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Ruthanne is browsing in the electronics store. She's looking for a new television that displays natural looking screen pictures and colors.

She wants to buy an LED or QLED television (TV) because they offer a better viewing experience. However, she doesn’t understand the difference between the LED and QLED.

GIF by filmeditor - woman in black jacket & gold jewelry, rolling eyes, states 'I'm confused.' Gold wall clock in background.

What is an LED?

Television with multi-color mini LED lights on a dark blue screen background

LED is an acronym for a light-emitting diode semiconductor that uses light and filters to bring pictures to your television screen.

It generates better images and color contrasts than a traditional flat-screen LCD (liquid crystal display) television.

LCD TVs use liquid crystal display to rotate and direct light through panels and color filters to produce images on screen. LCD TVs have a limited range of colors, poor quality images, and use extremely high levels of energy.

Technology behind the LED Screen

Diagram showing the difference between LCD and LED TV screen technology components.

LED have two types of lighting:

  • Back panel of white lights that spreads light evenly from behind the screen using a special diffusion panel.

  • Back panel (color filter) of RGB colors (red, green, and blue) placed behind the display screen.

Other applications of LED

  • Display signs

  • Traffic lights

  • Car dashboards

LED Signage with the words 'Light Emitting Diodes are Killing Me'.

What is a QLED?

TV image of abstract circle of multiple dots in blue-pink-purple & white. Words 'Quantum Technology'  and QLED TV on screen.

QLED is "quantum" dot technology combined with LED lighting that is used in primarily new versions of TV screens (and some computer screens) for a picture-perfect viewing experience.

Quantum dots are multicolored, crystal nanoparticles which are structures 1,000 smaller than a human hair.

Technology behind the QLED Screen

  • An extra layer of microscopic crystal dots are in front of a standard LED backlit panel. 

  • The color-saturated crystal dots glow when exposed to light.

  • Each quantum dot reproduces a specific color.

 4 panels of QLED Quantum Dot & LED Technology - glass-stained front, white, multicolored Quantum dots, & blue LED lights

Other applications of QLED

  • Desktop monitors

  • Laptop computers

  • Remote control devices

Quiz

Which of these items is NOT found in LED and QLED?

Did you know?

Quantum dots were discovered by two inventors: Russian physicist, Alexei Ekimov in 1980 and American chemist, Louis E. Brus in 1982. They shared the Optical Society of America 2006 R.W. Wood Prize for their pioneering work. (Source: www.explainthatstuff.com, “What are Quantum Dots?”, 2021)

How do LED and QLED Compare?

LED and QLED have many differences even though they use similar technologies.   Let's see how they compare:

LED Television

  • Uses strips or panels of small lights

Flaticon Icon that represents a strip of lights

  • Distinctive contrast, but no true whites or blacks

Flaticon Icon round circle, half solid white and black stripes to represent contrast

  • Images have rich colors but are less bright than QLED

Flaticon Icon circle of muted multiple colors

  • Good quality pictures and images, but outmatched by QLED

Flaticon Icon illustrate good quality screen image

  • Provides maximum brightness with low energy consumption

Flaticon Icon illustrates low energy consumption

QLED Television

  • Uses miniature dots of crystal particles

Flaticon Icon that represents crystals

  • Excellent contrast with true blacks and very bright whites

Flaticon Icon round circle dived into solid white and solid black that represents contrast

  • Offers 100% unmatched true color accuracy with over a billion colors

Flaticon Icon circle of bright multiple colors

  • Realistic and accurate images give a near-perfect picture quality

Flaticon Icon illustrates of exceptional quality screen images

  • When on maximum brightness consumes more energy

Flaticon Icon illustrates high energy consumption

For both types, screen picturequality is reduced when viewed from side angles.

Quiz

If Ruthanne wants bright vibrant colors & realistic picture quality, then she better choose...?

Take Action

TV on wooden table with books. Screen image of aurora borealis lights and female sits on white chair in background

Before you decide to purchase an LED or QLED TV, do some research about these technologies:

License:

This Byte has been authored by

MM

Mary Mills

eLearning Designer & eLearning Design Editor

English

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