LCD vs OLED: Understanding the Technologies to Choose the Right Screen
Between TVs and Monitors, Choosing a New Screen Can Quickly Become a Headache, Especially When Faced with Terms Like OLED, QLED, Mini-LED, or Neo QLED. To See Things Clearly, We Need to Go Back to the Two Fundamental Technologies: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and OLED ( Organic Light Emitting Diode).
The major difference lies in the light source. LCD relies on LED backlighting that illuminates the entire panel, while OLED is self-emissive : each pixel produces its own light. The result? OLED allows for exceptional contrast , absolute blacks and better scene-by-scene brightness management, whereas LCD, even in advanced versions like QLED or Mini-LED, remains dependent on global lighting.
This guide will help you decode these technologies and determine which one best suits your uses: films, gaming, office automation or visual creation.
Table of Contents
LCD Technology: From Affordable Solutions to High-End Innovations
LCD technology, which has long dominated the market, remains ubiquitous, covering a wide range of products, from entry-level to the most sophisticated models. Unlike OLED, LCD screens rely on external LED backlighting , to which various filters or technologies are added to improve visual rendering. Here are the main variations:
Entry level: UHD, Crystal UHD, NanoCell
Entry-level LCD TVs offer excellent value for money for versatile use (TV, streaming, traditional channels).
Crystal UHD (Samsung) and NanoCell (LG) use additional layers to filter light and improve color accuracy .
Standard UHD offers 4K definition but remains limited in contrast and backlight uniformity.
These models remain suitable for bright rooms and for use without extreme requirements (HDR films or demanding games).
Mid-range: QLED, QNED and Quantum Dots
The upgrade involves the addition of Quantum Dots , nanocrystals which improve color reproduction.
QLED (Samsung, TCL, Hisense) or QNED (LG) use these particles as an optical filter between the LED backlight and the LCD panel, which allows for a richer and more saturated color palette , ideal for HDR content.
These TVs have higher brightness , making them perform well in brightly lit environments.
Be careful, however: these models remain dependent on backlighting, so their blacks are less deep than those of OLED.
High-end: Mini-LED, Neo QLED, MicroLED
The top of the LCD basket is based on major advances in backlighting :
Mini-LED : Thousands of tiny LEDs replace conventional LEDs, allowing finer brightness control , higher peak light outputs , and a significant reduction in blooming (halo effects around bright objects on a dark background).
Neo QLED (Samsung) combines Mini-LED and Quantum Dots, offering improved contrast , more accurate colorimetry and high-level HDR performance .
MicroLED , on the other hand, pushes the boundaries: each pixel is made up of self-emissive red, green and blue micro-diodes. It's a self-emissive technology like OLED , but without the drawbacks of organic aging. The problem? A price that's still unaffordable for the general public .
Innovation: Mini-LED RGB and TriChroma
At CES 2025 , Hisense introduced the TriChroma 116 UX Mini-LED RGB panel . Unlike conventional white Mini-LEDs, it uses tri-color (RGB) LEDs to generate light directly, eliminating the need for color filters . The result: exceptional color accuracy , an extended gamut , and controlled brightness , all with optimized energy consumption.
- High brightness: peaks up to 3000 nits on high-end models, ideal for brightly lit rooms
- Wide range of sizes: the offer is much wider than for OLED
- No risk of marking: no burn-in unlike OLED
- Shallower blacks: Backlighting prevents perfect blacks, visible in dark scenes
- Halo effect (clouding/banding): Backlighting can create bright halos around light objects on a dark background
OLED technology: visual perfection comes at a price
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology is often considered the holy grail of picture quality, and rightly so. Unlike LCD panels, which rely on a backlight to illuminate all the pixels at once, OLED is self-emissive. This means that each pixel is a tiny, independent light source.
Infinite contrast: perfect blacks
This technical feature is the key to its success. When a pixel needs to display black, it simply turns off. It no longer emits any light and consumes no more energy. The result is absolute black, without any trace of stray light. For a night scene, this makes all the difference. On an OLED screen, the stars in a black sky are not surrounded by a luminous halo and the contrast between light and dark is simply perfect. This is what we call infinite contrast, a major asset for cinema lovers seeking total immersion.
Brightness and energy efficiency
While early generations of OLED displays lacked brightness, the technology has come a long way. Recent models, such as those using microlens arrays (MLAs), can achieve quite impressive peak brightness, although they still lag behind the best LCD displays. However, OLED's brightness is better utilized. It's more precise and intense where it's really needed, giving the image a striking dynamism.
Another advantage of OLED is its energy efficiency. By displaying predominantly dark images, an OLED screen can consume up to 40% of the energy of an LCD screen displaying a similar image. This is due to the lack of a backlight and the ability of the pixels to turn off completely when they need to display black.
Ultra-fast response time
Another often underestimated advantage of OLED is its near-instantaneous refresh rate. The response time of an OLED pixel is measured in microseconds, much faster than that of an LCD pixel. In practice, this translates to a complete absence of motion blur. Whether for fast-paced action scenes in movies or demanding video games, the image always remains perfectly sharp and fluid.
Design and immersion
OLED screens also allow for thinner and lighter designs. The absence of backlighting allows for reduced panel thickness, resulting in more elegant TVs that are easier to integrate into different environments. In addition, viewing angles are wider, ensuring consistent image quality even when viewing the screen from an angle.
