Is Samsung Neo QLED better than LG OLED?

When it comes to grading the best TVs, Tom’s Guide takes a two-pronged approach. We arrive at a verdict after first analyzing lab test results, then reporting anecdotal viewing experience. In both assessments, QLED beat OLED this year.

That’s not to say all QLEDs performed better than all OLEDs in 2021, of course. In fact, in almost every situation, we’d recommend one of the best OLED TVs over one of the best QLED TVs. But there’s a convincing exception, a specific QLED set that blew away all other TVs we reviewed — the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV. 

Samsung pitched Neo QLED as game-changing TV panel technology. Most of the best TV brands are guilty of branding and rebranding the so-called “exclusive” components used in their products, though, so we didn’t have huge expectations of Neo QLED’s claims. The same can be said for the LG G1 OLED TV with OLED evo, another new technology guaranteeing an elevated viewing experience from all the best LG TVs.

Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV vs. LG G1 OLED TV

Our Tom’s Guide TV lab testing tells a compelling story for the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV. LCD/LED TVs have always beat out OLED on brightness, but the QN90A blows away anything we’ve ever seen. It reached a max brightness of 1813.83 nits. The LG G1 OLED TV reached a max brightness of just 412.05 nits. The difference was obvious, especially while watching Sunday football cheering on our fantasy players. Our eyes were drawn to Samsung’s TV on every big play.

Then we come to color reproduction, which we measure using a X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer and SpectraCal CalMAN Ultimate calibration software. The Samsung QN90A Neo QLED was able to reproduce 99.51% of the Rec 709 color space, which is practically perfect for an LCD TV. Meanwhile, the LG G1 provided one the widest color gamuts we’ve ever seen, producing 133.92 percent of the Rec 709 color space, exceeding the basic color standard by a significant margin. But last 2020’s non-evo LG GX OLED TV had slightly better 134.42 percent.

Lastly, we measure TV accuracy with a Delta-E rating. A smaller score is ideal (0 is perfect), and the Samsung QN90A earned a 2.6. LG’s OLED panels still have a clear edge in accuracy, with the LG G1 earning a 1.6. This just means the LG G1’s picture is slightly more true to a filmmaker’s finished product.

QLED vs. OLED

Despite similarities in name, QLED vs OLED TVs are not the same thing. In fact, they’re two competing technologies for TV displays. QLED is basically an elevated version of LCD that’s since been adopted by manufacturers like Samsung, TCL, Vizio and more. It adds a quantum filter, enhancing contrast and color beyond what we came to expect from LCD prior.

In OLED — or organic light-emitting diode — panels, individual pixels produce light. This lets select areas of the screen turn completely off, creating so-called true blacks. Many smartphones, monitors and even the Apple Watch employ OLED displays, but its distinct characteristics are far more evident on a 65-inch TV screen. When watching a show or movie, you’ll see incredible contrast in dark scenes.

So no, QLED still can’t beat OLED when it comes to inky blacks, but it has its benefits, and even more so with the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED TV as its champion. It’s the brightest TV we’ve ever seen, bringing obvious improvements compared to the former best Samsung TVs in both anecdotal viewing and lab tests. Neo QLED was better than regular Samsung QLED, while OLED evo wasn’t much better than regular LG OLED. And that’s precisely how QLED won this year.

As for other things to look out for in the world of TVs, here are the biggest TV trends to watch in 2022. 

TVs have come a long way from what they were a few decades and even a few years ago. Consumers can now choose from different technology options such as Neo QLED and OLED for quality that was not possible in the past. However, choosing a TV has gotten more complicated because of the high tech and confusion about it. How does Neo QLED fare when compared to OLED?

Most experts will agree that Neo QLED comes out ahead of OLED in various ways, however, very few of them will state that there is a clear winner. Neo QLED is a newer technology with better specs and performance in areas such as bright picture quality but OLED still holds its ground with an “infinite” contrast ratio and more.

Neo QLED vs OLED: Side by Side Comparison

Neo QLEDOLEDMainly produced bySamsungLGOther brandsNeo QLED is Samsung’s label for mini-LED implementation which is also used by LG, Phillips, and TCL.OLED panels are exclusively made by LG but other TV manufacturers such as Sony, Hisense, and Panasonic use them as well.Release DateSamsung launched its first Neo QLED TV in 2021OLED TVs were first made available to consumers in 2013Size RangeNeo QLED TVs range from 43-inch to 98-inch modelsYou can get an OLED TV in 48-inch to 88-inch optionsBacklightingSamsung’s mini-LED backlightingNo backlighting. Pixels turn themselves on and offResolution4K and 8K optionsMostly 4K modelsPicture QualityBrighter picture quality, making it better in bright settingsRenders true blacks so it is ideal in places with very little lightViewing AngleLoses picture quality if not viewed directly from the frontCan be viewed from any angle without losing picture qualityGamingMinimal picture degradation in game modeBetter for “dark” games because of true black renderingPrice Range$479.99 – $4,999.99$945.99 – $100,000
Is Samsung Neo QLED better than LG OLED?
QLED was introduced in 2017 by Samsung as a newer display technology.

Neo QLED vs OLED: What’s the Difference?

OLED has been around for about a decade now and people have compared it to QLED since 2017 when the latter was introduced by Samsung. Despite a few similarities, some people believe that QLED is better than OLED simply because it is newer tech, but the question of which of the two is better is subjective, with no clear winner. Some of the most important differences between these two display technologies include backlighting, picture quality, and price range.

