What is QD-OLED? How it differs from regular OLED

QD-OLED stands for quantum dot organic light-emitting diode. It is a way of building an OLED TV that aims to get more brightness and purer color out of the same basic idea: pixels that make their own light and can switch fully off.

How a standard OLED makes color

Most OLED TVs, including LG's, are called WOLED, where the W stands for white. Tom's Guide explains that these panels create white light and then pass it through red, green and blue color filters, with an extra white subpixel to help with brightness. Filters absorb light, so part of the light is lost, and that limits both brightness and the range of colors the screen can reach.

What QD-OLED changes

A QD-OLED panel starts with blue OLED light. A layer of quantum dots, which are microscopic semiconductor particles that glow in very pure colors when light hits them, converts some of the blue into red and green. Because no color filters are needed, less light is wasted. TechRadar notes this also lowers power consumption compared with filter-based OLED.

Samsung Display makes QD-OLED panels for TVs. Tom's Guide reports that the technology debuted in 2022 on the Samsung S95B, and that Samsung and Sony are the two brands selling QD-OLED TVs, while LG sells WOLED and its own tandem designs. Tom's Guide lists the Samsung S95F and Sony's Bravia 8 II as QD-OLED sets, and its newer coverage treats the Samsung S95H the same way.

What you get

Both outlets describe the same pattern.

• Brighter, more colorful pictures on average. Tom's Guide says QD-OLED sets are generally brighter and richer in color than ordinary WOLED sets.
• Strong viewing angles. TechRadar says QD-OLED holds consistent quality across a wide range of seating positions, as OLED does.
• A higher price. Tom's Guide says QD-OLED TVs average well above entry-level and mid-range WOLED sets. Samsung is the one brand offering QD-OLED at a mid-range tier, as with the S90H.

There are also small quirks. Tom's Guide's tester points out that the triangular subpixel layout in QD-OLED can produce faint green and magenta fringes along high-contrast edges, which is only likely to be noticeable if you sit very close or use the TV as a computer monitor. It is not a concern for ordinary TV viewing.

The rival: Primary RGB Tandem OLED

LG has not made QD-OLED. Instead, LG Display developed Primary RGB Tandem OLED, sometimes called four-stack OLED, which replaces the filters with layers that emit red, green and blue directly. Tom's Guide says lab tests show these panels can produce brighter highlights than standard WOLED, and in some cases brighter than some QD-OLEDs. However, the same publication found the best QD-OLEDs still make more vivid color, so the Samsung S95H-class sets are ahead on color while the LG G6 is notable for white highlight brightness.

Does burn-in still apply?

Yes. TechRadar says QD-OLED remains prone to burn-in like other OLED types, and pixel shifting and similar protections reduce the risk. Our burn-in explainer lists practical habits.

Is it worth paying extra?

If your room is dim and you value color intensity, a QD-OLED is a strong choice. If your budget is tighter, a mid-range WOLED can still deliver the core OLED benefits of perfect blacks and wide viewing angles, and for very bright rooms a Mini LED may serve you better. For that decision, see OLED vs. Mini LED.