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Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: How Do They Compare?

Updated: August 7, 2023 by Sydney Wess

With this ever-changing technology in the electronic industry, people are finding it hard to decide between the Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED.

These TVs are incredibly popular with consumers, offering stunning picture quality and advanced technology. But how do they stack up against each other? A comprehensive understanding of these TV models and how they compare features, performance, and price will help you make a well-thought-out purchase. But first, we need to understand what technology each model uses.

Samsung’s QD-OLED technology combines the benefits of OLED and quantum dot technology to create a display that offers a higher peak brightness and more accurate color representation. This is due to adding a layer of quantum dots between the LED panel and the organic material. The layer of quantum dots acts as an RGB color filter, allowing more saturated colors with better color accuracy. Samsung’s QD-OLED technology also allows for a much brighter picture than standard OLED, reaching up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. This is important for HDR content which requires brighter highlights to produce a more realistic image. Additionally, Samsung’s QD-OLED technology allows for the production of very deep black levels, providing enhanced contrast and picture detail.

On the other hand, LG OLED technology offers an excellent viewing experience unlike any other. With its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, LG TVs can deliver perfect blacks, allowing for brighter and more vivid colors than traditional LCD TVs. The self-lighting OLED pixels are not dependent on the backlight, meaning that even the darkest blacks on the screen will look true-to-life. These properties make your movies and shows appear more vibrant and lifelike.

So, let’s break down each model’s features, designs, and technology and make the best choice that fits your preferences.

Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: Side-by-Side Comparison

	Samsung QD-OLED	LG OLED
Launch	2022	2010
Viewing Angle	Wider viewing angle	Superior viewing angles with consistent color and contrast, even from the widest angles
Resolution	4K with an upscale resolution	High-resolution of 4k and 8K upscaling
Color Accuracy	Pure blacks with naturally bright colors due to quantum dot technology.	OLED hits 99% of both DCI P3 color and Adobe RGB
Motion	Instantaneous native (G to G) response time of 0.1Ms	OLED Motion
Connectivity Technology	HDMI 2.1 ports, eARC, and Wireless Dolby Atmos	HDMI, USB, LAN, and SPDIF (Optical Digital Audio Out)
Display Technology	Self-luminous display	Self-lit pixels

Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: What’s the Difference?

Comparing Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED is essential when selecting an OLED television. So, you should consider each type’s design, picture quality, smart features, and display technology to make the right choice.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology is becoming increasingly popular in television screens, and these two brands are leading the way. So, this ever-changing television technology needs careful research to identify and compare the distinctive differences between the models.

Let’s dive into these differences.

*Samsung and LG are spearheading the growing popularity of OLED technology in television screens.*

Design

The main difference in design between Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED lies in how they are structured. Samsung’s QD-OLED design uses a 3-layer structure with quantum dots, a self-emitting layer of blue light, and an Oxide TFT backplane. This creates an elegantly minimal TV with a nearly bezel-less screen and a super thin profile.

In contrast, LG OLED is designed with its all-around design, rounded edges, and a sleek, streamlined look. The cinema screen design of LG OLED allows it to blend seamlessly into any space, while the floor and gallery stand to provide the option to conceal unsightly cables neatly. Despite their unique differences, both designs enhance the viewing experience and provide stunning visuals.

Picture Quality

When it comes to picture quality, both TV models have their advantages. Samsung QD-OLED provides the best color accuracy and a wide color gamut, while LG OLED can produce perfect black levels and infinite image contrast.

QD-OLED is capable of reproducing more realistic images with natural-looking colors, whereas LG OLED produces a more vibrant image quality. For people who want the best picture quality, it’s hard to beat the combination of Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED.

Best LG OLED TVs — LG OLED TVs are known for their deep blacks and contrast, while Samsung QD-OLED TVs are praised for color accuracy and a wide color gamut.
©Eric Broder Van Dyke/Shutterstock.com

Panel Type

Samsung QD-OLED is a self-luminous display consisting of a TFT layer, a light source, and a QD light emitting layer. This type of OLED displays colors using the light emitted from the light source.

In comparison, LG OLEDs utilize EX Technology, combining deuterium-based OLED with a new wave of more efficient manufacturing processes. This technology is integrated into all OLED TV displays manufactured at LG Display’s OLED production plants in Paju, South Korea. LG OLEDs are more energy-efficient and provide brighter displays than Samsung QD-OLEDs.

However, this doesn’t mean that all the LG OLED TVs use the EX technology, as some of the TVs were assembled before the shift happened. So, you may find some with the old version of the panel type.