Backlighting

Now that Samsung has launched Neo QLED TVs, the comparison with LG’s OLED technology gets even more confusing for some consumers. The main difference between Neo QLED and OLED is the backlighting.

Neo QLED makes use of mini-LED backlighting, producing a higher contrast ratio with higher quality colors and far closer to true black rendering than QLED. Still, this does not compare to OLED’s true blacks.

OLED does not use backlighting which might sound odd but really isn’t.  The pixels on OLED TVs turn on and off automatically depending on the requirements. This produces pictures with no contrast ratio limit and true blacks.

Picture Quality

Perhaps the most subjective aspect of comparing Neo QLED vs OLED is whether one produces better picture quality than the other or not. This is mostly a subjective matter but we can say for sure that Neo QLED is best suited for places with bright artificial or natural light and OLED is best in dark places like a den.

If you are gaming, you will notice less picture degradation on Neo QLED vs OLED. Aside from that, the only real consideration here is whether you are playing a game with a lot of colors or dark scenes. Again, Neo QLED is better with brightness and OLED is better with true blacks.

Something else that is often overlooked when considering these two display technologies is the viewing angle. Most of us sit directly in front of our TVs so this is usually not an issue. However, it can be an issue with Neo-QLED TVs. Because of OLED’s pixel illumination, viewing an OLED TV from any angle does not affect the picture quality. Neo QLED displays, on the other hand, have slightly less noticeable quality if you are not viewing them directly from the front.

Price

Samsung’s current lineup of Neo QLED models is not extensive but it does feature nearly a dozen impressive options. You can choose from Neo QLED TVs from 43-inch to 98-inch models that make you feel like you’re at a movie theater. LG offers seemingly endless options of OLED TVs from 48-inch to 88-inch models.

Additionally, if you are interested in 4K you have good options from both of these top brands, but LG only offers 2 8K OLED models. Of course, one of the most important considerations when looking for a new TV is price.

The lowest-priced Neo QLED TV on Samsung’s official site currently sells for $479.99 while LG’s lowest-priced OLED model goes for $949.99 on sale ($1,399.99 is the normal price.) If you are not interested in purchasing the cheapest models but want a bigger and better TV instead, prepare to spend quite a bit of money.

Samsung’s most expensive Neo QLED TV sells for about $5,000 which might seem like a lot until you realize that LG’s most expensive OLED TV has a jaw-dropping price tag of $100,000. Check out the LG SIGNATURE OLED R 65” Class Rollable 4K Smart TV w/ AI ThinQ® (64.5” Diag.) on their official site.

In the end, whether Neo QLED or OLED is right for you depends on your needs. Consider the information we outlined here to make the best possible choice and get your money’s worth.

Is Samsung Neo QLED better than LG OLED?
You can view an OLED TV from any angle, because of OLED’s pixel illumination, it will not affect the picture quality.

Neo QLED vs OLED: Must-Know Facts

  • OLED is older than Neo QLED. The former was introduced in 2013 by LG and the latter 8 years later in 2021 by Samsung.
  • Whether Neo QLED has better features than OLED is a topic of hot contention but there is no clear winner as both have their pros and cons.
  • Samsung’s cheapest Neo QLED TV costs less than half the price of LG’s cheapest OLED model.
  • LG offers an OLED 65-inch OLED TV for an unbelievable $100,000.
  • OLED panels can be made thinner than Neo QLED ones because they require no backlight.
  • Even though Samsung comes to mind when talking about mini-LED backlighting (Neo QLED), TCL was actually the first brand to market a TV with this technology.

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Neo QLED vs OLED – Which One Is Better? FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is Neo QLED better than OLED?

Both Neo QLED and OLED have their pros and cons. Because of the different backlight technologies involved, Neo QLED is better suited for bright places such as rooms with a lot of natural light and OLED for dark places.

Is Samsung Neo QLED worth it?

If you can afford it, Samsung Neo QLED TVs are certainly worth it since they offer exceptional quality.

Why you should not buy an OLED TV?

If you want to use your new TV in a brightly-lit room, OLED would not be the best choice since most OLED panels can only produce up to 700 nits peak brightness.

Will OLED TVs be cheaper in 2023?

We have already seen OLED TV prices drop considerably with some models going for under $1,000. OLED prices are sure to continue to drop in the coming year, especially when LG introduces new tech into the market.

Is LG OLED better than Samsung QLED?

We'll start with picture quality. In our side-by-side comparison reviews, OLED beats QLED every time. We compared last year's Editors' Choice OLED TV -- the LG C1 series -- against the best 2022 Samsung 4K QLED TV, the Samsung QN90B series. The Samsung QLED came closer than ever to the LG OLED, but the LG still won.

Is it worth getting neo Qled?

While it's not perfect, it will be a great option for many people. The Samsung QN90B is one of the brightest TVs you'll find, making it great for sunny rooms. The brightness, along with Mini LED and local dimming tech, also helps it produce excellent contrast in dark scenes.

Is LG OLED better than Samsung OLED?

The short answer is that, for now, LG OLED TVs are still the ones to beat. They may not be as bright as Samsung's new S95B screen, but the LG C2 OLED and LG G2 OLED do a better job with black levels and come with a more user-friendly smart platform. It also helps that the C2 OLED is cheaper than the QD-OLED-using S95B.