CES is essentially the roadmap for what will be happening throughout the rest of the tech year. But, as always, TVs are the dominant feature at the world’s largest consumer electronics show.
This year, it seems like the biggest things in TV are not only that they’re getting thinner than before, but that there is also a new type of display being introduced, QLED.
In a world full of UHD, OLED, 4K, HDR and SUHD TVs, these two new types of display might seem a bit confusing, and you’re probably wondering what they are.
Q LED
QLED is the latest “it” thing in TV technology.
While many sites are hailing Samsung as the only proponent of QLED technology, they are not the only ones talking about the technology.
Hisense, the company utilising ULED displays in its TVs, announced at CES 2017 that it will be focusing on QLED displays moving forward.
What is Q LED though? Essentially, Q LED is an OLED display which utilises Quantum Dot technology (Quantum Dot being the big thing in TV technology announced at CES 2016).
Current Quantum Dot technology works by placing a layer, or a film, of Quantum Dots in front of a regular backlight panel.
This layer is made up of nano crystals, which each emit their own individual colour, depending on their size.
Because each nano crystal emits its own light, colours are be reproduced more accurately.
Lighting is also what categorises the difference between OLED and QLED.
Existing Quantum Dot TVs still need an LCD backlight display. OLEDs, however, produce their own light, which means that a pixel is either on or its off.
QLED displays don’t use the existing Quantum Dot display set up. In fact, they use a new backlighting system, which produces light from all directions. This unlike the pixels in a regular LCD panel, which is lit from one direction. This new way of lighting an image improves colour, contrast and viewing angles.
What this means for you is that, not only can QLED produce deeper blacks, but it can also produce brighter colours. This is where you will really notice the difference.
If QLED displays cost less to produce than OLED displays, combined with their more efficient lighting and brighter colours, QLED would be the way to go for future TVs.