Important! Brands do not always provide information about the matrices used in TVs. More precisely, manufacturers usually conceal this information: for approximately 75% of current models on the market, the sensor is not specified. And of the remaining 25%, the largest share is OLED TVs. Since this is a relatively expensive technology and a sign of premium status, it makes no sense to conceal information about OLED. The corresponding abbreviation often appears even in the name of the TV. But with other matrices, everything is different.

1. What types of matrices are there: a brief overview of terms

Modern televisions are based on the following matrices:

  1. VA is a liquid crystal display that necessarily has a backlight with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). VA provides good image contrast.
  2. IPS is another popular technology for producing backlit LCD displays. This sensor provides wide viewing angles.
  3. OLED — a sensor based on organic self-luminous diodes. Does not provide backlighting. Provides excellent contrast and deep black color at wide viewing angles.
  4. QD-OLED is a sensor based on organic diodes with an additional light filter with quantum dots. It has all the advantages of OLED, as well as higher peak brightness.
  5. microLED is a fairly new, promising type of screens - expensive and not widely used. Close to OLED - also has no backlight and provides for self-luminous elements, but here they are inorganic.

Other marketing terms are often confused with full-fledged matrices. We are talking about such abbreviations:

  • QLED is a technology that involves using a layer of quantum dots in the production of matrices. These are the same LED TVs (that is, with backlighting) but with an additional filter that increases color saturation and brightness;
  • NanoCel is essentially the same as QLED, but with a patented name by LG;
  • mini LED is not a sensor, but a type of backlighting - the most progressive today. It is used in LED TVs. The main feature of mini LED is a multitude of small LEDs to improve contrast, quality and accuracy of color rendering.

2. Which TV sensor is the best?

To answer this question correctly, you need to decide on your main scenarios for using the TV and your budget. And it’s best to start with the cost. Conventionally, all TVs can be divided into three price segments - budget, mid-range, and premium.

After the purchase budget, you need to decide on the main usage scenario. The main ones are:

  • movies (watch with dim lights);
  • sports broadcasts (including large group broadcasts);
  • games (on console or PC);
  • TV shows and background mode (watching in a well-lit room);
  • a complete replacement for the monitor.

2.1 The best sensor in the budget segment

Here you will have to choose between two options - VA or IPS. Other matrices in the entry-level price category are almost unheard of, and the image quality will require some compromises.

For a living room with a limited budget, it is better to choose a TV with a VA sensor. Good contrast will please when watching movies and in story games. For the kitchen, where TV is not watched in the dark, and the viewer is often not directly in front of the screen, good visibility is important and a TV with IPS is better suited. A similar recommendation is true for collective viewing of football and other sports broadcasts.

2.2 The best sensor in the mid-price category

Here, too, you will have to choose between LCD TVs with backlighting, i.e. VA or IPS. But in this price segment, buyers have access to various “improvements,” including light filters, cooler backlighting with local dimming technologies, etc.

There is no universal best sensor for a moderate budget either. If wide viewing angles are a priority, then an IPS panel is recommended - preferably with support for local dimming technology. If the TV is chosen for watching movies and consuming HDR content, then a VA sensor with QLED quantum dot technology will do.

2.3 The best sensor in the high price segment

If there are no budget restrictions, then a sensor based on organic self-luminous LEDs is recommended.

The best choice is the well-proven OLED TVs. They use white organic light-emitting diodes. Such TVs can be safely taken for any scenarios, except perhaps for rooms with bright lighting. And the most uncompromising option will be QD-OLED models, but their range is not very large.

It is worth considering that both versions of OLED are not the best choice for a TV that is planned to be used as a computer monitor. This technology is prone to the risk of pixel burnout with a static image.

2.4 The best sensor for watching movies

OLED matrices are best suited for watching movies. They provide impeccable contrast, which is so important for displaying natural black and its shades in rooms with subdued lighting.

Mini-rating of matrices for movie viewing:

  1. OLED and QD-OLED;
  2. VA + quantum dots (usually QLED);
  3. Just VA.

2.5 Best sensor for sports broadcasts

For sports fans, the best choice is an OLED TV. It combines excellent picture parameters with wide viewing angles, which is important for group viewing of football matches, boxing matches, etc.

Mini-rating of matrices for sports broadcasts:

  1. OLED and QD-OLED;
  2. IPS;
  3. VA, including QLED.

2.6 Best Matrix for Games

A win-win option for gamers is also QD-OLED and OLED. These TVs have a high "hertz" (refresh rate), minimal input lag and response time, as well as great contrast and a decent reserve of brightness. But if the budget is limited, then you cannot do without compromises and taking into account the player's preferences. For eSports and multiplayer games, speed and smoothness are more important, and for story titles - image contrast.

For gamers, we also recommend checking out our article Choosing the best TV for PS5, Xbox, and PC gaming.

