First, let me clarify that there are currently only two common types of TV screens on the market: LCD and OLED.
While Samsung's "Micro LED" TV, The Wall, is already on the market, it's actually more accurately described as a Mini LED direct-view display, not a Micro LED screen.
Samsung The Wall
Next, I'll explain some common terms used to describe screens to help you understand and avoid being confused by marketing misinformation.
These terms include LED/ULED/QLED/Mini LED/OLED/QD-OLED/Micro LED
LED: Essentially, this refers to LCD TVs. It's a misnomer for LCD screens. LED means that the backlight of an LCD TV uses LED lamps. Currently, most LCD TVs on the market use LED backlighting, so you can use this misconception to equate LED with LCD.
ULED: Essentially, this also refers to LCD TVs. This is a marketing term used by Hisense to indicate that the model features checkerboard-style local dimming technology, making it a mid-to-high-end product from Hisense. It has practical significance. However, checkerboard-style local dimming technology is widely used in various brands and is not unique to Hisense.
QLED: Essentially an LCD TV, it means it uses quantum dot wide color gamut technology. Wide color gamut technology is widely used in TVs nowadays, increasing color richness and making the picture more vibrant. There are two solutions for wide color gamut technology in LCD TVs: quantum dot wide color gamut and phosphor wide color gamut. Generally speaking, quantum dot wide color gamut is better than phosphor wide color gamut, although it is more expensive and produces more vibrant colors, making it practically significant.
Quantum dot film (pale yellow)
However, this doesn't mean that a TV with quantum dot wide color gamut is always better; the specific configuration must be considered, and one shouldn't blindly buy.
Mini LED: Essentially an LCD TV, it means it has upgraded backlighting. The backlighting in Mini LED TVs is smaller and denser than that of ordinary LCD TVs. This has two uses: first, it improves the uniformity of backlighting, reducing the problem of dark corners; second, it allows for more checkerboard-style local dimming zones, precisely controlling the brightness of different areas of the TV, which is practically significant.
Currently, LCD TVs claiming to be Mini LED don't just use Mini LED backlighting; they also incorporate high peak brightness, multi-zone backlighting, and wide color gamut technology. Therefore, most TVs claiming to be Mini LED are mid-to-high-end true HDR TVs. Of course, there are several such products on the market; the key is to consider the actual performance and price, and not be too hasty.
QD-Mini LED:
"QD" stands for Quantum Dot technology. As mentioned above, the combination of the two means "an LCD TV using quantum dot wide color gamut and Mini LED backlighting."
Examples include the Samsung QN900A, TCL X11, and Huawei V75 SUPER.
OLED: Unlike LCD screens, OLED is a completely new screen technology. Its characteristic is that each pixel is self-emissive, and each pixel can independently control its brightness. Therefore, the picture has extremely high contrast, strong three-dimensionality, incredibly clear image, and vibrant and natural colors, significantly better than LCD TVs, but also much more expensive.
As of December 2021, LG Display was the only supplier of OLED TV screens; all OLED TVs on the market used LG Display screens.
OLED screens are generally categorized by refresh rate into two types: 60Hz (900 nits peak brightness) and 120Hz (1000 nits peak brightness).
60Hz screens are generally cheaper, and examples of current market products are listed below.
120Hz screens are more expensive, and examples of current market products are also listed below.
QD-OLED: It is rumored that Samsung Display has already mass-produced QD-OLED displays, and related products are expected to be available in 2022. QD-OLED combines quantum dot technology with OLED technology. As discussed above, quantum dot technology, by incorporating quantum dot materials into OLED screens, gives them a wider color gamut and more vibrant colors, theoretically offering better performance than standard OLED displays. However, we need to see the actual performance before making a definitive judgment. Besides incorporating quantum dot materials, white OLEDs have also become blue OLEDs to excite the quantum dot materials.
QD-OLED is essentially still OLED, so just like OLEDs experience burn-in, QD-OLEDs also suffer from it.
Micro LED: Currently available OLED screens use organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), made of organic materials. Their drawback is a limited lifespan; over time, they age, reducing brightness—a phenomenon commonly known as "burn-in." Micro LED, like OLED, uses self-emissive pixels, but its materials are inorganic, resulting in a much longer lifespan and the ability to achieve high brightness. It also boasts a wide color gamut and extremely high contrast, making Micro LED a superior screen type compared to OLED. However, current technology prevents its miniaturization and mass production. But with technological advancements and cost reductions, Micro LED is undoubtedly the future.