QLED vs. LED: Which Is Better?

Two of the most popular TV technologies are QLED and the Q-less, regular LED. These two technologies are functionally similar, but their performance tends to be quite different. Generally speaking, QLED TVs are typically more expensive (though that price difference has decreased significantly in the last few years), but are also usually brighter and have better colors.

It’s worth mentioning up front that both QLED and traditional LED TVs are versions of LCD. They both use LCD panels to create an image, but use different versions of LEDs to create light so you can see the image on that panel. Neither uses LEDs to create an image directly like OLED or microLED.

## What’s the difference between QLED and LED?

![pxl-20250311-213634449-mp]() Ty Pendlebury/CNET

Both QLED and LED use light-emitting diodes to produce the light that passes through an LCD layer to create an image. “LED TVs” are more accurately called LED LCDs. “QLED” is a marketing term that refers to a specific subset of LED LCDs. In other words, all QLEDs are LED TVs, but not all LED TVs are QLEDs.

The main difference is the addition of quantum dots, which I’ll explain more in the next section. Because QLEDs tend to be more expensive than regular LEDs, they also tend to have more LEDs. TVs that are just called “LEDs” are often the least expensive offerings on the market, and as such, usually just have a handful of LEDs arranged on one side of the screen (often the bottom).

## Quantum dots: The ‘Q’ in QLED, QNED and more

![Backlight design]()Blue LEDs, which are used in most backlight designs, excite red and blue quantum dots (the middle layer in this diagram). This, now RGB light, is then manipulated by an LCD layer to create the image you see.

Sony

Quantum dots are tiny particles with an incredible ability to change one color of light into another color of light. They can do this with almost perfect efficiency. The color they create can be tuned to the exact color a manufacturer wants, so the TV can create the range of colors needed for HDR content.

So, in general, TVs that use quantum dots tend to be brighter, with more realistic colors, than TVs that don’t. Because of that greater performance, they often, though not always, have more LEDs than regular LED TVs, which allows for things like local dimming, which offers even better image quality. These are fairly broad generalizations, however, so it’s best to judge each TV’s specific features and performance beyond what the company’s marketing calls it.

![nanosys-factory-tour-26-of-38]()Vials of red and green quantum dots, excited by UV light.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

I’ve covered quantum dots before, even going to a factory where they make them. They’re a remarkable technology and one that’s seeing wide use in the TV world. Not only are they helping LED LCD TVs create brighter colors, but they’re also being used in some OLED TVs to do the same. Several companies are working on direct-view quantum dot displays as well, no LCD or OLED tech at all. That’s a bit in the future, though.

## Is it a real ‘QLED’

![nanosys-factory-tour-33-of-38]()Various colors of quantum dots.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

As QLED and other Q-related names have become a marketing success, companies have started to use those terms for TVs that might not have any “Q” in them at all. Since the name was created by a marketing department, it doesn’t have any legal or scientific meaning. It implies quantum dots since that’s what the early “Q” models had, but nothing requires a TV called “Q” anything to have quantum dots. As such, some companies might be fudging what’s actually in their TVs. 

There are other technologies, most notably phosphors, that can improve the performance of “regular” LED TVs without specifically using quantum dots. Is it still fair to refer to those TVs as “Q” something if they don’t have quantum dots? I would argue no, but I’ve also hated the term “LED TV” since they’re actually LCD TVs with a dollop of marketing on top. I think it’s fair to argue it’s misleading, but if the performance is similar, does it matter?

That is, it’s best to check reviews for how the TV actually performs instead of relying on any company’s marketing terms. To that end, check out our picks for the best TV.

In addition to covering cameras and display tech, Geoff does photo essays about cool museums and other stuff, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, 10,000-mile road trips.

Also, check out Budget Travel for Dummies, his travel book and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube. 

Generally speaking, QLED TVs are typically more expensive (though that price difference has decreased significantly in the last few years), but are also usually brighter and have better colors.
It’s worth mentioning up front that both QLED and traditional LED TVs are versions of LCD.
“LED TVs” are more accurately called LED LCDs.
In other words, all QLEDs are LED TVs, but not all LED TVs are QLEDs.
Not only are they helping LED LCD TVs create brighter colors, but they’re also being used in some OLED TVs to do the same.