Every year, there’s a new debate among TV owners and enthusiasts regarding new television technologies. This year, these debates feature two highly advanced TV technologies: NanoCell vs OLED. These are two different yet equally exciting types of TV technologies that several consumers are talking about in 2022.
Is NanoCell better than LED? Or is OLED the real king in this debate? Or are these all TV marketing terms created to make ordinary TVs appear more advanced than they are? Let’s address all these questions one by one & settle the NanoCell vs OLED debate for good.
Do you have a particular question about comparing NanoCell vs. OLED? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
What is NanoCell Technology?
NanoCell technology was developed by LG – one of the leading TV brands in the world. NanoCell TV screens have special filtering layers that sit right about the TVs’ LCD panels. These layers make the images produced by the TVs more colorful & vivid. This technology is relatively new & almost everything we know about it comes from articles published by LG.
TV sets that feature LG’s NanoCell technology cost anywhere between $600 and $4,000. LG TVs with this technology have the word “NANO” in their names. The company is yet to reveal the specifics of how this technology works. But, we have a fair idea of how LG NanoCell technology works.
The screens of these TVs come with pre-installed filter layers. These layers absorb specific wavelengths of light & “purify” the final color output of the TV. Users see deeper & clearer colors when they see live images on LG NanoCell TV screens. Here are some advantages of TVs that feature this filtering technology:
- NanoCell offers superior image quality compared to other LED TVs.
- These TVs produce images with brighter & more vivid colors; these colors make the final images appear sharper & more detailed.
- Unlike most new TV technologies NanoCell TVs have mid-range prices. They don’t cost as much as OLED TVs.
- Traditional LED screen TVs are known for fading with age. NanoCell TVs don’t do that.
- NanoCell TVs offer wide-angle viewing just like OLED TVs & they can be viewed even from 178-degree angles.
Impressed by all these proven benefits of NanoCell TVs? Good, but don’t be too impressed. The OLED vs. NanoCell debate isn’t one-sided because NanoCell TVs aren’t perfect –
‘NanoCell is not as advanced technology as OLED. These TVs are still LCDs with backlights. Yes, their image quality & color accuracy are better than standard LCD TVs. But, they still need to be better than OLED TVs.
‘NanoCell TVs consume way more power than OLEDs & are hence less eco-friendly.
What is OLED?
The term “OLED” stands for “Organic Light Emitting Diode.” The standout feature of OLED TVs is that their display panels act as light sources themselves. Unlike NanoCell or standard LCD TVs, there’s no backlighting in these TVs. Instead, each pixel on OLED TV screens emits its own light. On the other hand, LCD TVs require separate sources of the backlight.
These sources can be fluorescent lamps or LEDs for backlight. These separate light sources illuminate the pixels on NanoCell & LCD TVs. There are many benefits to owning OLED TVs that can produce their own light & don’t require any backlight. The main benefit is that users indirectly control each pixel on these TV screens.
OLED TVs can turn OFF certain pixels on their screens during dark, low-light scenes & produce stunning blacks. This improves the contrast & color quality of the display as there’s no issue of backlight bleeding into OLED screens. OLED TVs are also famous for their extended viewing angles. Some other benefits of OLED TVs include the following:
- OLED TVs produce much better image & color quality than NanoCell TVs.
- They’re more energy-efficient because they don’t require constantly running backlights.
- OLED TVs are also typically thinner than other types of TVs because they don’t require backlights.
- If you’re a gamer stuck on the NanoCell or OLED, debate – OLED TV is the clear winner because these TVs can come with curved screens (as they don’t require fixed backlights).
Don’t worry the LG NanoCell vs. OLED debate isn’t one-sided in favor of OLED TVs either. Like most technologies, OLD TVs also have their flaws. They include:
- ‘OLED TVs cost more than their LCD, LED, or NanoCell TV counterparts.
- ‘OLED TVs are prone to “burning-in.” This means that images displayed on OLED TVs can “burn” into the screens.
What is the Difference Between NanoCell and OLED?
Now, let’s address the specific differences between LG OLED vs. NanoCell TVs:
- Display: NanoCell TVs have LCD or LED displays with LED backlighting (known as “Transmissive Displays”). OLED TV display screens have self-emitting pixels known as “Emissive Displays.” Overall, OLED TV display screens are slightly better than their NanoCell counterparts.
- Viewing Angles: Both NanoCell and OLED TVs offer extended viewing angles. But OLED TV screens have self-emitting pixels. They can be curved or bent to provide wider viewing angles. OLED TVs “win” when it comes to providing better viewing angles.
- Color Accuracy: Both these types of TVs offer excellent color accuracy. But, NanoCell TVs are specifically designed to improve the color quality of the images they display. So, they’re more color accurate than standard OLED TVs.
- Contrast Ratio: OLED TVs have significantly higher contrast ratios than NanoCell TVs. The pixels on OLED TV screens are entirely switched off for black colors. Here’s a helpful video demonstrating the fantastic contrast ratios OLED TVs offer & why they’re so crucial for having good TV viewing experiences.
- Response Time: If you play video games on your TV, you need a screen with a very low response time. The response time of a TV screen is the time it takes to switch from one color to other. The faster these switches, the better the gaming experience. OLED TVs have super-low response times. NanoCell TVs also offer low response times, but they aren’t nearly as good as OLED TVs in this department. So the NanoCell vs. OLED for gaming debate has a clear winner, and it’s OLED TVs.
Is NanoCell Better Than OLED?
No. We’re not saying that NanoCell TVs are bad or that you shouldn’t buy them. But they can’t compete with OLED TVs in most departments. NanoCell TVs cost less, so buying one isn’t a risky move. But if you want the finest TV experience – OLED TVs are the best the market has to offer
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
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