If you’re in the market for a new TV, you're in luck – there's never been a better time to buy one. Both the major flat panel technologies – OLED and LED – are mature and far down the cost curve, with affordability like never before. So, if you want a large TV with incredible picture quality, you have fantastic choices.
With all the choice, how do you pick a TV? We’ll make one thing clear in this guide: You can’t go wrong with any of the models we will mention here. All of these will deliver superb brightness, clarity, and contrast. Nevertheless, there are some subtle differences across technologies and vendors, and one may be better for you depending on what you watch.
Ready to see how to narrow down your choices for your perfect new TV? A&B TV, Austin’s own home theater store, can help you choose. Just keep reading.
SEE ALSO: A Look at the Best 4K LED TVs from Samsung and Sony
OLED TVs
OLED TVs are known for superb picture quality and doing just about everything well. One point to note is the available screen sizes. While LG has recently released the new 88-inch OLED panel, the price jump from the 77-inch sizes is very significant. OLED panels are now very affordable in 55, 65, and 77-inch sizes.
Why would you choose OLED? If you watch many movies or high-quality shows with HDR, OLED image quality is hard to beat. It starts with the self-lighting pixels that require no backlight, which deliver the inky black levels that you want for many dark scenes in films. Add to that amazing color reproduction, lightning-fast panel response rates, good viewing angles, and excellent contrast ratios, and you have a winner on many fronts. Where might you not go with OLED? The best LED sets - like the ones we mention here – can have overall better brightness. So, for a brightly lit room or just one where you like to watch with plenty of lighting, an LED set might be a better choice.
Two names are at the pinnacle of OLED TV technology – Sony and LG. Sony showed the world the first OLED TV back in 2007, and LG was the first major vendor to heavily invest in refining the technology. Today, both use OLED in their high-end models that feature superlative performance. Sony’s A8H and A9G models feature the industry's best picture processing with their X1 Ultimate processor, which lets them push the state of the art in image quality. Their intelligent Object-based Super Resolution detects individual objects in the picture and enhances color and detail for incredibly lifelike images. Sony even has a Netflix mode that adjusts the image to what the directors see on their studio monitors, so you get pictures the way the directors intended on your screen.
LG has been the go-to name in OLED TVs for years. Their CX and GX series have consistently won awards for picture quality, although they now have renewed competition from Sony. LG sets feature all the benefits of OLED panels, along with their OLED Motion Pro, which will make all your action films, sports, and gaming smooth and artifact-free. LG adds Dolby Vision for the ultimate HDR and Dolby Vision IQ to adjust the picture for ambient room lighting.
Choosing between Sony and LG for an OLED TV will be difficult - you will not find fault with either company’s models, and the feature sets are comparable. It may come down to styling and interface, as Sony uses Android TV and LG uses WebOS. Both systems are easy to operate and feature all the streaming apps you will likely want. The good news is that you can come to our Austin showroom and see these models for yourself!
LED TVs
At the top of the heap in LED TVs, you also find Sony and Samsung with their excellent QLED technology. Here there is a slight variation in how each company approaches an LED TV. Samsung has invested heavily in QLED technology, which adds a layer in the panel with energy reactive nanoparticles that filter light in a way that produces highly saturated color. QLED is also known for very high brightness, which is a boon for brightly lit rooms.
Why might you go with LED vs. OLED? First, there is a price difference. OLED still commands a premium over LED in comparable models. Second, 85-inch LED panels are widely available and significantly less expensive than the new 88-inch OLED sets. Third, for some brightly lit rooms, an LED set from Sony or Samsung might be a better choice for everyday TV watching like cable, streaming, and non-film sources.
Starting with Sony, The Sony X900/950 Series is the high end of Sony's 4K LED range. Sony has refined LED technology to deliver exceptional picture quality. They have done this with intelligent processing and artificial intelligence to provide image quality that rivals OLED in some aspects. Sony's processing can make non-HDR source material look like HDR with eye-popping contrast, and their motion processing will make any fast action look smooth. Sony applies additional processing cleverness and enhanced backlight control to improve viewing angles, an area where most LED TVs do not excel.
The Samsung Q80 and Q90 models represent the best of the company’s QLED TVs. As is the case with top of the line TVs, you will find most features match the Sony sets. Powerful processing from the Quantum Processor 4K expertly controls backlight performance and HDR processing for the best color and contrast. Intelligent Mode goes beyond picture control for environmental adaptation, adjusting brightness, volume, and audio tone to optimize for room conditions. One unique design element is the Invisible Connection that uses a high bandwidth fiber optic cable to enable you to offload connections from the panel – including the power cable – to a box that you can place in furniture or elsewhere, resulting in perfectly flush wall mounting. Samsung also pioneered the TV as a frame for ever-changing wall art, and these models even offer an option to subscribe to a service that turns your black flat-panel into gorgeous high-resolution art on your wall.
How do you choose between Samsung and Sony? You may want to consider color and brightness, as Samsung QLED TVs are both very bright and very color-saturated. Some might prefer this, and others might prefer Sony’s more natural images. Either will deliver incredible viewing for most any material. It’s best to compare them in our showroom!
You simply cannot make a mistake with any of these TVs. Visit our showroom for the best holiday prices right now, contact us here, or call us today at (512) 454-4534 for more information and expert advice. We look forward to hearing from you!