The pace of development of modern OLED technologies for large screens is encouraging. Despite the fact that plasma is still a recognized quality standard among videophiles, the future is still for OLED, although OLED also has its drawbacks.
After the release and consumer testing of the Samsung S9C OLED model, some of the experts (in particular David Katzmazer - CNET) noted that its screen was the best thing they had to deal with.
Judging by the enthusiastic reviews of experts, the S9C OLED screen is almost anything, high light output, no blur or any non-uniformity of the image, etc.
But, as usual, in this barrel of honey there was a place for a fly in the ointment, or rather 7 spoons at once. The fact is that, like any new and not yet developed technology, OLED also has some problems so far.
And although they, fortunately, do not look completely insoluble, it is better to know about them before buying an OLED TV than after. Some, such as their high price, are obvious, others are less known to the average consumer, but they are.
So here Top 7 Reasons Why 2013 OLED TVs Aren't Perfect :
1. Expensive
Even taking into account a somewhat unexpected reduction in price announced upon the release of the S9 OLED, the price of this TV in the States is still as much as $ 8,999, which is a bit expensive even for Americans. The LG 55EM9800 model costs even more - $ 14999.
For comparison, the most popular 55-inch plasma Panasonic TC-P55VT60 in the USA costs about $ 2700, and the Sony KDL-55W900A, which according to the test results is declared the best combination of quality, functionality and price - $ 2300.
In this regard, although he was the first on the market, such a huge difference in price did not allow him to somehow identify himself as a sales leader. It is believed that LG will soon cut prices. At least up to the level of Samsung.
In general, manufacturers are still talking about the fact that new developments cannot be cheap immediately, but will become cheaper as demand for them increases and production volumes increase. As an example, Ultra High-Definition TVs are cited, which a year after entering the market began to quickly become cheaper, firstly, because the technology of their production was very quickly mastered by Chinese manufacturers, and secondly, because in the struggle for their own the buyer and companies such as Sony and LG.
With OLED, there is no hope of such a rapid reduction in price, since they are more complicated and more expensive to manufacture than LED TVs. In addition, leading manufacturers still complain about some of the technical problems associated with setting up mass production of OLED TVs. Therefore, when exactly they will fall in price, no one undertakes to predict yet. A year, two, five ... maybe a little longer, but definitely not tomorrow.
2. disadvantages of OLED TVs -Crooked
The fact is that the first OLED TVs are not flat, they are, because the image looks very nice, but still a little distorted. Here's what the same David Katzmeier wrote in his S9 OLED review:
“The angles appear wider than the subtle trapezoid effect that I think is distracting when compared to a typical flat screen. The horizontal edges also visually expand towards the edges, creating a subtle U along the top edge [of the screen] and the same, but inverted, along the bottom. I can understand that you can get used to this curvature, as well as to anything unusual, but if I were a wealthy videophile, I would wait until flat appears. "
However, both Samsung and LG are not promising flat-panel OLED TVs anytime soon. In addition, LG admits that such measures are necessary, including because it was necessary to somehow differentiate from TVs with a different type of screens. On the other hand, according to the manufacturers, curvature in this case is a problem that will be solved very soon.
In an unofficial order, among the main reasons for the curvature of OLED-TV screens, anything sounds - from "it is cheaper to manufacture" and "this is how profitability increases" to "this is how the effect of presence is created" and other marketing rhetoric. So far, only one thing is clear: OLED curves are not to everyone's liking.
3. disadvantages of OLED TVs -Burn out
Of course, little is said about this, but the fact remains: OLED TVs also burn out. As with old CRTs, OLED screens can hold the image for a while, sometimes even forever, if left stationary for too long. There are no exact statistics on such cases yet, but it happens.
Probably the very first to report about the burnout of LG OLED screen installed in one of the departments of the Harrods department store. According to witnesses who posted this news on the AVS forum, this trouble happened just two months after the device was installed.
