OLED vs. LED TVs: Which One Should You Choose?

Which One Should You Choose?

In this guide, we go in-depth on the differences between LED and OLED TVs. We're looking at the primary technologies (and how they differ) and measuring some pros and cons associated with each.

What Is an LED TV?

Forget about plasma and LCD TVs. These days, it's all about the OLED TV and LED TV. If you're TV shopping, you already know that these are the two main technologies dominating the tube market at the moment, but—if you're like many consumers—you may be confused about the difference between the two. Here, we look deep into the ever-simmering OLED vs. LED TV debate to see which one emerges as the clear winner (hint: it's OLED).

Once at the forefront of the market, LED technology is slowly fading to the background as OLEDs outperform them in terms of picture quality, yet LED TVs remain the best bang for your buck in the TV aisle.

An LED TV uses liquid crystal display (LCD) technology to create a picture (LEDs are actually a specific type of LCD TV). The screen is a thin, translucent panel made up of pixels that are filled with liquid crystal. When electricity passes through, it causes the crystals to move so that light can or cannot pass through. LED TVs are backlit by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) rather than the old-fashioned cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), creating more vibrant pictures with deeper blacks and more saturated colors.