I vividly remember purchasing my first OLED TV, the LG E8 55-inch, back in 2019, just before the world went into lockdown. It turned out to be the perfect companion for isolation. Initially, I was not fully aware of what OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology entailed. I knew it used self-lit pixels, offering infinite contrast unlike the backlit LCD displays. However, after immersing myself in games like Final Fantasy XV and The Last of Us Part II, it felt like stepping into a nostalgic fever dream in real time. Naturally, I didn't stop at the E8.

A few years later, I upgraded to the LG C2 65-inch TV, and since then, I've reviewed numerous devices with OLED displays. I've learned that not all OLED screens are created equal, and they don't all use the same technology. You might be wondering, “How many types of OLED are there?” There are several, but you should mainly focus on three: WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED.

WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED: How They Work

OLED technology has been around for decades, with companies like Kodak and Mitsubishi experimenting with it. It wasn't until LG introduced its OLED TVs in the early 2010s that the technology became mainstream.

LG's version of OLED is called WOLED (White OLED). They don't use this term in marketing because LG positions itself as synonymous with OLED. But what is WOLED? As mentioned, OLED uses self-lit pixels, which provide infinite contrast and vibrant colors. A challenge with OLED is that the compounds in red, green, and blue emitters degrade at different rates, accelerating the risk of burn-in. WOLED addresses this by using a pure white OLED layer with an RGBW color filter. This means the self-lit pixels emit white light, which is then filtered to produce colors. However, this can lead to imbalanced brightness and reduced color volume. Higher-end WOLEDs attempt to mitigate this with Micro Lens Array technology, which focuses light through thousands of microlenses per pixel.

In 2022, another solution emerged: QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED), pioneered by Samsung. QD-OLED replaces the white OLED layer with a blue one, which excites a layer of quantum dot color converters. These quantum dots absorb and convert the blue light into red or green without losing any of the backlight, resulting in more vibrant colors.

AMOLED, on the other hand, is in its own category. It's similar to WOLED but includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer that controls the charge of each pixel, allowing for faster activation. However, this comes at the cost of OLED's iconic "infinite" contrast.

WOLED, QD-OLED, and AMOLED: Which Is Better for Gaming?

Choosing the right OLED technology for gaming depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you're looking for a straightforward answer, QD-OLED is generally the best choice. However, there are scenarios where WOLED or AMOLED might be more suitable.

AMOLED displays are primarily found in smartphones and laptops. They're not common in TVs due to their high cost. AMOLED is flexible, suitable for various screen sizes, and offers high refresh rates and better viewing angles. However, they perform poorly in direct sunlight due to lower peak brightness.

For gaming monitors and TVs, you can choose between WOLED (marketed simply as OLED) and QD-OLED. WOLED can achieve high brightness with its white OLED layer, but this brightness is primarily with whites. The RGBW filter can result in a loss of brightness across colors. In contrast, QD-OLED displays, which use quantum dots to absorb and convert light, offer more vibrant colors and overall brightness.

My OLED TV, positioned across from windows in my living room, handles glare well, maintaining deep blacks. However, my QD-OLED monitor on my desk shows a purplish tint in glare due to Samsung's removal of the polarizing layer to enhance brightness. This layer would normally reduce reflections.

While QD-OLED displays generally offer superior color and brightness, WOLED screens are less distracting in highly reflective environments. Keep in mind, though, that the quality of displays often depends on their specifications and cost. Generally, the more you spend, the better the display will be.

But QD-OLED and WOLED may not be our only options for long.

The Future of OLED Is PHOLED

There are several types of OLED, including PHOLED (Phosphorescent OLED), which uses phosphorescent materials to convert energy into light. A major issue with PHOLED has been the significantly shorter lifespan of its blue component compared to green and red, making it practically unusable.

However, LG has recently announced a breakthrough in blue PHOLED technology, preparing it for mass production. LG refers to PHOLED as "Dream OLED" due to its 100% luminous efficiency, far surpassing the 25% efficiency of fluorescence. This means PHOLED TVs will be brighter and more energy-efficient.

While PHOLED TVs are not expected in the near future, we will likely see this technology in smartphones and tablets sooner rather than later.