When researching some of the newer and more advanced display technologies, you’ll probably come across organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and quantum light-emitting diode (QLED). They’ve become two of the most popular display technologies for high-resolution devices. You can find TVs, as well as computer monitors, using them. While OLED and QLED are both based on traditional LED technology, they aren’t the same. What’s the difference between OLED and QLED exactly?
What Is OLED?
OLED is a type of display technology that’s characterized by the use of self-illuminating liquid pixels. Like liquid crystal displays (LCDs), they are designed with thousands of individual pixels consisting of a liquid organic material. OLED differs from traditional LCD technology, however, by negating the need for backlighting.
Traditional LCDs require backlighting. They still contain pixels consisting of a liquid organic material, but the pixels can illuminate themselves. Instead, they require illumination from a separate component, known as backlighting. OLEDs, on the other hand, are defined by their use of self-illuminating liquid pixels.
The pixels used in OLEDs are capable of producing their own illumination. Therefore, OLEDs don’t need backlighting. When powered, their pixels will illuminate to create visible images on the screen. Only OLEDs have self-illuminating pixels. Traditional LCDs, as well as QLEDs, require backlighting.
What Is QLED?
QLED is similar to OLED but with a few caveats. Like OLED, as well as LCD, it features thousands of pixels consisting of a liquid organic material. The difference is that these pixels aren’t self-illuminating. They require illumination from backlighting.
LCDs are designed with backlighting as well. With that said, QLED goes one step further by introducing a special layer to enhance the illuminating effects of its backlighting. Known as a quantum dot filter, this layer rests between the pixel layer and the backlighting. The quantum dot filter is designed to amplify the illumination produced by the backlighting.
Backlighting can affect the brightness of a display device’s images. In traditional LCDs, the backlighting may fail to deliver bright and vivid images. QLEDs ensure a superior level of brightness by amplifying the backlighting with a quantum dot filter.
In Conclusion
OLED and QLED are two of the latest display technologies to hit the market. OLED is a variant of LCD technology that features self-illuminating pixels. In comparison, QLED is a variant of LCD technology that features a quantum dot filter to enhance the illuminating effects of its backlighting.