But in fairness, we note that the same members of the forum write about obvious violations of the operating rules: the brightness level was set to maximum and the menu was constantly "hanging" on the screen, i.e. the conditions are obviously not what the developers envisioned.
By the way, to understand what burnout looks like, take an old smartphone or an even older mobile phone. If the device has been used for a long time and actively, then various symbols and / or elements of the most frequently pressed icons may appear on its screen. OLED does the same, only on a large scale. Like this, for example:
Of course, so far there is no reason to say that burnout is an obligatory outcome of an OLED TV. Therefore, let's hope that either OLED, like plasma, will burn out only in exceptional cases and if the operating conditions are not followed, or the manufacturers will present convincing evidence that such OLED TV shortcomings have been eliminated.
So far, it is known that current Samsung OLEDs are definitely equipped with a burn-in protection system (see an example). Where to go? Indeed, at a cost of $ 9000 apiece, the lack of such protection in the TV would look at least an incomprehensible trick.
4. disadvantages of OLED TVs -55 inches - no more, no less
The television life of OLED technology, as you know, began in 2008 with the 11-inch Sony XEL-1, which was in short supply even in Asian countries. 55 inches is undoubtedly a huge step forward, but if you need a bigger or smaller screen, then, as they say, there are no options. Yes, there will be other sizes, but not tomorrow either.
5. disadvantages of OLED TVs -in general, damp
Again, those widescreen OLED TVs that can be found in stores today are considered the first generation with all the ensuing consequences. For example, at present, manufacturing companies are forced to solve two problems at once, which they had to face when setting up the mass production of OLED-TV. The first is related to the "blue pixel", and the second is related to the relatively low profitability of OLED production.
The essence of the fable with a blue pixel, or rather a subpixel, is that in comparison with red and green, it is much less efficient: it consumes more energy, therefore it serves much less. As a result, the lifespan of the screen directly depends on how long the blue subpixels can "stretch" in it.
In this regard, it will be very useful to recall the test results of the OLED patriarch - Sony XEL-1, where it was found that after 1000 hours of operation, the device's screen dimmed by 12%. Since then, the technology has certainly advanced far ahead, but the problem remains.
On the other hand, manufacturers also continue to look for options for its solution. Just the other day, an interesting review of the new KN55S9C from Samsung was published. It turns out that in this model, the company's engineers tried to solve the problem of the blue subpixel by increasing its area, which is approximately twice the area of green and red subpixels.
In addition, as the area increases, the specific luminance of the blue subpixel obviously decreases, and as a result, its lifespan increases.
As for the low profitability of the production of OLED TVs, then, again, this problem also comes from the imperfection of their production technology. As the manufacturers themselves note, for every finished OLED TV that ends up in the store, there are several defective OLED panels, the price of which still falls on the cost of the final products. As a result, as of December 2012, the profitability of OLED TV production was no more than 10% (DisplaySearch data). However, there are also some improvements here. According to Samsung representatives, the problem with profitability is gradually being solved and therefore the company even plans to reduce the price of its first generation OLEDs to $ 6,000.
However, as we understand it, “resolved” does not mean “resolved” at all, which means that OLED TVs will remain a niche product for now. It should also be borne in mind that so far none of the manufacturers have officially published data on the lifespan of their OLEDs. Both LG and Samsung release OLED TVs with a standard 12-month warranty and no indication of their lifespan.
6. disadvantages of OLED TVs -No ultra high definition
Yes, despite the amount of money that is requested for them, current Ultra High-Definition OLED TVs do not support. But, in fairness, let's say that their first OLEDs with ultra-high resolution (also 55-inch, by the way) were demonstrated back in January at CES-2013, thereby proving that their production is possible. Now the manufacturers seem to have decided to wait a bit, since even the market prospects for conventional ones, which have been on sale for a long time, are still not determined. Simply put, no one knows if a wealthy buyer will like modern OLED TVs, or if they still prefer modern UHD.
