With all of the buzz surrounding OLED TV versus 4K TV this year, how do you really know which one you should be investing your money in? On the one side there is an OLED TV with a picture that is low in power consumption and has an incredibly great picture quality. On the other side of the coin there is a 4K TV that offers 4x resolution than what you’re currently seeing on the newer LED TVs. Which one is going to give you the most punch and value for your money?
Without a doubt it’s an OLED TV. When all things are compared, you just can’t beat the picture quality on this set and isn’t that what TV viewing is all about anyway? The goal of the 4K resolution is to show you a great picture that beats the performance of a 1080p TV right now. The problem is that these 4ks aren’t able to do the job right now in that department because the content just isn’t available to do it.
Here are some of the pros and cons to owning both types of TVs that will give you a better idea of the 2 types and why when an OLED TV versus 4K TV comparison is really understood you’re better off with an OLED set.
The benefits of owning a 4K TV
With a 4K TV you will be able to sit right in front of the TV and not notice any pixels and the picture will appear in full detail. As far as the picture quality goes overall, however, the picture you’re reviewing will be generally the same as the one you see on a 1080p LED TV.
The main benefits can be distinguished when it comes to 3-D viewing though. With a 4k TV set you’ll have a much better resolution than you would with a regular LED TV. When you watch a 3-D content movie using passive 3-D you’ll only be able to use ½ the resolution. This means that with a 4K set you’ll get much better 3-D quality.
The cons of a 4K
The 4K sets that are being released are using edge lighting technology instead of backlighting. This is the reason why they can be produced so thin. This means that local dimming can’t be used on an edge-lit TV so they are definitely lacking in that department.
The content is also definitely lacking right now for the 4K TVs. There is no Blu-ray standard or 4K broadcast available so all of these extra pixels really aren’t going to do you any good until more developments are made in this field. The good news is that plans are in the works to offer 4K technology that can be used on these new sets but the bad news is that nobody knows exactly when it will be available.
OLED benefits – there are many
This is new technology that offers a contrast ratio that outdoes any of the previous technology that has been seen in the past. The whites and blacks on these TVs are ideal and it’s hard to imagine how they could get any better. The depth perception is also much better on the OLED TVs than the LEDs and energy consumption is lower.
If you’re looking for the thinnest TVs possible think OLED. These sets are only 4 mm thick. When you consider that you won’t have to wait for any new technology to enjoy the benefits available on these TVs, they have a huge edge over the 4K models.
OLED cons
As with any type of new technology the bugs have yet to appear and then be ironed out. The biggest con, however, is the price since a 55 inch OLED TV is going to cost you about $10,000.
OLED TV vs 4K TV picture quality
When it comes to picture quality the OLED wins hands down. The brightness, color rendition and contrast levels are phenomenal on these new sets while the 4K models really don’t look much different than the 1080p sets that are already currently being sold.
LED TVs using backlighting technology have always had a problem with screen uniformity and the problem is even worse when it comes to edge lighting. The 4K TVs that are new on the market use edge lighting that causes a problem with uniformity across the screen. Sometimes the background light can appear brighter near the screen’s edge. OLED TVs don’t have a problem with this uniformity since all of the pixels are individually lit.
Side angle viewing
When you compare OLED TV vs 4K TV for the side viewing capability the OLED comes out as the clear winner. These TVs are just as good for side viewing as plasmas and once again this can be attributed to the individual lighting of the pixels.
The price difference between a 4K and an OLED
This is what it’s all going to boil down to in the end since the prices are so out of reach for the majority of people for both types of TVs As it stands right now, most people are not going to be able to even take a look at a 4K or an OLED TV until the prices drop. Those that can afford these TVs will need to come up with $10,000 – $25,000 to have one in their home.
It’s going to cost about $10,000 for an OLED TV that’s 54 inches in size while a 4K that’s 84 inches will be about $20,000. The largest OLED TV is being manufactured by Panasonic with a size of 55 inches and orders are being taken for it now. The price is a hefty $12,000.
When you compare both TVs the OLED is a clear winner right now just based on the lack of content available for the 4K. There is a definite chance, however, that this may all change once the 4K programming is available and can be tested. As things stand, it’s best to put your money on an OLED and enjoy the intense picture quality now instead of having to wait for the new 4K technology to unfold.
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