- Superior image quality: perfect blacks, infinite contrast and natural colors, wide viewing angle
- Extremely thin design: allows for very thin or even rollable screens
- Immersive cinematic experience: deep blacks for total immersion in dark rooms
- Choice of sizes available: models suitable for gaming and large screens
- Lower brightness: less suitable for very sunny rooms, max ~2000 nits
- Risk of marking (burn-in): fixed images displayed for too long can leave a permanent mark
- Higher price: expensive to manufacture, less accessible than LCD
- Smaller size selection: generally starting at 43 inches, limited options
What is Mini-LED technology?
Mini-LED technology represents a significant advancement over traditional LCD screens. Unlike conventional backlights that use large LEDs distributed across the panel, Mini-LED relies on thousands of ultra-miniaturized diodes. These tiny LEDs provide backlighting by being distributed across hundreds, even thousands, of local dimming zones .
Each zone can be controlled independently: turn on, turn off, or adjust its brightness in real time depending on the content being displayed. This level of precision allows for much higher contrast, deeper blacks, and better management of halo effects around bright objects.
In short, Mini-LED combines the powerful brightness of LCD with the finesse of control close to OLED, thus delivering significantly superior image quality without the risk of burning.
Mini LED: the advantages and disadvantages
The introduction of thousands of local dimming zones offers significant improvements, but the technology also has some limitations.
- Improved contrast: deep blacks and brilliant brightness
- High peak brightness: perfect for HDR content
- Reduction of the light halo effect (blooming)
- No permanent marking like on OLED
- Higher price than a classic LCD screen
- Blacks less perfect than an OLED
- Blooming still present in some cases
Mini-LED vs Micro-LED: two technologies, two philosophies
Although their names are similar, Mini-LED and Micro-LED technologies are based on radically different principles.
Mini-LED: A Controlled Evolution of LCD
Mini-LED is essentially an improvement on the classic LCD. It retains the liquid crystal panel but replaces the traditional backlight with thousands of mini-diodes, distributed in local dimming zones. The result: better contrast, deeper blacks, and more uniform brightness. It's an effective and relatively affordable solution for improving the visual quality of LCD screens.
Recent models, such as the TCL C8K, demonstrate that Mini-LED can achieve impressive performance levels: peak brightness of 3,000 nits, more than 3,800 local dimming zones, and support for advanced HDR technologies such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+. For a competitive price, Mini-LED therefore offers excellent value for money.
Micro-LED: the technological breakthrough
Micro-LED, for its part, represents a true revolution. Each pixel is a self-emissive diode, capable of producing its own light, without any backlighting. This architecture allows for perfect blacks, infinite contrast, extreme brightness, remarkable energy efficiency, and no long-term marking.
In practice, this technology is still reserved for very high-end or professional displays. Models like Samsung's Micro RGB boast exceptional performance with LEDs smaller than 0.1 mm, full coverage of the BT.2020 gamut, and brightness peaks of up to 5,000 nits, but at a very high cost, exceeding several tens of thousands of dollars.
The choice between performance and affordability
In short, Mini-LED is positioned as a smart compromise: it significantly improves the performance of LCD screens while remaining affordable for the general public. Micro-LED, on the other hand, embodies the ultimate future of display, offering unparalleled image quality, but remains today reserved for a niche of professionals or ultra-high-end.
The choice therefore depends on your priorities: prioritize accessibility and immediate performance with Mini-LED, or aim for absolute perfection with Micro-LED, while waiting for this technology to become more accessible.
Which is better: LCD or OLED?
After reviewing the specifics of each technology and testing various models, it's clear that there's no absolute winner in the LCD vs. OLED duel. The best choice depends largely on your intended use and environment. Our final verdict is therefore a personalized recommendation.
Your choice based on your user profile:
The case of the casual viewer
If you're looking for a TV for everyday use, to watch the news, series, or a few movies without looking for the ultimate cinematic experience, an LCD panel is the ideal solution. Entry-level models, such as Samsung's Crystal UHD NanoCell , offer perfectly respectable image quality, sufficient brightness for a typical living room, and above all, complete peace of mind regarding the risk of burn-in. It's the most balanced option for a controlled budget, guaranteeing you access to all modern features like 4K and HDR10 without breaking the bank.
The Case of the Avid Gamer and the Enlightened Moviegoer
For video game enthusiasts and moviegoers who want a vibrant image in a bright room, high-end LCD technologies like QLED, QNED, or better yet, Mini-LED, are an excellent compromise. These screens rely on spectacular brightness, often far superior to that of OLED, to deliver striking images and an incomparably rich color palette. Their performance is particularly impressive in broad daylight, where an OLED panel might suffer from a lack of punch. If you frequently play on a latest-generation console or if your living room is bathed in natural light, this is the technology to choose. Since the risk of burn-in is completely eliminated, you can display static video game interfaces for hours without any fear.
The case of the expert in search of the perfect picture
This is where OLED is the obvious choice. If you're lucky enough to have your screen in a room with good lighting management, or even a space entirely dedicated to cinema, OLED delivers an unparalleled viewing experience. Abysmal blacks, infinite contrast, and color accuracy are simply beyond the reach of even the most sophisticated LCD technology. Watching a dark movie on an OLED screen is a revelation; every detail stands out with impressive clarity, without any halo effect. For movie lovers who crave the purest visual emotion, and are willing to invest a larger budget, OLED is the Holy Grail.
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