LG's New Quantum Dot 4K TVs Promise Richer Color

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LG Electronics has announced a new series of UHD TVs with quantum dot technology, which aims to provide deeper colors and better brightness.

Just offering a 4K (aka ultra HD) TV isn't enough anymore; now manufacturers have to sweeten the deal to compete with their rivals' models. LG Electronics has announced a new series of LED-LCD Ultra HD sets, to debut at the 2015 CES in early January, that uses what's called quantum dot technology to provide deeper, more-accurate colors and greater brightness for LG TVs.

In case you haven’t heard of quantum dots: The technology uses tiny nanocrystals that emit different colors depending on their size. A sheet of them sits in front of the LCD's backlight to deliver richer primary colors (red, green and blue) to the screen. Unlike with OLED TVs, manufacturers can produce quantum-dot LCD TVs economically on a large scale.

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While quantum dots are definitely a welcome addition to UHD TVs, LG is not the first manufacturer to offer such a device. Rival manufacturer Sony released quantum dot TVs back in 2013, and Chinese TV maker TCL announced a quantum dot 4K TV back in September. Samsung has been investing heavily in quantum dot technology but hasn't announced any products yet. However, CES 2015 is fast approaching.

Meanwhile, LG believes that there is enough room in the market for both quantum dot and OLED TVs — at least for the moment. LG said in a press release that quantum dot models will exist alongside its OLED sets (but didn't say if new OLEDs are coming at CES). Whether LG will continue offering both screen styles depends on which type, if any, consumers end up preferring. (Traditional LED-LCD screens are still an option, too.)

Tom's Guide will go hands-on with both the quantum dot and OLED TVs that LG offers next month at CES, along with all the other TVs that debut. Until then, start thinking about how much money you might want to spend on a UHD TV with gorgeous color. No matter which screen type you choose, it won't come cheap.

Marshall Honorof is a staff writer for Tom's Guide. Contact him at mhonorof@tomsguide.com. Follow him @marshallhonorof. Follow us @tomsguide, on Facebook and on Google+.

Marshall Honorof
Marshall Honorof

Marshall Honorof was a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • -Lone-
    Is this better than plasma?
    Reply
  • cats_Paw
    Is this better than plasma?
    Nope. Thats why I got mine while I still could.
    Only OLED is better than plasma (in contrast, in everything else it is still debatable what is actually better in terms of picture quality).

    I saw a Plasma next to a OLED and I decided to go plasma for 4 reasons:
    -Refresh rate
    -Price of the TV
    -Burn in/Image Retention is less probable then OLED.
    -OLED TVs are to big for my Monitor.

    The two things OLED does beat plasma in is power consumption and contrast.

    So Its up to you what matters more.
    Reply
  • -Lone-
    Oh, well then, I think I'll still wait for the Panasonic AX900 and experience "beyond plasma" :)
    Reply
  • Neckbeard Redditor
    I owned Plasma until it got broken by my children, but yes. Everything is prefect in Plasma, contrast, color, refresh rate, viewing angles, response time and so on. The only downside is the power consumption. I am really sad that because of this plasmas are gone forever...
    Reply
  • -Lone-
    Well, the AX900 will not be fully plasma, but it'll like a LED and plasma hybrid and it suppose to be beyond plasma, even more than the ZT60, and it'll be UHD of course :)
    Reply