Demystifying OLED Monitors: Are They Really Too Dim?
Beyond Brightness Why OLED monitors may not be better, explained by an expert | ENBLE
Why brighter is not better for OLED monitors explained by an expert. | ENBLE
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“Oh, that’s just too dim!” That’s the common complaint when it comes to OLED gaming monitors, the ones that have been making waves in the tech world this year. Sure, they offer jaw-dropping colors and perfect contrast, but their brightness measurements have raised eyebrows. Are they truly too dim? Well, hold on to your seats, because you’re about to find out.
To shed light on the matter, I had a chat with Jacky Qiu, the vice president and co-founder of OTI Lumionics. Now, OTI doesn’t make OLED panels, but they sure know a thing or two about the technology behind them. According to Qiu, there’s a good reason why OLEDs might seem dim. So, be careful what you wish for.
Let’s start by comparing apples to oranges. LCD monitors and OLED monitors are fundamentally different. Qiu explains, “For an LCD, you’re essentially having a backlight… and you can just have them as bright as you want.” In contrast, OLED monitors don’t rely on a bright backlight alone. Each pixel in an OLED monitor acts as its own individual and self-emitting light source. It’s like having a bunch of tiny light bulbs on your screen.
Imagine LED light bulbs in your room. You can make them super bright and light up the whole place. LCD monitors work in a similar way, selectively blasting certain areas of the screen with bright light to enhance contrast. But OLED displays don’t have that luxury. Each pixel is responsible for its own brightness, and there’s no backlight to rely on.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The trade-off between brightness and longevity in OLED displays is a delicate balancing act. While increasing brightness might seem like a logical solution, it can actually shorten the lifespan of the display. Quoting Qiu, “You basically make the choice of either going brighter or having a longer lifetime.” So, it’s a trade-off that OLED makers have to consider.
But wait, there’s more to the story. The second complaint that often comes up is the risk of burn-in on OLED monitors. You’d think it’s a major issue, but Qui assures us that it’s often blown out of proportion. As long as you’re not using your OLED TV to binge-watch CNN 24/7, burn-in is not a noticeable problem.
Modern OLED displays have clever tricks up their sleeves to combat burn-in. They shift pixels on static elements while you’re watching content, evenly spreading out the wear across the display. They also adjust voltage thresholds and refresh individual diodes to ensure uniformity. Burn-in is a result of degradation, but as long as it’s even, you won’t notice it.
Now, back to the brightness debate. Yes, OLED monitors have lower brightness measurements compared to LCDs, but that doesn’t mean they actually look dimmer. It’s all about perception. The contrast ratio of OLED displays, combined with the absence of a backlight, creates an illusion of higher perceived brightness. In a dark room, your OLED monitor will impress you with its vibrant and bright visuals.
Factors like viewing distance, contrast, color purity, and ambient light all contribute to how bright a monitor actually appears. And let’s face it, when it comes to gaming monitors, you’ll most likely be sitting close to the screen without direct sunlight. So, the ambient light won’t be a major concern.
In the end, OLED monitors may not be as bright as their LCD counterparts, but they offer a unique visual experience that’s hard to match. They may be dim in brightness measurements, but they shine in contrast and color reproduction. So, don’t be fooled by the numbers and enjoy the stunning visuals OLED has to offer. And hey, worst-case scenario, if the room is too bright, just pull the shades!
Now it’s your turn! What do you think about OLED monitors? Have you experienced their magic firsthand? Let us know in the comments below!
