OLED and Laser TVs - two new technologies go head to head


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Background

The television market is constantly evolving and changing. Companies work to create the newest technologies, making strides in the picture, size, and clarity of television. OLED TVs and Laser TVs are two of the newest types of technology available for televisions. They have similarities and individual benefits that will help you to make a purchasing decision.

Before we go into the technology, we feel we must highlight the following:

Both technologies are in their infancy, although available on the market.
Both come with a hefty price tag.
Lasers are projected directly onto the back of the screen on Laser TVs - there is a debate between the "experts" as to the long term effect on the eyes.
There are concerns over the longevity of the OLED TVs as the organic compound deteriorates over a period of time.

The last two concerns raised above are being researched and developed at present.

The Technology

Laser TVs use waves to create the picture that you see. The waves work to mix the colours correctly to give a clean picture. The laser TV is closely related to a projector. The technology allows the televisions to be large. As time goes on, these televisions will continue to get larger.

Sony's 11" XEL-1 OLED TV
In 2009 at the CES Show they showcased a 27" which is not in production yet

OLED televisions, in contrast, are smaller than Laser TVs. The OLED TV has not seen the same technological jump. The technology is still fine tuned for the smaller television. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) television is slightly different than the usual LED televisions. The Luminescent layer on OLED TVs is made up organic compounds. These create a matrix of pixels that in turn create the picture that you view. The matrix of pixels allows the picture to be created from the light emitted from the LEDs.

Benefits

Laser: Mitsubishi's Laservue 65" L65-A90
not available in the UK yet

Laser TV technology allow for a wide colour range. These televisions are also known for being lightweight. The Laser TV is relatively thin, giving it a sleek and modern look. The technology behind the projection lasers in the Laser TV allows for a long life. Mitsubishi are leading this field with many a review.

OLED TVs also allow for a wide range of colours as well. The matrix that is created through the organic compounds gives great contrast and brightness to the picture. The LEDs allow the television to show deeper black in the black areas of a picture. This increases the look of the contrast of the TV.

OLED TVs have a lower power consumption compared to other televisions. This includes laser TVs. This current benefit also may be because of the smaller size of the OLED TVs available.

Deciding Between Laser and OLED

The technology behind the OLED TV is still growing. OLED TVs are small. The largest OLED TV on the market is much smaller than other TV types. Reasonable sizes tend to be under the 20’’ range.

Laser TVs have the opposite size issues. Laser TVs are perfect for larger TVs. The projection allows for them to start at a large size. Many of the laser TVs available are over 40’’ and can reach 60’’ or more.

Laser TVs are cheaper than OLED TVs. This may change over time, as the OLED TV technology is refined. As of now, however, the Laser TV is lower in cost when compared to similar sizes.