Guide to choosing Samsung QLED TVs

Samsung's known for its outstanding color and brightness, and it's QLED TV series is no exception to the company's reputation. The TV giant offers a wide range of sizes and price points, delivering QLED technology to viewers of all types. Brightness, picture quality and flexibility are highlights of the QLED TV series. Learn more about what the technology is, its benefits and how to choose the right TV for you with this quick guide.

QLED vs. OLED: What's the difference?

Although they have similar sounding names, QLED and OLED are very different types of technology. QLED stands for quantum dot LED. These TVs have a quantum dot film layered between an LED backlight and an LCD display. Quantum dots emit their own light when they're exposed to light from the LED backlight. Then, the light from these microscopic molecules travels through the television's other layers to create the picture.

OLED TVs don't use LCD technology. These TVs have organic light emitting diodes (OLED) and pixels that produce their own light, negating the need for an LED backlight. This produces a different type of picture than QLED technology.

For example, QLED TVs produce a brighter picture, which is particularly helpful if you're watching content with high dynamic rate (HDR) imaging or if you're watching your television in a bright room. Additionally, in 2019, there were only three available OLED TV sizes, restricting your options significantly. QLED TVs, on the other hand, come in a wider range of sizes, giving shoppers a better selection to choose from, with some of the largest sizes costing significantly less than their OLED counterparts. Note that higher-priced QLED TVs tend to have better picture quality than lower-priced QLEDs because of added features. However, the picture quality of OLEDs is generally high, regardless of the price tag.

Why choose Samsung QLED TVs?

Samsung debuted its QLED TVs in 2017 and continue building upon their lineup. The technology raises the bar on the visuals and sound capabilities of your television, delivering what Samsung dubs "an unparalleled visual and auditory adventure." Some of the highlights of QLED TVs include the following:

• Rich cinematic views due to Samsung's QLED displays, which have more than one-billion shades for vivid colors
• Optimal contrast from Direct Full Array technology as the television lights individual parts of the screen for the blackest blacks, whiter whites and deep detail for a realistic picture
Sleek designs engineered to provide reduced glare and consistent picture quality from every seat in the room
• Optimized sound and picture automatically created by Samsung's Quantum Processor to deliver the best viewing conditions
• Sound that adapts based on spatial and scenic analysis for a next-level, immersive entertainment experience
• A built-in voice assistant, Bixby, that works with other voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
• Ambient Mode, which transforms your blank screen into a work of art to liven up the space or add visual interest to the room

How to choose the right QLED TV for you

With all the different models available, picking the right one out depends on your individual needs. To find your new favorite TV, think about the following important considerations:

• Size: To figure out the right size for your room, experts suggest measuring the distance from your seating area to the television and dividing that by three. For example, if you're sitting 12 feet away, you're 144 inches from the TV. Divide that by three and you get 48 inches. Although you could always go bigger, you might want to stick with a TV that's around that size. And good news: Samsung QLED TVs come in a range of sizes from 43 inches up to 98 inches.
• Features: How many bells and whistles do you want? The higher the series number, the more features and luxe elements you'll get.
• Pixels: Samsung's QLED TV series comes in 4K and 8K resolution. QLED 4K has eight-million pixels, roughly four times as many as you get with standard high definition resolution. QLED 8K has 33 million pixels, or around 16 times more pixels than traditional HDTV.
• Budget: If you want all the features available, including a premium remote, best picture quality and premier connections, the Q9FN line might be the best bet for you. If you're looking for a great viewing experience with fewer luxurious touches and a lower price point, the Q8FN or Q7FN line would work great. For a QLED TV at the lowest prices, the Q6FN lineup delivers Samsung's hallmark performance with fewer extras.