Mini-rating of matrices for games:

  1. OLED and QD-OLED;
  2. VA + quantum dots - for story-driven titles;
  3. IPS - for multiplayer games.

2.7 Best sensor for a bright room

This scenario includes TV in the kitchen and living room with bright lighting, daytime TV viewing or other content "in the background". For such cases, high peak sensor brightness is extremely important, which means the best choice would be VA + QLED or QD-OLED light filter. Plus, wide viewing angles are welcome for background viewing.

Mini-rating of matrices for TV shows and bright room:

  1. VA + QLED;
  2. QD-OLED;
  3. IPS.

2.8 The best sensor for TV as a monitor

This is the only scenario where OLED technology is not the best choice due to the risk of pixel burnout when displaying a static image. If the TV is to be used as a monitor, it is better to choose a sensor with quantum dot technology, which provides decent contrast and color rendering.

Mini-rating of TV matrices for monitor replacement:

  1. Matrix with QLED;
  2. VA;
  3. IPS or OLED.

In fact, we have already answered which TV sensor is the best and which is optimal in terms of price and quality. But we also want to help you understand modern screen manufacturing technologies a little better. Otherwise, you cannot avoid confusion between OLED and QLED or microLED and mini LED.

3. What is TV sensor?

Without going into technical details, we can say that the sensor is the main element of the screen, which is directly responsible for the image quality. The contrast and brightness indicators, color gamut and color rendering in general, viewing angles depend on it.

In modern TVs, the sensor is a thin but multilayer panel. The main element of liquid crystal (LCD) screens is a layer of liquid crystals with control electrodes. In addition, light sources are needed, the role of which is usually assigned to LED backlighting, hence the modern designation - LED TVs. The sensor also provides for polarizing films and a light filter (one or more).

This is what a modern LED sensor looks like layer by layer:
1 — backlight; 2 — polarizer; 3 — liquid crystals; 4 — light filter; 5 — polarizer.

A simplified diagram of the image output of such a sensor looks like this:

  • light from the backlight is supplied to the liquid crystal layer;
  • crystals are controlled by electrodes;
  • if the crystal is in the closed position, then the light does not pass;
  • if the crystal is open, the light goes further, and the light filter colors it in the desired color - red, green or blue;
  • As a result of mixing colors, the desired image is formed on the screen.

4. What matrices are used in TV today?

With some degree of conventionality, modern TV matrices can be divided into liquid crystal (with backlight) and solutions based on organic light-emitting diodes (without backlight). The former are called LED, and the latter are OLED.

In LED matrices, the geometry (location) of liquid crystals on the panel can be different. According to this criterion, three main types of matrices are distinguished - TN+Film, IPS and VA. And the image they display, even under equal conditions, differs significantly.

Previously, the TN sensor (TN+Film) was quite popular, but now it is almost never used, except for ultra-budget TVs, office or gaming monitors. This sensor is cheap and can offer a fast response, but the contrast, viewing angles and color gamut are inferior to competitive technologies. We will not dwell on TN+Film in detail.

There are currently two types of matrixes with backlights that are relevant for TVs: IPS and VA. The key differences between them are in the structure of the layer with liquid crystals and the principles of their alignment, which directly affects the image parameters.

The structure of pixels of IPS and VA matrices.

4.1 VA

VA technology is an abbreviation for vertical alignment. This term means vertical alignment. This structure in the VA sensor causes the liquid crystals to be located closer to each other. As a result, when closed, they effectively block the light coming from the backlight, increase the image contrast (over 3000:1) and output a deeper and more uniform black color.

Among TOP brands, such screens are most often found in Samsung TVs, but they are also actively used by other manufacturers - Sony, Philips, TCL, etc. At the same time, we remind you that in about three out of four cases, information about the use of a VA sensor is not indicated at all in the characteristics of the TV.

The main advantages of VA:

  • good contrast;
  • fairly uniform dark shades;
  • affordable cost.

The main disadvantage of VA is poor visibility - when viewed at an angle, the picture loses brightness and color saturation.

Popular TVs with VA sensor

4.2 IPS

This abbreviation means In-Plane Switching, i.e. the arrangement of crystals in one plane. In essence, the IPS sensor uses horizontal alignment, so the crystals transmit more light, and the picture contrast is reduced (for them, the indicator 1000:1 is the norm). Black is more like dark gray. But such a pixel structure helps to increase viewing angles. And among inexpensive solutions, all other things being equal, IPS often wins in color gamut and naturalness of color rendering.

These matrices are widely used in LG TVs, although the manufacturer itself is silent about this.

The main advantages of IPS:

  • wide viewing angles;
  • natural color rendering;
  • affordable cost.

The main disadvantage of IPS is low contrast - in a darkened room, the black color on the screen looks like gray.

Popular TVs with IPS sensor

4.3 OLED

This is a fundamentally different sensor manufacturing technology, which maintains its status as a leader in image quality. Compared to conventional liquid crystal models, OLED TVs are notable for the absence of backlighting. The light source is self-luminous organic diodes - pixels. Literally any of the 8 million dots (in a panel with a 4K resolution) can be switched off to display perfect black without blurring or a halo around bright objects in the frame. The picture on the OLED sensor has a contrast ratio tending to infinity, excellent depth and uniformity of black, a wide color gamut, excellent viewing angles (usually even wider than IPS).

The main differences between OLED and LED matrices
Features of LED/LCD: complex structure, backlight by lamp or LED, lighting unit is pixel.
Features of OLED: simple structure, light directly from LED, unit of illumination is pixel.

The main advantages of OLED:

  • excellent contrast;
  • wide range of colors;
  • wide viewing angles.

The disadvantages of such displays include the price and low peak brightness. But against the background of deep dark shades, even a not very bright picture looks convincing, so HDR content does not cause any complaints. The main disadvantage of OLED is the risk of pixel burnout when displaying a static image. But if you pause the video and step away for 10 minutes, there will be no problems, especially since users are offered various sensor restoration functions. But in the long term, burnout is not excluded.

It should be noted that the MicroLED sensor, which does not have a backlight, is very promising, but is not yet widely used. Inorganic LEDs based on indium gallium nitride are used here. Such panels are even thinner and more reliable. But the manufacturing technology is noticeably more expensive. Presumably, if MicroLED TVs are released on the consumer market, the extra charge for them will be due to their longer service life.

Samsung already produces microLED TVs, but not yet for a mass audience.
Popular OLED TVs

5. Matrix backlighting

TVs with IPS and VA matrixes necessarily use backlighting. The light source in it is LEDs, but otherwise the implementation technologies have significant differences. And this also directly affects the picture quality. In the budget segment of TVs, side backlighting Edge LED or rear Direct LED is used. The first is located along the perimeter of the screen or only on the sides on the left and right, but is supplemented with a special reflector to improve the uniformity of the backlight, and the second occupies the entire back surface.

Differences between simple types of LED backlighting.

Edge LED is more often used with VA matrices, since even with not the most uniform backlighting, the contrast remains high, and glare does not occur in dark scenes.

More uniform Direct LED is used more actively with IPS to smooth out the problem of non-uniformity and insufficient depth of black. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to this rule, but if the combination of VA + Direct LED can improve the picture quality, then IPS + Edge LED only exacerbates the problem of unconvincing black and increases the likelihood of glare (Glow effect).

A special type of side lighting in some Samsung TVs is the Dual LED system. It uses two types of LEDs - with warm and cold spectrum light. It is stated that such lighting has a positive effect on contrast and color rendering.

In mid-price segment TVs, more technologically advanced types of backlighting are installed to improve the picture, for example, Full-Array Local Dimming or FALD, and Sony calls a similar system "carpet". This is a further development of Direct LED, that is, the LEDs are also located evenly along the back surface of the screen. And to increase contrast and display more natural dark shades, a local dimming function is implemented.

How the local dimming function works.

A regular inexpensive LED TV does not turn off the backlight if it needs to display a dark scene. Here, the sensor crystals take a closed position and try not to let it through. In practice, in the same IPS screens, this results in a dark gray picture. To eliminate this defect, a local dimming function was created. It dims or turns off the backlight in the required areas of the screen. As a result, dark scenes look more natural, and other areas do not lose brightness, that is, the overall contrast of the image increases.

Local dimming varies in quality of implementation in different TVs. And often this function does not work perfectly. Color uniformity may suffer, the detail of the darkened area may decrease, halos or other artifacts may appear around bright objects. Also, the real benefit of this function directly depends on the number of local dimming zones. The more of them, the higher the contrast and color uniformity, the lower the probability of image defects. In the middle price segment, there are TVs with a small number of Local dimming zones.

Advanced and premium TVs often feature Mini LED backlighting. It is sometimes called the latest evolution of liquid crystal panels. The key feature of this backlighting is already in the name - it uses smaller diodes. Their total number has increased significantly, which in turn allows for more local dimming zones, which means higher contrast, better color rendering and better HDR content.

The components of a premium LED TV today.

By the way, Samsung often combines Mini LED technology in its flagship LED TVs with QLED light filters, which are worth discussing in more detail.

Popular TVs with Direct LED backlight

5.1 Quantum Dot Filters (QLED)

In liquid crystal matrices, not only backlights are being improved, but also other components. This is how QLED TVs appeared. Today, this technology is associated with Samsung products. But similar TVs are also produced by other brands, including Hisense and Xiaomi. In addition, LG has a similar development - NanoCell, but it has not achieved such high marketing success.

Is it correct to call QLED a separate type of sensor? No, these are still good old LCD TVs based on IPS or VA panels. They have the same LED backlights. And the main difference is the use of a light filter with quantum dots. It is located right between the backlight and the layer with liquid crystals.

The main distinguishing feature of QLED is the presence of a layer of quantum dots.
In the diagram: 1 - backlight; 2 - QDEF; 3 - polarizer; 4 - liquid crystals; 4 - light filter; 6 - polarizer.

Quantum dots really improve the image quality, namely they expand the color gamut, provide a brighter, richer and more saturated picture, which is important, for example, when viewing HDR content. The best result in mid-price segment TVs is provided by the tandem of VA and QLED filters, and in the highest segment - also the use of Mini LED backlighting, as, for example, in the Samsung QE-65QN90D model.

Keep in mind that the marketing designations of leading manufacturers are more of a hindrance than a help in understanding the subtleties. For example, Samsung's combination of QLED and Mini LED is called Neo QLED, while LG's tandem of NanoCell and mini LEDs is called QNED. Thank goodness Sony didn't come up with an additional term.

Popular QLED TVs

5.2 QD-OLED

The use of quantum dots is directly related to the upgrade of OLED matrices. In 2022, QD-OLED TVs debuted on the mass market. In fact, this is a technology that combines the capabilities of OLED and QLED. Thus, a sensor of organic light-emitting diodes is used here, but the diodes themselves are blue (and in conventional OLEDs, they are white). There is no backlight, but a layer of quantum dots has been added. The main change was the increase in peak brightness and an exceptionally wide color gamut (100+% DCI-P3). But the problem of burn-in has not disappeared, and the price is higher than that of “classic” OLEDs.

Modification of the OLED sensor with the addition of a layer of quantum dots.

The main advantages of QD-OLED:

  • excellent contrast;
  • increased peak brightness;
  • even wider range of colors;
  • wide viewing angles.

The main disadvantages of QD-OLED:

  • risk of burnout;
  • the highest price.
Popular QD-OLED TVs

6. Price hierarchy of matrices

To help you choose the optimal TV sensor in terms of price and image quality, we offer you a mini-hierarchy of TVs by increasing price tag:

  1. Limited budget for movies - VA + Edge LED.
  2. Entry level for sports broadcasts or as a monitor - IPS + Direct LED.
  3. The mid-range for movies, action games and bright rooms is QLED matrices.
  4. Mid-budget for sports broadcasts and multiplayer gaming - IPS + local dimming.
  5. Premium class for mixed scenarios, as well as just for cinema, games, sports - OLED.
  6. Flagships for a bright room - QD-OLED.
  7. The highest class for the role of a monitor or expensive TV without the risk of pixel burnout - matrices with QLED and Mini LED.

7. How to determine the sensor type yourself?

If a TV uses OLED or QD-OLED, manufacturers report this, because this is a competitive advantage of the model. When a sensor with a QLED filter and/or Mini LED backlight is used, the corresponding information is also almost always provided in the specifications. But with VA and IPS, everything is different; most often, brands do not disclose the technology.

There are several ways to identify a liquid crystal sensor by indirect signs. The easiest way to do this is by the static contrast ratio. Manufacturers do not always provide it either, but they clearly provide it more often than the display manufacturing technology. Thus, the typical VA indicator is about 3000:1 and higher, while IPS has a 1000:1 ratio.

If the contrast is also unknown, then to determine the type of liquid crystal sensor, you cannot do without direct testing:

  • checking the quality of black color and the contrast value. These parameters can be determined when watching a video in a darkened room. VA matrices are characterized by natural dark shades without defects, but on IPS, black is more like dark gray, and if the backlight is also poor, then glare at the edges of the screen is possible;
  • visibility test. On the IPS sensor, the brightness and color rendition of the picture hardly change when viewed directly in front of the screen and at an angle. But the perception of the image on the VA panel strongly depends on the position of the viewer: if you look from the side, the colors are dull and faded.
  • checking under a microscope. Due to multiple magnification, it is possible to identify the location of the pixels - vertical positioning means VA, and horizontal - IPS-sensor.

8. Which sensor to choose: conclusions

The preferred type of TV sensor directly depends on your goals and budget. If you want the best picture without compromise, you need a TV based on self-luminous diodes - OLED or QD-OLED. In a situation where the budget is limited, you need to specifically understand the main application scenarios. For example, for cinema, we can recommend matrices with QLED quantum dots, and for group viewing - TV with an IPS screen.

When choosing relatively inexpensive and mid-budget TVs, it is not always advisable to focus on the display manufacturing technology. Brands often keep silent about IPS and VA, which means that first of all you should pay attention to the key image parameters - contrast, brightness, color gamut. And if this information is not enough, then ideally you should go to the store and look at the picture that certain models display. And keep in mind that the lighting of the sales area often masks the main shortcomings of the TV.