7. disadvantages of OLED TVs -Competition
The good old format war in the world of OLED TVs has not yet been observed, but Samsung and LG have fundamentally different approaches to describing screens, which, nevertheless, cannot be understood which of the TVs is better.
Here Samsung writes that its OLED-screens, as well as plasma and, consist of red, green and blue subpixels. But if we take into account the above-mentioned problem of the "blue pixel", then it is not yet possible to imagine how long Samsung's OLED can work.
Against this background, the path that LG has chosen to bypass the "blue pixel problem" looks much more efficient, from an economic point of view, at least. LG OLED TVs use a grid of white LEDs (which actually consist of layers of the same red, green and blue), which are superimposed on several color filters and as a result, four different subpixels are obtained - red, green, blue and White. LG claims that the advantage of such a panel is its higher brightness. Those. LG OLED TV should perform better than Samsung in bright ambient light conditions. Well, that's what LG thinks.
We have not yet had the opportunity to compare "live" OLED-TVs of LG and Samsung, therefore we will not dwell on which one is better or worse either. Moreover, we believe that it is too early to judge whether any of the OLED TVs are better, more reliable and more durable.
TOTAL
OLED in today's widescreen TVs is essentially a very new technology, and its adoption is fraught with challenges. However, OLED TV has great potential to successfully replace current plasma and LCD TVs. But it takes time to implement it, which means it is too early to consider the current OLED TVs the pinnacle of perfection. So let's wait ...
Any technology has its own resource, so it is impossible to improve them indefinitely. First, CRTs were replaced by LCD panels, and now the latter are forced to share the market with OLED TVs.
Technology features
The basis of such a device is a matrix assembled from many small organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). They can be switched on independently of each other, completely eliminating the mutual illumination characteristic of liquid crystal panels. This solution provides the following benefits:
- increased contrast - the brightness of the image in different parts of the screen can differ thousands of times;
- extended color gamut and accurate reproduction of each shade;
- compatibility with HDR and HLG technologies;
- endless depth of black;
- smaller size, minimum device thickness.
Other important characteristics
When choosing a TV, you should pay attention to its resolution and picture refresh rate. The higher these indicators, the clearer the image will be both in still frames and in dynamic scenes with fast movements.
Noteworthy are the parameters of the audio system. Today you can buy devices equipped with true soundbars with multiple full-range speakers and built-in subwoofers. These OLED TVs can completely replace multi-channel acoustics - they reproduce rich surround sound. For Internet lovers, Smart TVs with high-tech matrices are offered. These models allow you to watch online videos, download files, connect to digital theaters, and even play without using a computer.
Modern multimedia electronics in "Eldorado"
You can buy OLED TVs in our online store. We offer products from renowned manufacturers including LG, Sony and Philips. To quickly select a suitable model, just contact the company's specialists or use a convenient sorting system. All goods from the catalog can be ordered with delivery in Moscow, Ufa, Omsk, Vladimir and other cities of Russia.
Choosing a modern TV, most buyers do not fully understand how led differs from oled models, what strengths and weaknesses each of these technologies has. It is not difficult to get confused here, since both terms sound almost the same and are widely used by marketers promoting each of their directions in the development of television technology.
What is LED andOLED
In fact, both words mean that special semiconductor devices are used in TVs - LEDs (LED - from English L ight- E mitting D iode), which begin to glow brightly when an electric current flows through them. They can be thought of as miniature bulbs that emit red, white, green, or blue, depending on the chemical composition of the crystal or phosphor. Over time, a separate group of LEDs has emerged, using the same principles, but built on organic polymers. Therefore, an additional letter O was added to their name - organic (OLED). These devices are made in the form of polymer films, therefore they are extremely thin and flexible.
At first glance, the difference between the consonant concepts led and oled is small, and it lies only in the manufacturing technology and physical properties of diodes. However, the areas of their application in modern televisions differ dramatically. First of all, the designation LED TV does not mean at all that the image in it is created by point LEDs. They only illuminate a conventional liquid crystal matrix, replacing large, wasteful and short-lived fluorescent lamps. It would be more correct to say - LCD TVs with LED backlighting, but the term first announced by Samsung has taken root and is widely used in the market today.
