For the past decade the OLED market has been dominated by LG and its WRGB panel, which uses an organic compound to produce white light when an electrical current is passed through it. Each pixel is made up of a white subpixel combined with red, green and blue subpixels created using filters. The result of this approach is a panel with increased lifespan and brightness.
Initially there was an alternative approach based on RGB panels, which used three separate compounds to create the red, green and blue subpixels. While not as bright, the big issue was that the blue subpixel decayed faster than the other two, limiting the lifespan of the panel. This was the primary reason for Samsung’s departure from the OLED market nearly a decade ago.
However, Samsung is now back with Quantum Dot or QD OLED. This new approach is based on a panel that uses multiple layers of blue OLED material, thus eliminating the issue of inconsistent decay. Each pixel is made up of three subpixels: a blue one composed of the original blue light, plus red and green subpixels created using the quantum dots found on its QLED TVs.
Quantum dots are minute semiconductor particles only a few nanometers wide, and depending on their size they shift light into different areas of the colour spectrum. The larger the quantum dot the redder the light, and the smaller the bluer. Quantum dots are not only more efficient, but because there’s no filter, the resulting images are brighter and have purer colours.
Samsung claims its new panel design delivers brighter images with a peak luminance of over 1,000 nits, and more precise colours that cover up to 80% of the BT.2020 gamut. If that’s true it might be time to add some quantumania to your latest OLED TV purchase, with the Samsung S95B and Sony A95K both using QD OLED panels.
Do you want to Speak to Steve about the new technology and if it is right for you - reserve your free 15min session here
Read the review by Simon Lucas of the Sony A95K here and you can also book a slot with Simon to discuss the review
Steve Withers has reviewed the Samsung S95B here and you can also book a slot with Steve to discuss the review
Or if you prefer, you can watch the boys discussing the two new sets
