When it comes to grading the best TVs, Tom’s Guide takes a two-pronged approach. We arrive at a verdict after first analyzing lab test results, then reporting anecdotal viewing experience. In both assessments, QLED beat OLED this year.
That’s not to say all QLEDs performed better than all OLEDs in 2021, of course. In fact, in almost every situation, we’d recommend one of the best OLED TVs over one of the best QLED TVs. But there’s a convincing exception, a specific QLED set that blew away all other TVs we reviewed — the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV.
Samsung pitched Neo QLED as game-changing TV panel technology. Most of the best TV brands are guilty of branding and rebranding the so-called “exclusive” components used in their products, though, so we didn’t have huge expectations of Neo QLED’s claims. The same can be said for the LG G1 OLED TV with OLED evo, another new technology guaranteeing an elevated viewing experience from all the best LG TVs.
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV vs. LG G1 OLED TV
Our Tom’s Guide TV lab testing tells a compelling story for the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV. LCD/LED TVs have always beat out OLED on brightness, but the QN90A blows away anything we’ve ever seen. It reached a max brightness of 1813.83 nits. The LG G1 OLED TV reached a max brightness of just 412.05 nits. The difference was obvious, especially while watching Sunday football cheering on our fantasy players. Our eyes were drawn to Samsung’s TV on every big play.
Then we come to color reproduction, which we measure using a X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer and SpectraCal CalMAN Ultimate calibration software. The Samsung QN90A Neo QLED was able to reproduce 99.51% of the Rec 709 color space, which is practically perfect for an LCD TV. Meanwhile, the LG G1 provided one the widest color gamuts we’ve ever seen, producing 133.92 percent of the Rec 709 color space, exceeding the basic color standard by a significant margin. But last 2020’s non-evo LG GX OLED TV had slightly better 134.42 percent.
Lastly, we measure TV accuracy with a Delta-E rating. A smaller score is ideal (0 is perfect), and the Samsung QN90A earned a 2.6. LG’s OLED panels still have a clear edge in accuracy, with the LG G1 earning a 1.6. This just means the LG G1’s picture is slightly more true to a filmmaker’s finished product.
QLED vs. OLED
Despite similarities in name, QLED vs OLED TVs are not the same thing. In fact, they’re two competing technologies for TV displays. QLED is basically an elevated version of LCD that’s since been adopted by manufacturers like Samsung, TCL, Vizio and more. It adds a quantum filter, enhancing contrast and color beyond what we came to expect from LCD prior.
In OLED — or organic light-emitting diode — panels, individual pixels produce light. This lets select areas of the screen turn completely off, creating so-called true blacks. Many smartphones, monitors and even the Apple Watch employ OLED displays, but its distinct characteristics are far more evident on a 65-inch TV screen. When watching a show or movie, you’ll see incredible contrast in dark scenes.
So no, QLED still can’t beat OLED when it comes to inky blacks, but it has its benefits, and even more so with the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV as its champion. It’s the brightest TV we’ve ever seen, bringing obvious improvements compared to the former best Samsung TVs in both anecdotal viewing and lab tests. Neo QLED was better than regular Samsung QLED, while OLED evo wasn’t much better than regular LG OLED. And that’s precisely how QLED won this year.
As for other things to look out for in the world of TVs, here are the biggest TV trends to watch in 2022.