Real LED screens built from arrays of multi-colored LEDs, due to their relatively large size, are used today only as information boards in stadiums, train stations, concert halls and presentations. But in OLED TVs, organic elements applied to a flexible base really make up a pixel matrix with which you can get a color image. This technology makes it possible to make TV receivers with ultra-thin and even curved screens.
LED andOLED models: what are their strengths and weaknesses?
To make the right choice between LED and OLED TVs, you need to consider and weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each technology. Let us take the most important technical indicators of TV receivers as evaluation criteria.
- Brightness ... In this category, LED TVs are in the lead. They can seamlessly use the LED backlight at maximum brightness. But the service life of their organic counterparts (especially blue) directly depends on the intensity of the pixel luminescence. Therefore, it is not recommended to expose the highest screen brightness in OLED TVs.
- Contrast
and the depth of black.
Here is the unconditional victory of OLED technology. The most painful problem of LCD TVs is the inability to achieve natural blacks on the screen. Even if the liquid crystal, which works like a window blind, is completely closed, still a little light will seep through it. This gives dark areas of the screen a characteristic purple or gray tint.
OLED TVs do not require matrix backlighting, as their screens themselves are composed of an array of light-emitting elements. Therefore, every pixel in the dark area of the image is simply off, ensuring real blacks. Because of this feature, OLED screens also demonstrate higher contrast: the range between the darkest and lightest areas of the screen is much wider than that of LCD counterparts. - Screen uniformity ... The clear leader is OLED. The lateral type of matrix backlight, which is most often used in modern LCD TVs, has one negative effect - it does not allow you to uniformly illuminate the entire surface of the screen. When the panel is completely darkened, overexposed areas are observed around its perimeter, which are especially noticeable in the evening. There is no such problem for OLED TVs.
- Color gamut.
Today, some premium LED TVs offer a wider color gamut than their organic competitors. For example, leading manufacturing companies for this purpose use multicolor LED backlighting based on Wide Color LED and Triluminos phosphors, as well as Quantum Dots technology. So far, the winner in this nomination is LED TV.
- Viewing angles ... OLED devices are in the lead here, the image on which does not fade or change color even at critical viewing angles. In modern LED TVs, these indicators depend on the construction technology of the LCD matrix. For example, IPS-screens demonstrate a decent picture when viewed at an angle of up to 178º, but the simplest TN-panels darken already at 90º.
- Energy efficiency. It is difficult to determine the winner in this category. The energy consumption of an OLED TV depends not only on the brightness setting, but also on the scene shown on the screen. For example, displaying nighttime landscapes will consume much less energy than displaying sunny Miami Beach. In LED TVs, this parameter is more stable, since it depends only on the brightness of the screen backlight, which was initially set. Therefore, formally, they can be considered more economical.
- Terms of operation ... Today, in terms of durability, LED technology is ahead, since white backlight LEDs can work stably up to 70-100 thousand hours. Organic devices still have much shorter service lives, for example, the fastest-wearing blue OLED phosphor lasts no more than 7 thousand hours. Red and green LEDs last longer, but this doesn't make much sense, since the overall color rendering of a pixel is seriously distorted.
- Price
... Definitely, LED TVs are still much cheaper. Suffice it to say that a decent 50-inch LCD model with LED backlighting can be bought today for about $ 500, while top-end devices that can compete with OLED counterparts through the use of the most advanced technologies will cost a maximum of $ 8,000. Today OLED TVs are rapidly falling in price, but still their price is still about 5 times higher than the cost of LED devices (with the same diagonal).
As you can see, there are significant differences between led and oled technologies. LED TVs captivate with their cost, wide choice of diagonal solutions and long service life. OLED models exhibit high responsiveness, unlimited viewing angles and realistic color gamut, especially in dark details. They are also thinner than LCD models and can have a curved screen. Do not forget that OLED is a young, promising and actively developing technology for building televisions, while LCD models, even with LED backlighting, have practically exhausted all their possibilities for moving forward.
Most homes have more than one TV. Maybe two, three or more. They are installed in different rooms - in the kitchen, in the living room, in the bedroom or in the nursery. Requirements and selection criteria change depending on the place of registration. So it turns out that choosing a TV is not so easy.
To choose a TV, you first need to decide at least with the technology by which it will be manufactured. They all have their pros and cons. But even the disadvantages can be used “for good”.
Plasma screens
Plasma display device is fundamentally different from all other technologies. Between the two glass plates are cells filled with gas - xenon or neon. Therefore, such televisions are sometimes called gas-discharge televisions. When the current passes, the cells glow, the brightness of the glow depends on the magnitude of the current.
The main advantage of this technology: high quality of the "picture", which is preserved even in very dynamic moments. Other advantages of this technology look no less impressive:
Very good indicators, which contributed to the rapid growth of popularity. But there are also disadvantages:
If you want to choose a TV with a large screen, high quality images and good color reproduction, pay attention to plasma panels. This is exactly what they are. Only if you want, you have to look for the appropriate brackets and the wall must be of good load-bearing capacity. Drywall or foam concrete will not hold such a mass.
Properties of LCD TVs (LCD)
Liquid crystal screens use a digital image transmission method. They are named so because the cells are filled with liquid crystals, which in an electromagnetic field polarize the light passing through them, changing the degree of their own transparency. To obtain an image, a matrix with liquid crystals is backlit (with cold cathode lamps), color filters are used to convey shades.
The advantages of LCD TVs are as follows:
- The models of recent years have low power consumption.
- Higher resolution (compared to plasma).
- The ability to play in FullHD format.
- Low weight.
- There are screens in different sizes - both small and large. The image on them is of the same quality.
- Good geometry of the image.
- Low level of electromagnetic radiation as they are powered from undervoltage.
- No screen burnout and transillumination.
- The screen does not attract dust.
This set of qualities contributed to the rapid proliferation of LCD TVs. But they also have a number of disadvantages that you should be aware of:
If you want to opt for an LCD TV with a good resolution, you have to shell out a hefty sum. If the requirements for image quality are not so strict, it is quite possible to look at models from the middle price range.
LED technology
The difference between LCD and LED TVs is in the different lamps used to illuminate the matrix. LED TVs use LEDs. They are smaller, which makes the screens very thin. They are also more durable and consume less electricity. There are two types of LED backlight screens:
Due to the use of LEDs, LCD TVs receive additional advantages:
If you decide to choose a TV with high image quality, take a closer look at LED models. They have, perhaps, only one drawback - the high price. A good quality LED TV costs $ 600-1000. Compared to conventional LCDs, they cost 40-50% more. Nevertheless, these are not the most expensive models today, and many opt for LED TVs.
OLED and QLED technology
This technology for making TVs appeared already in this century, and they have been mass-produced for only four years. The image is formed by organic light-emitting diodes, which themselves emit light and do not require backlighting. In English, they are designated OLED, which gave the name to this type of TV.
Today, there are two main technologies for producing OLED TVs:
Organic LED (Organic Light-Emittind Diode, OLED) is a semiconductor device,
made on the basis of organic compounds that emit light when transmitted
electric current through them. It is at the heart of many modern high-quality displays for both TVs and mobile devices. It is believed that the production of OLED displays
is much cheaper than LCD production.
The material obtained in the early 2000s under the name "" has recently found more and more application in various fields. Graphene has very interesting properties: it is flexible, transparent, very durable, and is also an excellent conductor. It is not surprising that it is graphene that they predict the fate of the material that will be used in the next generation of electronic devices. And the first prototypes have already begun to appear. For example, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technologies recently created the first-of-its-kind transparent OLED display, all of whose electrodes are made of graphene.
