TCL and Vizio are known for more budget-friendly products, so if you’re looking for an inexpensive TV with QLED, then our visual team says to go for those brands.
Winner: UHD
More Top-Rated QLED and UHD TVs
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- Quantum Dot Technology
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Roku TV
- Voice-enabled remote
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- Real Game enhancer
- Motion rate 240
- Crystal processor 4K
- HDR
FAQ
Is it worth buying QLED over UHD?
Yes, it is worth buying QLED over UHD if you value color enhancement, vividity, and brightness. It is possible to get both UHD and QLED in the same device instead of having to pick between QLED VS UHD. They are not mutually exclusive and can be found together.
Overall Winner: QLED
Even though QLED and UHD are two different standards and the “better” technology is based largely on preference, our experts can still say QLED is preferred for color, brightness, and less motion blur. That being said, most QLED TVs are UHD, so you will be getting the best of both worlds if you look for a decent QLED unit.
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