Smart Features

Samsung QD-OLED provides comprehensive integration with a range of voice assistants and smart home devices, allowing users to control compatible devices from the comfort of their homes. This includes Alexa, Bixby, and Google Assistant, which you can use to control Apple HomeKit and SmartThings compatible with smart home devices. Furthermore, Samsung’s voice assistant provides a natural language processing feature that can interpret commands more accurately than standard voice commands.

On the other hand, LG OLED offers a different approach to smart features with its AI ThinQ technology. This technology allows users to transform their TVs into a central hub and use natural voice recognition to control their home IoT ecosystem.

This model also features Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, making it much more convenient for users to access various features and settings. Additionally, LG OLED TVs are compatible with Google Home and Amazon Echo devices, allowing users to customize their home experience further.

Brightness

Samsung’s QD-OLED TV has been designed to produce up to 2,000 nits of brightness, thanks to the HyperEfficient EL material and IntelliSense AI technology. The Samsung QD-OLED TV’s peak brightness can reach up to 2,000 nits. This makes it a great choice for viewing the content in bright rooms.

Conversely, LG’s new OLED TVs can achieve up to 2,100 nits of brightness. This is the highest level of brightness ever seen on an OLED display and surpasses the Samsung QD-OLED TVs, allowing viewers to enjoy the same quality visuals in brighter environments without sacrificing picture quality.

Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: 6 Must-Know Facts

The blue light generated from the light source of the QD-OLED has a very high color purity, allowing it to express a wider range of colors than other displays. The red and green QDs that receive the blue light also produce color light with high color purity, resulting in an even greater color range. This gives the QD-OLED a vast array of color expressions and allows it to show colors closer to what we see with our eyes.
Due to its perfect blacks, wide viewing angles, and infinite contrast ratio, the Samsung QD-OLED S95B won rave reviews from TV experts worldwide. Furthermore, this TV runs Tizen 6.5, and features Game Bar, Object Tracking Sound Pro, and a 32:9 ultra-wide mode for gaming, enabling users to have the best gaming experience.
Samsung has released a second-generation QD-OLED TV with improved colors and much higher peak brightness. This QD-OLED is available in three sizes: 55 inches, 65 inches, and 77 inches. Samsung is expanding its QD-OLED lineup to give consumers more choices in size and features with improved colors and higher peak brightness.
Samsung QD-OLED TVs, both 55-inch and 65-inch, have features that make them perfect for home entertainment and video games. For starters, they’re capable of 4K resolutions, offer refresh rates of 144Hz, and work with HDR10, HDR10+, Adaptive, HLG, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync technologies. This makes them useful for a broad array of purposes. These features are combined with OLED’s deep blacks and vibrant colors to provide a truly amazing viewing experience.
LG’s latest OLED displays can produce much brighter and clearer images due to their META technology. This technology also allows for a wider viewing angle of up to 160 degrees and improved energy efficiency. These advancements significantly improve the picture quality in a bright room compared to traditional OLED displays.
LG OLED TVs have the unique OLED Motion Pro feature, which eliminates motion blur and flicker when watching fast-paced sports. This ensures that you can enjoy a crisp and clear viewing experience that captures the subtle movements of players with no lag or blur. Thanks to this advanced feature, you can never miss a moment when watching your favorite teams compete on an LG OLED TV.

Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: Which One is Better for You?

LG OLED offers superior picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a wide viewing angle. It also provides access to over 300+ free LG channels. Additionally, LG OLED TVs are ready for NEXTGEN TV* based on the ASTC 3.0 standard, which includes interactive components, video-on-demand, loudness, voice enhancement, 4K HDR visuals with immersive sound on certain shows, and state-of-the-art emergency warnings.

On the other hand, Samsung QD-OLED offers an even wider viewing angle than LG OLED. This is due to the QD-OLED layer on the front of the screen that emits light in all directions. Samsung QD-OLED is a self-luminous display consisting of a TFT layer, a light source, and a QD light emitting layer. This type of OLED displays colors using the light emitted from the light source.

When it comes to which one is better, it depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for excellent picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a wide viewing angle, then LG OLED is a perfect choice. However, if you need a wider viewing angle and more vibrant colors, then Samsung QD-OLED is the way to go.

Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED: Technology Updates

Recent technological advancements have been introduced to both Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED displays.

