Purchasing my first OLED TV, the LG E8 55-inch back in 2019, was a pivotal moment, especially as it became my perfect companion during the ensuing period of isolation. At the time, I had a basic understanding of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology, knowing it utilized self-lit pixels for infinite contrast, unlike the backlight used in LCD displays. However, diving into the worlds of Final Fantasy XV and The Last of Us Part II, I experienced the true essence of OLED, akin to reliving nostalgic, fever-dream-like memories in real time. This experience propelled me to upgrade to the LG C2 65-inch a few years later. Since then, I've delved into reviewing numerous devices with OLED displays, learning that not all OLEDs are created equal, and they don't even share the same technology. You might be curious, "How many OLED types are there?" There are several, but the three you should focus on are WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED.
WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED: How They Work
OLED technology has been around for decades, with companies like Kodak and Mitsubishi experimenting with it. However, it was LG's introduction of OLED TVs in the early 2010s that brought it into the mainstream.
LG's version of OLED is known as WOLED (White OLED), though they market it simply as OLED. WOLED uses a pure white OLED layer with an RGBW color filter. Instead of individual red, green, and blue emitters, you have white pixels filtered through to create colors. This approach helps mitigate burn-in, a common issue with OLEDs, by balancing the deterioration rate of the emitters. However, the color filters can lead to uneven brightness and reduced color volume. Higher-end WOLEDs attempt to address this with Micro Lens Array technology, which focuses light more effectively.
In 2022, Samsung introduced QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED), which replaces the white OLED layer with a blue one, hitting a layer of quantum dot color converters. These quantum dots absorb and convert the blue light into red or green without losing brightness, leading to more vibrant colors and higher efficiency.
AMOLED, on the other hand, stands apart by incorporating a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer. This allows for faster pixel activation but at the expense of OLED's signature "infinite" contrast.
WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED: Which Is Better for Gaming?
When it comes to gaming, choosing the right OLED technology depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you're looking for the best overall option, QD-OLED is the way to go. However, WOLED and AMOLED each have their merits in certain scenarios.
AMOLED displays are predominantly found in smartphones and laptops due to their flexibility, high refresh rates, and excellent viewing angles. They're less common in TVs due to cost. While AMOLEDs are great for smaller devices, they struggle in direct sunlight because of lower peak brightness.
For gaming monitors and TVs, you'll typically choose between WOLED (often just marketed as OLED) and QD-OLED. WOLED can achieve high brightness with whites, thanks to its white OLED layer, but loses brightness across other colors due to the RGBW filter. QD-OLED, with its quantum dot technology, offers brighter and more vibrant colors across the board.
In a highly reflective environment, WOLED's ability to maintain true blacks despite glare makes it less distracting than QD-OLED, which can show a purplish tint without a polarizing layer. However, the actual performance of any display hinges on its specifications, and higher-end models tend to offer better quality.
The Future of OLED Is PHOLED
Beyond WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED, there's another type of OLED technology on the horizon: PHOLED (Phosphorescent OLED). PHOLED uses phosphorescent materials to convert energy to light more efficiently than fluorescent materials. The challenge has been the shorter lifespan of blue PHOLED, but LG has recently announced a breakthrough, dubbing it "Dream OLED." This technology promises 100% luminous efficiency, making for brighter displays that consume less power.
While PHOLED TVs are not imminent, we can expect to see this technology in smartphones and tablets sooner rather than later.
