Is it worth buying an OLED TV? What is better to choose? A larger, but weaker model, or a smaller, but higher quality one?

Choosing an OLED television is truly a minefield today. On one hand, marketers bombard us with numbers, while on the other hand, the price differences between series can be staggering. You may often wonder: does this more expensive model actually shine better, or are you just paying for the logo and a nicer casing? In this text, we won't be delivering academic lectures on pixel structure. We'll focus on what your eyes see: the real quality of the image, features, and how the screen will perform in your living room.

Why is it worth buying an OLED television at all?

Before we move on to specific dilemmas, it's worth recalling why OLED has become the standard for those seeking the highest quality. Unlike LCD screens (including Mini-LED), where the image requires a backlight, in OLED technology each of the millions of pixels lights up independently. In practice, this means for you perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and a natural image that looks best during evening screenings.

The second key aspect is motion fluidity. Remember that the key is not the number of hertz (Hz) itself, but the response time of the panel, meaning how quickly the pixels change colour. This is why a 120Hz OLED often offers a sharper picture in motion than a 165Hz LCD television, which is crucial in sports and gaming. These additional values like 144 or 165Hz are aimed solely and exclusively at advanced PC gamers.

Division into Series: Brightness as the Main Criterion

To help you navigate the market, the latest models can be divided into three main segments, differing primarily in brightness (measured in nits):

When does the extra payment for premium models make real sense?

Since mid-range models already offer nearly reference-level brightness for film content, why consider purchasing top-tier series such as LG G, Samsung S95, or Philips from the 900 series? There are several reasons, and they typically go beyond just watching series on streaming. First and foremost, one must differentiate between maximum brightness in HDR and brightness in SDR content, which includes typical television, sports, or news programmes. It is in such scenarios that top-tier series gain the most advantage. Where cheaper OLEDs start to look too dark in sunlight, more expensive models can maintain a clear and contrasting image even in challenging, sunlit conditions. In addition to this, there are better anti-reflective coatings that truly affect the lack of reflections on the panel.

The topic is also completely different in video games. HDR in games can produce bright effects much more intensely, even reaching values of around 10,000 nits. It is here that top televisions have the space to showcase the full extent of their technical capabilities. On top of that, there are the proprietary solutions from manufacturers: LG in the G series offers a five-year warranty on the panel and a special bracket that allows for perfect flat wall mounting. Samsung in the S95 series uses a unique matte screen that drastically improves comfort in bright rooms, as well as the One Connect module that makes it easier to aesthetically hide cables. Sony, on the other hand, focuses on unrivalled image processing algorithms and access to the Bravia Core platform with films of the highest bitrate. There are many such nuances, but you already have a roughly good idea of what this is all about.

Focus on size, because you already have high quality

The basic strategy we recommend is as follows: first choose the largest size you can afford while maintaining decent image quality. In the case of OLED technology, the condition of "decent quality" is met by practically every model, regardless of price or series, as here we have virtually perfect motion fluidity and infinite contrast. Since you essentially get image quality "automatically," it makes more sense to focus on these three elements:

• distance from the screen,

• brightness of the room,

• available budget.

To make your choice easier, we have several scenarios for you that often appear on the internet:

Scenario 1: medium budget, distance 2.5 m, watching films and series

If you mainly watch television in the evening, faced with the dilemma of a 55-inch premium flagship or a 65-inch mid-range model, opt for the latter (e.g. 65" from the S90 series). At 2.5 metres, those additional 10 inches will make a bigger difference and provide a better cinematic experience than the extra nits of brightness, which you won't fully utilise in the evening anyway.

Scenario 2: Large living room, distance 3.5 m, high budget

If you have a large living room and a budget of around 10,000 PLN, the choice becomes more complex and depends on the characteristics of your room. Here you can go in one of three directions to best spend your money.

Bright living room = 65 premium

The first option, ideal for those with very bright living rooms and a large number of windows, is to rely on technology that effectively counters sunlight. In this case, the best choice would be premium series such as Samsung's S95, which features a unique matte display and is also very bright. This solution drastically improves viewing comfort during the day.

Dark living room = the largest size possible

If your living room is darker or you have the option to completely cover the windows, you should aim for maximum immersion. In these conditions, an 83-inch OLED, even from a slightly lower series, will be a home run. At a distance of over 3.5 metres, the enormous screen size will make a colossal impression on you, which no extra features of a smaller television can substitute. Evening screenings on such a powerful display are a completely different level of cinematic experience.

Universal application = mid-range

The third option is the golden mean. Mid-range models in the size of 77 inches offer almost reference-quality picture for film content. By choosing such a television, you are getting a device that will perform excellently in most scenarios. This is the most rational choice, allowing for a great balance between size and price.

Scenario 3: Low-Medium Budget, Distance 4–5 m

In this situation, we advise against purchasing an OLED. At such a large distance, you won't catch the subtle differences in picture quality, and a 55-inch screen will simply be too small. It's better to choose at least a 75-inch mini-LED television, which will provide a significantly better viewing experience without straining your eyes.

Three Myths about OLED TVs

Many misunderstandings have arisen around this technology, which are worth clarifying:

1. "OLED is not suitable for bright rooms": This is untrue. Today's models, especially the premium ones, perform really well in sunlight. We can even say that they outperform some mini-LEDs.

2. "OLED can burn in": With normal usage (films, games), modern safeguards almost completely eliminate this problem. The issue is definitely less frightening than the descriptions online from a few years ago. Of course, if you abuse the television and ignore the manufacturer's recommendations, such an effect may occur.

3. "OLED is always the best choice": Not always. When it comes to picture quality, yes, OLED will give you the best image quality on the market. BUT... if you sit very far away and have a low budget, you will have more fun with a larger LCD screen with mini-LED backlighting than with a small OLED.