QNED vs OLED vs QLED | What's the best TV tech in 2021?

QNED is LG's fresh 2021 TV tech, joining OLED and Samsung's QLED televisions to overjoy our eyeballs. But which screen type produces the best 4K/8K visuals? Here we dive into QNED vs OLED vs QLED, seeing how Samsung has evolved its own televisions into the fresh Neo sets, and how mini LED stacks up against the new micro LED tech.

OLED is still the champion for infinity contrast, thanks to each pixel having the ability to switch on or off. In contrast, QNED and QLED use backlighting to produce their images - but mini LED technology means a crazy number of lights are crammed into a tiny space. So contrast on the upper-end TV models is comparable to OLED, while you can also enjoy higher brightness, natural colours - or poppy in-your-face visuals too.

As an added benefit, LG's QNED and Samsung's QLED televisions are generally more affordable than those OLED panels. Although you can still drop quite a lot of cash on a top-end flagship 8K TV from these guys, and even the 4Ks aren't exactly wallet friendly.

As an added aside, you might not want to invest in a micro LED set any time soon, which boast incredible clarity vs the mini LED screens thanks to even greater concentrations of even tinier lights. These are mostly commercial sets, thanks to the huge size and prohibitive cost.

[Steamedhams]

This is to confusing, I'm going to Qbed

[kevjapan]

Most TVs are looking so good recently. I honestly bet the average consumer would be fairly happy with just about anything- but I do totally respect those who need the best of the best. I was trying to choose between a couple Hisense models a few months ago. Both were priced almost the same but ended up going with the one with slightly worse specs because I loved the stand and the overall design of it much more. The picture should be technically better on the other model but when I got mine in my apartment with nothing to compare to I think it looks pretty darn good. Anyway everybody enjoy your new TVs no matter what you get!

[mmcpa]

I am loving my 75" LG 75QNED99UPA. I've never had an OLED, but this TV is excellent. The black's are deep, the colors natural and not over saturated. Just a great panel IMO.

[Wellibob]

I like Chris. He's a proper northern tech bugger.

[DLinton]

... I like my projector. When the lamp dies, I'll think of upgrading. [or finding a replacement bulb]

[metatech]

I’m honestly sold on anything mini or micro LED after comparing my iPad’s mini LED to my OLED screen. They both produce amazing pictures but the mini LED can light up different parts of an image simultaneously, bringing the whole image into focus and thereby into life. Whereas the OLED can only manage to bring only specific parts of an image into focus. Mini LED is obviously also better at showing greater detail thanks to those tiny light emitting diodes, and the sheer number of them concentrated into the same space as OLED TVs. Can’t wait to see what micro LED looks like. Or micro OLED.

[briandsouza]

LCD Backlight: LED, QLED, QNED, MiniLED
True LEDs: OLED, AMOLED, MicroLED

[csrivathsa]

It would be better if it was a side by side comparison. Expecting it later this year❤️❤️

[mnchxld]

I bought the C9 when it came out in 2019 it's still the best of the best tvs I have ever owned to this day

[Crv]

So, to sum it up. QNED and QLED are still built on the same old backlighting technology, only more and smaller backlighting than before. This means you will not have as crisp contrast as an OLED. Most notisable in dark/night scenes

[adinchandra]

Thumbnail: These TV is So Beautiful and Great...

Why? No Sucks Bezels

[HUNKY]

Well done for explaining Chris, remember not the 9o`clock news? What do I do with my old 78s

[mini]

I use 6 OLED devices - TV/monitor, 2 laptops, tablet, phone, and a smartwatch. So I can confidently say, OLED all the way :)

[Jentzenfong]

Chris could be a good science teacher. Imagine he is teaching science lesson in the class, and the laughter of every kid being so enjoyable on their science lesson

[stewartj]

Had an LG oled, got hideiously screen burnt, changed to samsung q90t, but not near as good a picture as the oled when it was new, fresh and unburnt, backlight needs it all, qned looks like it might be a winner.

[UnitedKingdomRC]

You didn’t actually say anything about QNED vs QLED, you just said they’re closely competitive

[JL-xoed]

Good information, but have the actual TVs side by side so we can actually see the difference. Thank you for the review.

[georgionw]

We are spolied with 5v options nowadays. I remember when a basic hdtv was 5k when it first came out. Now you can get a great 65' for less then 500

[daveadriffield]

I used to read The Q Bikes in the Beano in the early 1960s. We had no telly.

[timgurr]

The human eye can only see what it sees. The older one gets, typically, the worst vision. Maybe the industry should rate their displays based on the age of the viewer. They are already doing that for age appropriate toys and that's what all this technology is becoming for us more mature audiences.