OLED TVs are one of the best TVs you can buy today. In fact, many people would argue that it is the best, but I feel that Mini-LEDs give them a run for their money. It really boils down to your own preference, and if you’re dealing with a particularly bright room with a glare you have to always fight off, then the Mini-LED pulls ahead for me, thanks to its peak brightness.

Something fascinating is that I think a lot of people who have OLED TVs don’t actually get the most out of them. I mean, obviously, you’re reaping the benefits just by turning it on and watching things, but there are some extra steps you have to take to really get the most out of it. For example, if you spend a lot of your time watching streaming services, then a big part of what makes OLED TVs worth their salt is being lost. It’s not the fault of the TV, but it’s the fault of the streaming service.

Display Size

42, 48, 55, 65, 77, or 83 inches

Operating System

webOS

Display Type

OLED

Display Resolution

4K (2160p)

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

36.6 pounds

Streaming compression doesn’t look great on OLED TVs

It’s not your fault

Credit: Netflix

Some streaming services look a lot better than others. Apple TV+ comes to mind with upwards of a 40 Mbps bitrate at times, but the majority of services don’t touch that. For that reason, your OLED TV isn’t looking as dark as it could. You’ll find that thanks to this type of compression, those inky dark blacks you’re supposed to be getting with your superior contrast often look gray instead of black. It’s not ideal, and if you splurged on a high-end OLED TV, I’d even say it’s a bit disappointing. Thankfully, it’s not the fault of your TV, but it does mean you have to go above and beyond streaming services to find something that really takes advantage of what these panels have to offer.

Picking up a 4K Blu-ray player and a few discs is a great first step, and that’s when you’ll really be blown away by what the OLED format has to offer. You’ll notice vibrant movies such as 2024’s Furiosa really pop off the screen on a 4K disc when compared to streaming. The downside is that getting into physical media isn’t very cheap these days, so I won’t blame you if you don’t want to fully dive in. I’ve been building my collection for several years now, but I’ve slowed down significantly as of late, thanks to the rising costs.

Perhaps something you’ve already invested in can also take advantage of your OLED screen. Believe it or not, but gaming is an excellent way to see pictures pop off your screen. Modern game consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X feel right at home on an OLED display, and really anything from the HDMI era looks great. Good OLED screens are typically paired with an HDR format such as Dolby Vision, so you get to take advantage of everything. The kicker here is that your games look good regardless of whether they’re physical or digital, something you can’t really say of TV shows and movies. Of course, that’s because you download the games and play them, but the point stands.

Maybe you’re better off with a different TV

Something to consider if you’re in the market

OLED TVs are great, but if you aren’t going to be using them to their full potential, you’re better off saving that money you’re going to spend and get something else. At a certain price range, I would argue that screen size matters more than anything else. Honestly, I’d say that applies to anything under $1,000. If you can grab a Mini-LED screen at 75 inches compared to an OLED at 65 for the same or similar price, I’d say the Mini-LED is a better pick. The reality is that these MIni-LED displays are no slouch, and they can easily compete with OLED.

No, Mini-LED doesn’t hit the same contrast levels, but if you’re primarily watching streaming services, it’s not like that even matters. I know a lot of people want to get the best quality that they can possibly get, but if you don’t go the extra mile and make sure you start watching things that get the most out of it, it’s just a waste of money.

We know how popular these streaming services are, and Netflix feels like it keeps on growing despite the constant price hikes. I would wager that a big chunk of those people are watching with OLED screens, and that just means the panel is being wasted. At the very least, pick up a few Blu-ray discs so you can really see the difference in how things look. If that’s not an option, I’d suggest just saving the cash on your next TV purchase and grabbing a Mini-LED. These are still fantastic screens, and thanks to HDR formats such as Dolby Vision, you’re not losing out as much as you used to be in terms of contrast.