Difference Between LED and OLED


Both LED (Light Emitting Diode) and OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) are popular display technologies used in various electronic devices like TVs, monitors, laptop screens, etc. However, they are completely different from each other in several aspects like technology, construction, energy efficiency, thickness, and more.

The most fundamental difference between LED and OLED is in their working, i.e. LED uses backlights for its operation, while OLED uses self-illuminating organic compounds that produce bright light on the passage of electric current.

In this article, we will explore all the significant differences between LED and OLED. But before discussing the differences, let us first briefly discuss some basics of LED and OLED display technologies.

What is LED?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LED is a display technology widely being used in manufacturing of flat-panel displays used in a variety of modern electronic devices like TVs, monitors, etc.

An LED display typically consists of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) based backlight panel. The LED backlight panel acts as a source of light and illuminates the screen, while the LCD panel acts as a picture generating system that controls the amount of light passing through it to create pictures on the screen.

The operation of LED display is based on the principle of electroluminescence, i.e. the light produced by the light emitting diodes produces images on the screen.

Today, LED displays are widely being used in almost all modern electronic display devices, such as TVs, monitors, laptop screens, mobile screens, etc. due to their advantages, including high energy efficiency, compact size, high color accuracy, longer lifespan, and more.

What is OLED?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. It is named so because it uses a thin layer of organic semiconductor material. OLED is one of the modern display technologies which is also popularly being used in a wide range of electronic display devices.

OLED displays consists of organic semiconductor compounds that emit a bright light on the passage of electric current through them. Therefore, OLED displays are considered as self-illuminating types of displays. These displays do not require backlight panel with LEDs.

The thin layer of organic semiconductor material is sandwiched between two conducting electrodes. When an electric power source is connected to the electrodes, an electric current flows though the organic material and produces a bright light that illuminate the screen.

The major advantages of OLED include high picture quality, wider viewing angles, flexibility, compact size, faster response time, and low power consumption. However, OLED displays have relatively shorter lifespan due to burn-in or degradation. They are also more expensive than LED displays.

Difference between LED and OLED Displays

The following table highlights all the significant differences between LED and OLED displays −

Parameter

LED Display

OLED Display

Full Form

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode.

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode.

Technology

LED displays use LCD panel with LED-based backlight panel.

OLED uses organic semiconductor materials that produce light when an electric current passes through them.

Primary source of light

In LED displays, LED backlight panel is used as the primary source of light to illuminate the screen.

In OLED displays, a thin layer of organic material is used to emit light that illuminate the screen.

Cost

LED displays are relatively cheaper than OLED displays.

OLED displays are more expensive than LED displays.

Viewing angle

LED displays have a relatively narrow viewing angle.

OLED displays have a wider viewing angle than LED displays.

Size

LED displays have larger size.

OLED displays have comparatively smaller size.

Thickness

LED displays are thin.

OLED displays are comparatively thinner than LED displays.

Flexibility

LED displays are comparatively less flexible.

OLED displays are more flexible than LED displays.

Weight

LED displays are heavier than OLED.

OLED displays are comparatively lighter than LED displays.

Picture quality

LED displays offer good picture quality.

OLED displays provide comparatively better quality than LED displays.

Efficiency

LED displays are relatively less efficient.

OLED displays are more efficient than LED displays.

Lifespan

LED displays have longer lifespan.

OLED displays have shorter lifespan.

Power consumption

LED displays consume more power than OLED displays.

OLED displays consume less power.

Response time

LED displays have a slower response time.

OLED displays have a faster response time.

Color accuracy

LED displays have good color accuracy.

OLED displays have comparatively better color accuracy than LED displays.

Structure

LED displays have complex structure.

OLED displays have simple structure.

Brightness

LED displays have high brightness levels.

OLED displays have low brightness levels.

Applications

LED displays are used in TVs, monitors, outdoor screens, stadium screens, traffic signs, scoreboards in sport venues, indoor public screens, etc.

OLED displays are used in smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs, virtual reality headsets, automotive displays, etc.

Conclusion

The selection between LED and OLED displays depends on the factors like application, price, power requirement, performance, etc. Both LED displays and OLED displays have their own upsides and downsides.

The most significant difference between LED displays and OLED displays is that LED displays uses a backlight panel with light emitting diodes to illuminate the screen, whereas OLED displays do not need any backlight panel, instead they have a organic material that emits a bright light when an electric current is passed through it.

Updated on: 07-Aug-2023

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