With Prime Day TV deals bringing major discounts, you might find yourself stuck between several different shopping decisions. For example, should you buy an OLED TV or a QLED TV? What's the difference between the two? And what type of panel is a better deal?
These questions don't only apply to Prime Day deals. The best OLED TVs and best QLED TVs from most major manufacturers often see discounts throughout the year. But right now, Amazon Is taking hundreds of dollars off top-tier sets as part of it's annual 2-day sales event.
In one of our favorite early Prime Day TV deals so far, Amazon has the 65-inch LG C1 OLED TV on sale for $1,596 (opens in new tab). That's more than $900 off regular price of an impressive LG OLED TV.
(opens in new tab)There's a bit more variety when it comes to QLED TVs. While LG and Sony dominate the OLED market, there are multiple QLED makers in the ring. Samsung is perhaps best known for touting QLED technology, Quantum Dot sets from TCL, Hisense and Vizio perform well, too.
That said, one of best TVs we've tested is on a big discount lowest price ever. Amazon has the 65-inch Samsung Neo QLED QN90A TV on sale for $1,596 (opens in new tab). This configuration normally costs $2,197, so you'll save about $600.
(opens in new tab)But the best QLED deals aren't just at Amazon. Right now, the 65" Hisense U6H 4K ULED TV is just $549 at Best Buy (opens in new tab).
(opens in new tab)Just because you see a stellar deal on an OLED TV or a QLED TV doesn't mean it's the right TV for you. Our TV buying guide covers everything you'll want to consider before purchasing a new centerpiece for your entertainment set up. But when it comes to QLED vs. OLED TVs, and which you should buy during this Black Friday deals season, here's what you'll want to know.
OLED vs. QLED TV: What's the difference?
OLED and QLED are both names for specific kinds of TV panel technology. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other; instead, each have advantages and disadvantages.
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, a very precise way of creating a picture. Unlike traditional LED or LCD TVs, organic pixels emit their own light when activated, meaning each pixel can be completely turned on or off separately. The result is sharp details, wide viewing angles and deep blacks. In fact, OLED TVs are the only TVs that can deliver true blacks.
By contrast, QLED panels require LED backlighting, which means black areas of the screen will still exhibit some degree of light. QLED is an abbreviated form of "quantum-dot LED," and while the term is most closely associated with the best Samsung TVs, the technology is by no means proprietary.
So no, QLED doesn't get the same inky blacks as OLED, but it has its benefits. For one, QLED almost always beats OLED in terms of brightness and contrast. QLED isn't as susceptible to burn-in, either.
OLED vs. QLED TV Prime Day deals
Perhaps Prime Day OLED TV deals get more attention than QLED TV deals because OLED TVs are generally more expensive. It's rare to find an OLED under $1,000 outside of the Vizio OLED TV. But right now Amazon has the 48-inch LG A1 OLED TV on sale for $676 (opens in new tab). At more than $350 off regular price, that's one of the cheapest OLED offerings (if not the cheapest overall) we've ever seen.
(opens in new tab)But LG might not be your brand of choice. Luckily, Sony has some attractive Prime Day OLED TV deals, too. Best Buy has the Sony 55-inch A80J OLED TV on sale for $999 (opens in new tab), or $700 off its normal price. In our Sony Bravia XR A80J OLED review, we found it's one of the most well-rounded TVs we've ever tested.
(opens in new tab)You'll find more flexibility with Prime Day QLED TV deals. There are typically discounts making QLED TVs cheap. The TCL 55" Class 5-Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV is on sale for $429 at Amazon. (opens in new tab), for example. The TCL 5-Series Google TV was already killer QLED value, but it's even better for Prime Day deals
(opens in new tab)And if you were looking for something even cheaper, Amazon has the Insignia 50" QLED 4K Fire TV on sale for $299 (opens in new tab). It's normally $429, so you'll save big thanks to Prime Day TV deals.
(opens in new tab)Should you buy OLED or QLED?
If you're looking for the most affordable TV options, you'll want to shop QLED. There are a number of options for budgets big and small. You can usually find a good variety of QLED sizes, too.
Another reason to buy QLED is for brightness. If you plan on setting up your new TV in a room with lots of natural light, and would like to watch it during the day time, QLED won't be washed out as easily as OLED.
But if you want the most cinematic viewing experience, complete with perfect blacks and an ultra-precise picture, OLED is the ultimate treat. And with Prime Day deals, you can buy one at the lowest prices of the year.