Samsung QD-OLED:

Revolutionary Panel Technology: Samsung has unveiled an innovative panel technology for its QD-OLED TVs, promising enhanced brightness and contrast. This cutting-edge technology, named “Quantum Dot Brightness Booster Max,” is anticipated to debut in Samsung’s 2023 QD-OLED TV lineup.
Expanded Color Spectrum: Additionally, Samsung has disclosed that their upcoming 2023 QD-OLED TVs will feature a broader color gamut compared to the 2022 models. This advancement will enable these televisions to showcase a more extensive array of colors, resulting in more lifelike and authentic imagery.
Enhanced Brightness with Quantum Dot Brightness Booster Max: Samsung’s groundbreaking Quantum Dot Brightness Booster Max panel innovation is projected to deliver up to 20% higher brightness than its predecessor. This advancement will notably heighten image vibrancy and luminosity, particularly in content utilizing high dynamic range (HDR).

LG OLED:

Next-Generation Alpha 9 Gen 5 Processor: LG has introduced the all-new Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor for their 2023 OLED TV lineup. This advanced processor boasts refined image processing and upscaling capabilities, promising superior visual quality.
Fresh webOS 22 Operating System: LG’s 2023 OLED TVs will also showcase the newly designed webOS 22 operating system. This upgraded system is designed with a focus on user-friendliness and responsiveness, offering a more intuitive and efficient viewing experience.
Elevated Visuals with Alpha 9 Gen 5 Processor: LG’s latest Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor is engineered to elevate image processing and upscaling, leading to sharper and more detailed visuals, particularly when dealing with lower resolution content.
Enhanced User Experience with webOS 22 Operating System: LG’s revamped webOS 22 operating system is aimed at enhancing user interaction and responsiveness. This enhancement ensures smoother navigation through the TV’s menus and simplifies content discovery.

Both Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED platforms continue to evolve with these progressive technological updates.

Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED: What’s Next

Anticipated technological advancements for Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED displays in the Future:

Emergence of MicroLED TVs: A groundbreaking display innovation, MicroLED technology is poised to offer superior picture quality compared to OLED. In the coming years, we could witness the introduction of MicroLED TVs from both Samsung and LG, showcasing unprecedented visual excellence.
Transition to 8K Resolution: The imminent arrival of the 8K resolution standard is set to revolutionize television visuals. The future may bring forth 8K OLED TVs by Samsung and LG, delivering an unparalleled level of detail and clarity.
Advancement to HDR 20+: The evolution of High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology continues with HDR 20+, the next generation of HDR. Samsung and LG might incorporate HDR 20+ support into their OLED TVs, ushering in a new era of immersive and vibrant visual experiences.
Enhanced Viewing Angles: While current OLED TVs boast commendable viewing angles, the future holds the potential for further refinement. Samsung and LG could pioneer innovative technologies aimed at elevating the viewing angles of their OLED displays, leading to an even more inclusive viewing experience.
Accelerated Response Times: Building upon the already rapid response times of OLED TVs, future developments could lead to even swifter response rates. This advancement would hold particular significance for gamers, ensuring seamless and responsive gameplay.

Samsung QD-OLED vs. LG OLED: How Do They Compare? FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is QD-OLED Samsung?

QD-OLED is a Samsung-made display technology that combines the advantages of OLED and QLED technology. It uses quantum dot (QD) materials to improve brightness and color accuracy compared to traditional OLED displays. The QD light emitting layer uses semiconductor nanocrystals to emit precise light wavelengths, resulting in improved image quality, better contrast, wider color gamut, and more vibrant colors.

What are the disadvantages of QD-OLED Displays?

The quantum dots in QD-OLED displays can be excited by UV light falling on them from the outside. This can be a problem. The display can lose brightness as well as color accuracy.

Quantum dot color conversion materials may not always capture the entire blue light used to excite them. Artifacts may be created in the picture due to some bleeding into red and green subpixels.

Who manufactures QD-OLED?

Samsung is the exclusive manufacturer of quantum dot OLED TVs. It has been producing quantum dot displays for Samsung Electronics, Sony, and other TV brands, with plans to produce a 77-inch quantum dot OLED this year. Furthermore, Samsung Display is researching this technology to create even brighter and more efficient OLEDs.

Is LG OLED a good buy?

If you’re looking for the best picture quality, LG OLED is an excellent choice. With true-to-life colors and excellent contrast ratios, it provides the most immersive viewing experience. Plus, with the lack of degradation in color and brightness even at severe off-angles, you’ll always be getting the best picture quality no matter where you’re seated. So, if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line TV experience, LG OLED is definitely a good buy.

Is LG OLED better than 4K?

When comparing the viewing experiences, LG OLED technology offers more than just a simple 4K resolution. It provides superior blacks, cinematic colors, and High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision support, taking your home entertainment experience to a new level.

On the other hand, standard 4K LED TVs still provide an improvement over 1080p but can’t match the quality offered by LG OLED technology. Overall, LG OLED is undoubtedly better than 4K for those looking for a truly transformative home entertainment experience.