Illuminating Choices: LED vs OLED - The Ultimate Display Showdown for 2025

Many search for the latest display technology to guarantee vibrant colors and crisp visuals. After all, your screen is how you interact with your device.

And here’s the good news—the competition between OLED vs LED displays across tech continues to heat up as manufacturers work on improving their offerings.

All major smartphone manufacturers moved away from LED a long time ago - with Apple’s SE models being the last of the iPhone pack. The new iPhone SE 4th generation model will be OLED - coming up in 2025. Here’s what you can expect with the new iPhone SE release date.

On the other hand, Samsung premium mid-range smartphones use AMOLED - tech that’s considered a Samsung hallmark.

And what about other LED displays? LEDs can be found on older phones and are still used in other devices like TVs. Others, like HTC, still use LED notifications - but it’s slowly becoming obsolete.

So, which technology is best for you? What’s the difference, anyway?

To answer these questions, we’ll discuss the specs, various lighting conditions, and more to help you decide.

So, whether you’re a cinephile, a hardcore gamer, or just someone who wants the best viewing experience, this guide will help you explore the dazzling world of display technology. So, grab your favorite beverage, adjust your screen brightness, and let's shed some light on the LED vs OLED debate!

Is OLED better than LED? How can you determine which display technology is right for you? In short, what is the difference between OLED and LED technologies?

To answer this question, we wanted to be as objective as possible. So, we highlighted a few criteria to judge both displays and see how they actually perform.

• Contrast Ratio: This refers to the difference in luminance, or intensity of light emitted from two neighboring colors. A high contrast ratio makes browsing easier and shows more vibrant pictures. OLED displays are the winner here, although LED ones aren’t that bad.

• Color Accuracy: Do colors look real or artificial? Although both technologies don’t disappoint, OLED's pixel-level control gives it a slight edge.

• Brightness: How bright is your display? This is where LEDs can literally shine, pun absolutely intended. If you're watching in a sun-soaked room, LED is your best bet. OLED? It's more of a mood-lighting kinda guy.

• Viewing Angles: Both are good, but OLED displays are more convenient with better viewing angles.

• Energy Efficiency: It’s a tie as both technologies are improving to become more efficient.

• Life Span: Because it’s an older technology, LED displays win this arena, although OLED is expected to excel in the near future.

• Response Time: Are you a gamer? Response time will be a crucial factor, but OLED displays win. Ask someone with an OLED iPhone and they’ll tell you.

• Size and Form Factor: This refers to the size, shape, and layout of the screen. Although both technologies are good, OLED is a little better.

• Manufacturing Cost: OLED screens cost a little more, and this makes phones and other mobile devices more expensive. So, if you’re on a tight budget, LED in phones will be a better technology.

• Environmental Impact: As all industries are shifting to sustainable practices, OLED screens are more environmentally friendly.

Let’s go over the evaluation criteria one more time. Here’s how LED displays performed.

Contrast Ratio: 3/5 - Good, but not as deep blacks as OLED
Color Accuracy: 4/5 - Very good, with wide color gamuts in high-end models
Brightness: 5/5 - Excellent, perfect for bright environments
Viewing Angles: 3/5 - Good, but some colors shift at extreme angles
Energy Efficiency: 4/5 - Very efficient, especially with bright content
Lifespan: 5/5 - Excellent, with minimal degradation over time
Response Time: 4/5 - Very good, suitable for most applications including gaming
Size and Form Factor: 4/5 - Available in a wide range of sizes, but not as thin as OLED
Manufacturing Cost: 4/5 - Mature technology with relatively low production costs
Environmental Impact: 3/5 - Good, but contains some potentially harmful materials

Because this is old tech, you will only find it in older phones and TVs. That means most of the reviews you find for this technology come from those who have a reliable LED TV display vs an LED iPhone screen.

So, what do real users say about LED displays?

After two years of use, Shaunak Bhanarkar praised the display’s performance on Medium,“No issues whatsoever. The display on my SE is running absolutely fine to date.”

Paul Stamatiou had some concerns regarding his Apple 27-inch LED Cinema Display, which he shared on this blog, “Though I'm afraid that most people will not have the ability to adjust their room lighting easily, such as those working in an office with fixed fluorescent lighting. If that is the case, you will want to avoid this display. At full bore, the glare is really unbearable at anything but maximum display brightness.”

Overall, users and experts believe LED displays are reliable workhorses, whether used on phones, TVs, or computer screens. They’re bright enough to combat the brightest light and versatile enough for most users.

Thanks to their vivid colors, these displays are excellent for gaming, with local dimming whenever needed. However, their contrast isn’t the top-of-the-line. So, if you’re going after the sharpest visuals, you might be a little disappointed.

Because LED displays have been around for quite some time, they come at a wide range of price points. Entry-level LED TVs can be as cheap as $300 if you’re going for a smaller size. However, the price increases for high-end models and bigger screens. It’s not uncommon to pay tenfold this price for a high-quality large TV.

Most devices cost between $500 and $1500, which makes LED displays quite affordable, compared to other technologies on the market.

If you’re looking for a phone with an LED display - an unlikely choice - you’re going to have a hard time finding one. Likely due to the increase in screen thickness required. Check out our comparison table above to learn more about why the likes of Apple and Samsung have gone the OLED route.

Where to find: If you’re searching for this technology, your best bet would be a quick search at: Amazon - LED TVs. Unfortunately, it’s getting much harder to find LED specific phones, since it's considered old tech.

Let’s take a moment to explore what features make OLED technology one of the best choices for display owners.

This is how OLED displays perform with respect to the evaluation criteria we specified.

Contrast Ratio: 5/5 - Excellent, with perfect blacks and infinite contrast
Color Accuracy: 5/5 - Exceptional, with a wide color gamut and precise color reproduction
Brightness: 4/5 - Very good, but not as bright as top-tier LED displays
Viewing Angles: 5/5 - Excellent, maintaining color and contrast at extreme angles
Energy Efficiency: 4/5 - Very efficient with dark content, less so with bright scenes
Lifespan: 3/5 - