There is no dispute that Samsung makes great TVs; Questions often arise when deciding what model and type of monitor to buy. If you want the best of the best, two of the by Samsung More innovative display technologies, Crystal UHD and QLED, are also among the company’s most popular, so it can be difficult to determine which is best for your enjoyment.
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If you are looking for a vivid display with HDR with 4K . resolution, you’re on the right track no matter which of the two you buy. However, there are some notable differences for each technology, such as contrast and color accuracy, which I’ve listed below.
You should buy Crystal UHD if…
1. You are shopping with affordability
Samsung’s Crystal UHD TVs don’t have as many features as the QLED models, but they’re significantly more affordable. With some light browsing, you can easily find an older Samsung Crystal UHD TV for sale for under $300. That’s a comparison of QLED TVs that typically cost over $500. This makes the Crystal UHD TV a better option for shoppers on a limited budget.
2. You just want a TV for everyday, essential viewing
If you don’t want to amp up your home theater with a massive sound system, TV 8K and only need one screen to watch daily news and movies, then saving a few bucks and buying a Crystal UHD TV is not a bad move.
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Sometimes, you still get stunning images with 4K resolution. And if you don’t need the bells and whistles of Quantum Dot technology, you’ll be right there with the Crystal UHD panel. For what it’s worth, these TVs can also upscale the HD picture to deliver more clarity.
3. You want a good picture from every angle
Which TV has the widest viewing angle is debatable, but I personally find the Crystal UHD panel to be more beneficial than the QLED screen. This means that the picture quality on Crystal UHD TV is better maintained and consistent even when you are not facing the center of the TV.
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QLED TVs produce colors using Quantum Dots, which makes the picture more directional than that produced by the LED backlighting in the Crystal UHD panel. In a QLED TV, the picture looks darker and harder to distinguish from an angle of about 50 degrees or more. This means the picture quality may degrade as you move further away from the center of the QLED TV screen. That said, ask any TV enthusiast for their perspective and they may have different, and sometimes conflicting, opinions, which TV is better to watch.
You should buy a QLED TV if…
1. You want the clearest picture quality of the two
QLED screens use Quantum Dot technology to display bright, colorful and detailed images. In fact, QLED panels have sometimes become Samsung’s flagship TV technology compete with LG’s OLED screens.
In a word, there are millions of individually illuminated pixels in a QLED TV, each of which emits a specific color to make up the overall picture you see on the screen. This intricate arrangement of pixels gives QLED the edge in color accuracy, sharpness, and vividness.
2. You want AI to improve your image quality
Samsung’s high-end QLED TV line supports what it calls the Quantum Processor, using artificial intelligence to improve image quality. The TV can recognize lower-resolution videos and images and proactively upscale them with meticulous control over details such as reducing backlight brightness to improve the viewer’s experience. That way 1080p content can look like 4K and 4K content can look like 8K.
3. You prefer true blacks and sharper contrast
The quantum dots that make up the QLED panel are not only capable of emitting brighter and sharper images, but also darker images for low-light scenes. QLED screens outperform both LCD and LED screens in terms of color reproduction and, of course, images offer a superior contrast ratio.
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An easy way to visualize this difference is to turn off the lights your TV is on and see how the screen looks when nothing is playing. With UHD panels, you may see what is known as backlight bleed or brighter pixel arrays even though the screen should be black.
Alternatives to consider
BEST QLED ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
Samsung 65 inch Q80B QLED 4K TV
The latest Samsung QLED 4K model features the brand’s Quantum HDR 8X for 4K upscaling, along with 3D audio.
BEST BUDGET ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
Samsung 65 inch LED TV series 7
Samsung’s Class 7 lineup isn’t the latest and greatest, but with its large 65-inch Crystal UHD panel and 4K resolution, it’s a great option for budget shoppers.
BEST FIRE TV ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
Amazon 75-inch Fire TV Omni Series 4K
Amazon’s Fire TV Omni lineup offers Dolby Vision certified 4K video resolution and is supported by Alexa hands-free controls.
