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PLASMA VS OLED TV

PLASMA VS OLED TV: A Detailed Comparison

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Table of Contents

Different display technologies have emerged as televisions have evolved. At the same time that plasma TVs were being taken out, LCD TVs sprouted from the remains of their predecessor and finally evolved into OLED. This article will give you a detailed comparison of Plasma VS OLED TV.

The more popular OLED TV, which stands for organic light-emitting diode, is an advancement over the more LCD tv technology. Plasma TV use has become less common these days but they can still be a good option in some scenarios.

Let’s dive into the details!

Plasma VS OLED: The Comparison Summary

Feature

OLED TVs

Plasma TVs

Tech

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode

Contains tiny pockets of gas that become Plasma due to applied voltage

Contrast

Infinite Contrast

Not infinite contrast

Brightness

Brighter Than Plasma

Less bright than OLED

Power

Consume less power

Consume more power

Burn-in Risk

Have burn-in risk

No burn in risk

Weight

Lighter than Plasma

A bit Heavy

Viewing Angles

Wider Viewing Angles

Less Wider Viewing Angles

Inputs

Lot of Options

Limited options

Trend

Latest Technology

Outdated Technology

Cost

A bit costly

A bit low priced

IS OLED BETTER THAN PLASMA?

Yes, OLED TVs are better than Plasma TVs due to their better peak brightness, wider viewing angles, infinite contrast, and less power consumption. However, in terms of longevity and refresh rate plasma screens have a slight advantage over OLEDs. They are less likely to lose their color over time.

OLEDs have infinite contrast and deeper blacks. They are robust to radio interference from other nearby functioning devices. Since most manufacturers have stopped making plasma screens, OLEDs are simpler to find and available in various sizes and brands.

Hence, it is clear that Plasma only outperforms OLED is better in terms of longevity and refresh rate.

Other than that, Plasma is destroyed by OLED. As the OLEDs have perfect blacks and no phosphor trails. Not only this, but OLEDs have less picture retention, quicker response times, and a noticeably brighter image.

OLEDs have the benefits of 4K, HDR, HDMI 2.1, smart TV, and 120 Hz refresh rates. In contrast, the refresh rates of plasmas are only 60 Hz. Additionally, they are less power-hungry, thinner, lighter, cooler, and quieter.

Detailed Comparison Between OLED And Plasma

To know the Difference between Plasma and OLED, we must first understand each term individually.

Plasma

PLASMA VS OLED TV

A plasma television meticulously assembles the image. This is so because each sub-pixel in the panel has its colour to display. Because each sub-pixel on the TV is powered separately, you get a realistic image with high contrast.

The TV will no longer power those sub-pixels if the screen’s portion remains dark. Black is black. The image appears natural on a plasma television because of the fluid movement presentation.

OLED

An OLED television has a panel that is made up of millions of sub-pixels, each of which uses a filter to display a different colour. Each pixel can be turned on or off separately. The pixels there will be turned off by the television.

The colours are vibrant and realistic because of the image’s unending contrast. The method is comparable to a plasma TV. However, an OLED is brighter & has crisper images since its sub-pixels are smaller.

Both technologies have more significant screen sizes and higher resolutions than older ones. Also, they may both be used for years without experiencing colour deterioration or screen burns.

You may also not experience a screen flicker issue with either plasmas or OLEDs. This is because their refresh rates are relatively high compared to earlier screen technologies.

Plasma employs ionized gases to light the screen, whereas OLED uses organic material. OLED screens don’t survive as long as plasma screens since the colour of an OLED panel fades over time.

With Plasma, you might face a problem at higher altitudes. The pressure differential between the environment and the internal gases harms the set. Since Plasma relies on gases inside the screen to illuminate the images, you can’t use a plasma screen at high altitudes.

Due to the presence of ionized gases, plasma TV is more susceptible to interference. Since OLED doesn’t have this issue, there won’t be any radio-frequency interference when listening to AM radio near an OLED TV.

The blacks on an OLED screen are black because OLED technology shuts off the pixels representing darkness. Blacks on plasma panels aren’t as deep as they are on OLED screens because plasma screens lack that level of precision.

Let us look at some features to make a better comparison:

PLASMA TV VS OLED: BURN-IN

The best picture is on OLED screens, but they are more prone to burn-in. The best image quality available is provided by OLED technology, which also offers a very high contrast ratio. Sadly, burn-in is a potential issue with OLED.

Burn-in occurs when a portion of a picture persists as a ghostly background regardless of what is displayed on the screen. This could be navigation buttons, persistent icons on the phone, a channel logo, a news ticker, or a scoreboard on a TV. The burn-in can happen to all organic light-emitting diode screens.

Some key facts about burn-in:

  • With OLED, burn-in is conceivable but unlikely in everyday use.
  • Most “burn-in” is simply image retention, which vanishes after a short while.
  • Before it permanently burns in, you will almost surely notice image retention.
  • Burn-in is often something to be aware of but not to worry about.

Plasma uses a phosphor-based screen technology, like tube TVs and previous CRT rear-projection televisions. If you leave a static image on your screen for too long, it may leave a ghost of itself behind and appear burned into the screen due to uneven phosphor wear.

A high-contrast image, such as brilliant text against a dark or black backdrop, has the most significant risk of burn-in. This happens because specific pixels are turned on to the maximum while others nearby are entirely off.

PLASMA TV BRIGHTNESS VS OLED TV

OLED consumes less power and creates brighter images. Although plasmas are less bright, they may be harder to see in a bright room and will gradually get dimmer.

PLASMA VS OLED TV: PICTURE QUALITY

Plasma television fans gush over the superb picture quality. The quality is excellent, especially when watching movies, television shows, and sporting events. Dark scenes are even easier to see because of the high contrast. Rich and realistic colour representation is used.

On a plasma television, motions during sports or action movies are presented fluidly. Motion blur won’t appear even with the swiftest movements. Due to the wide image angles of a plasma TV, another benefit is that you get the same image quality from every perspective.

An OLED television is different from what you’re used to when you turn it on. Deep blacks and vivid hues are seen. Because you can even make out features in the darkness, dark scenes in movies or television shows have no surprises.

Enjoy an image with a lot of depth and vibrant, lifelike colours thanks to the OLED panel’s limitless contrast. Fluent and organic movement progression is used. All these elements ensure a realistic viewing experience if you have an OLED display.

PLASMA TV VS OLED: POWER CONSUMPTION

There is no denying that a plasma TV uses more electricity than an OLED equivalent, making it more expensive to operate. However, there is no clear-cut technical differences between the power consumption of the two. Screens are heavy because of the requirements of plasma technology.

PLASMA TV VS LED VS OLED

LED OLED PLASMA
LED TVs stands for Light- Emitting Diode
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode
Plasma televisions feature tiny pockets of gas that become Plasma when a voltage is applied to them.
LED TVs are similar to traditional LCD TVs, but instead of CCFL backlights, they use several smaller LED lights. Since it continues to use an LCD panel, it produces the same image as a regular LCD TV but has more control over the backlighting.
OLEDs TVs are unique in their ability to emit light on individual pixels. This results in more control over the colour, brightness, and black levels. Additionally, as it illuminates each pixel, a higher contrast ratio is expected.
When the mercury in the Plasma is struck by the voltage, ultraviolet (UV) rays are released, passing through phosphor cells to create a picture.
The LEDs can be placed along the edges, as in edge-lit LED, or all over the back panel, as in direct LED or full-array backlighting.
Because an OLED TV can control the brightness and darkness of each pixel, it is believed to have an "infinite" contrast ratio. In other words, rather than a bright or washed-out display, you may anticipate seeing the actual colours of each pixel.
The three phosphor cells that make up each TV pixel—red, green, and blue—combine to create every colour you see on the screen. In essence, plasma TVs don't need a backlight because each pixel emits its light, making them self-emissive.
It is least expensive
It is most expensive
It is less expensive

QLED VS OLED VS PLASMA

QLED TV:

QLED TVs are LCD TVs that have been upgraded with a layer of quantum dot particles.  When compared to organic particles used in OLED TVs, quantum dots particles improve brightness and contrast. Additionally, they prevent burn-in, increase durability, and produce an overall good image quality.

Quantum dot technology further improves the image quality of the display. Although the moniker “QLED” may be confusing, these TVs are LED TVs with a quantum-dot enhanced film layer rather than OLED TVs.

OLED TV:

PLASMA VS OLED TV

An OLED is an organic light-emitting diode. It’s the most recent addition; it’s also the most expensive. It is unique in that it can produce light on individual pixels. This means that the colour, brightness, and black levels are more precisely controlled. Because it illuminates individual pixels, you can expect a higher contrast ratio.

PLASMA TV:

Plasma TVs have some of the highest quality television screens you’ll ever see. Their panel displays use Plasma (hence the name) and are said to produce truly black colours. In effect, you have virtually perfect image quality.

Which one is better?

To be able to make a decision here, you must first consider some factors. It isn’t just the price, but many people consider other features as well. These include brightness, contrast ratio, black levels, viewing angles, and energy consumption.

Price:

The QLED is the most affordable of the three. When comparing the same size plasma TV to a QLED, the QLED is still the cheapest, significantly more than a plasma TV. However, OLED is expensive.

Brightness:

The QLED can get brighter than most OLEDs, which is especially useful in bright rooms and with HDR content. OLED TVs, on the other hand, can still get much brighter for most rooms. Their superior contrast allows them to deliver a better overall HDR image than any QLED.

However, plasmas are less bright and will dim over time, making them more challenging to see in a bright room.

Contrast Ratio:

The contrast ratio is the ratio of the brightest and darkest colours that a screen can display. In comparison to QLED and Plasma, OLED has an infinite contrast ratio. It can quickly turn on and off a pixel for maximum brightness (or darkness).

Black Levels:

The OLED TV has the best black levels, similar to the contrast ratio because the light is pixel-specific. This means it can turn off the actual pixels, resulting in true black colour. Plasma is a close second in that it can control its pixels, but the blackness is not as deep as that of an OLED TV screen.

Viewing Angles:

OLED TVs are known for having extremely wide viewing angles, making them ideal for viewing in group settings with spread-out seating. OLED TVs have an average viewing angle of around 70 degrees from the center, where the center refers to being directly in front of the screen.

At most viewing angles, you won’t notice any difference in colour or brightness with an OLED TV. To compare, plasma televisions have the same image quality from every angle due to their wide image angles.

Energy consumption:

OLED panels do not require an extremely bright backlight and are inherently more energy-efficient. This is because the backlights consume a significant amount of power

A plasma TV consumes a lot of energy. While you may get a crystal clear image, that crisp image comes at a high energy cost. A 42-inch plasma TV can consume up to 500 watts, which is more than a standard-sized refrigerator.

To conclude, plasma is dying today for a reason. This is primarily due to the high cost of production. Plasma televisions are extremely expensive.

Final Verdict

Plasma televisions have nearly disappeared as OLED, and other technologies such as Super-AMOLED have taken over the market.

Panasonic, LG, and Samsung stopped producing plasma TVs in 2014 due to rising production costs and increased demand for other screen technologies.

If you want the most appealing image, go with OLED, but plasma TVs have better image quality.

OLEDs have advantages over plasmas, such as lighter weight, less fragile construction, and resistance to environmental interference. You’re better off using OLEDs rather than the antiquated and temperamental plasma technology.

FAQs

  • What is the difference between Plasma and OLED technology?

    Plasma technology relies on ionized gases to create images, while OLED technology uses organic compounds that emit light when an electrical current is applied.

  • Which is better, Plasma or OLED?

    OLED is generally considered better due to its superior picture quality, brightness, and energy efficiency.

  • Are OLED TVs brighter than Plasma TVs?

    Yes, OLED TVs tend to be brighter, providing a more vibrant viewing experience.

  • Are OLED TVs more expensive than Plasma TVs?

    Yes, OLED TVs are usually more expensive than Plasma TVs due to their advanced technology.

  • Do OLED TVs have better picture quality than Plasma TVs?

    Yes, OLED TVs typically offer better picture quality with deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and faster response times.

Jason Reynolds

I have been working in the electrical and Audio/Visual field for over 19 years. My focus for EagleTVMounting is to provide concise expertise in everything I write. The greatest joy in life is to provide people with insight information that can potentially change their viewpoints. Our #1 goal is just that!

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