If you've gone TV shopping lately, you've probably seen a dizzying array of options and price points for high-definition screens that, at first glance, all look basically the same and do more or less the same things, albeit in different dimensions.
But those uniform flat panel screens contain differing technologies with their own distinct pros and cons. A little pre-shopping research can help you figure out the best option for your price point and space, whether you're looking for a budget TV for light use or a huge screen with crisp definition for your home theater setup.
Most TVs on the market (except OLED models) rely on LED backlighting that passes through an LCD layer to create the image on the screen. According to Wired, the quality of the lighting system matters a lot. Budget LED TVs that use edge lighting, or lights arranged in a ring around the screen, can create inconsistent lighting around the image and the lights themselves may even be visible from certain angles in dark rooms. For most consumers, a budget-priced LED screen may not be an ideal choice for, say, an often-used family room TV.
QLED screens usually cost a bit more than regular LEDs, but generally contain more lights paired with its signature "quantum dot" technology. Quantum dots are nanoparticles that glow when light passes through them, which improves color accuracy and definition onscreen. Many QLED TVs also include local dimming, which creates better contrast between dark and light colors onscreen and can make darker scenes in your favorite movies a little easier to view. Many mid-priced televisions offer QLED technology.
OLED combines the light-emitting and image-creating components into one layer, with each pixel acting as its own backlight while it creates the image. The contrast is just about perfect, but many models, particularly older OLED TVs, don't get as bright as regular LED TVs. Newer models, however, are often bright enough to satisfy most viewers. But don't expect to find OLED TVs in the bargain section — most models generally start around $700.
