Difference Between QLED and Premium UHD

The main difference between QLED and Premium UHD is that the QLED is a brand-new technology used is the display of TVs while the Premium UHD is a standard used in 4K range TV displays to achieve a certain specification.

QLED is a new technology powered by Quantum dot TV technology while UHD is a standard developed to specify the 4K range of TVs like LED, LCD and OLEDs. Let us take a closer look at the technology and the standard to see what they have to offer.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is QLED 
     – Features and Specifications
2. What is Premium UHD
     – Features and Specifications
3. Difference Between QLED and Premium UHD
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

LCD, LED, QLED, UHD

What is QLED

QLED actually stand for Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode. QLED is a new technology powered by Quantum dot TV technology. QLED is a prized asset for televisions. Quantum dots are very small particles in between 2 to 10 nanometers in diameter. Their ability is what makes them employable in displays. They can be used in conjunction with other materials and they can produce different colors with different sizes.  The advantage of using Quantum dots is their ability to produce more vibrant, brighter and diverse colors. This will enable HDR content to shine on the display due to the high peak brightness achievable on the displays.

Figure 1: Quantum Dots

Quantum dot TVs are very effective when it comes to manufacturing when compared with OLED TVs. Consumers can enjoy better picture quality at a lower price. OLED displays are credited with the ability to produce the deepest blacks when compared with the quantum dot. QLED uses electroluminescent nanoparticles which will allow the light to be directly supplied to the TV without the use of a LED backlight which can distort the original color, especially the color black.

What is Premium UHD

If you want ultimate entertainment, you should know about Premium HD. The UHD alliance comprises LG, Dolby, Samsung, Warner Bros and Panasonic. This alliance was formed in the effort to set a standard to herald a new age for premium television.

The aim of the group was to establish a consensus for 4K Ultra HD. This would cover the distribution of network, displays and content. This also would ensure that all were on the same page when it comes to the 4K chain. The standard necessary for 4K specification was set with color, capacity to high dynamic range, resolution to peak luminance, that were required to get an approval for Ultra HD premium.

If you see the Ultra HD premium badge on your TV, it means your device has passed the UHD alliance specification and provides the best video experience. The UHD term confirms that the product is capable of achieving high dynamic range, high-quality colors and audio standards with the confirmed resolution.

While the UHD badge is there to inform the customers of a premium experience, there can be potential differences between the product displays. Some TV can be brighter or have deeper black levels and qualify for the badge. The badge is expected to become ubiquitous as a desired standard for 4K content and products is to be achieved in the future.

All 4K devices do not come with UHD premium. So, device manufacturers have opted not to get their devices certified although all the requirements of the criteria may have been met.

Difference Between QLED and Premium UHD

Main Difference

While UHD is a standard developed to specify the 4K range of TVs like LED, LCD and OLEDs, QLED is a new technology that uses nano particle filters with the LEDs in the televisions.

What Do they Mean to You

If the UHD badge is on your TV, it will mean that it has passed a specific accepted standard for 4K television. UHD certification can be achieved when certain contrasts, deep blacks and nits are achieved by the television. Also, the displays will have unique features attached to them which pass the specified UHD specifications.

QLED is capable of achieving accurate and saturated colors. It can provide a better picture quality for a comparatively lower price. QLEDs also help in achieving the deepest blacks as well as the best brightness for a display.

Backlight and Contrast

UHD televisions will often have a backlight on their displays while QLEDs will not come with a backlight. Rather than using a backlight for illumination, QLED will control the individual pixels and the light emitted by them which will help produce impressive contrast ratios.

Conclusion

While premium UHD is a standard used in defining the quality of TV displays, QLED is a technology used in TV’s to achieve the best brightness as well as the deepest blacks possible. QLED is a technology that promises a range of benefits. QLED is said to be a combination of OLED and quantum dot technologies. These displays are able to achieve the deep blacks of OLEDs and the color and brightness of quantum dots. The luminance efficiency is boosted by up to 40 percent and helps in lowering the energy consumption of the display. QLED is not just an OLED TV that has quantum dots. It is a new technology that promises many benefits.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Quantum Dots with emission maxima in a 10-nm step are being produced at PlasmaChem in a kg scale” By Antipoff – Photo taken on 28.11.2012, edited in Photoshop last time on 29.06.2013 Previously published in Plasmachem (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia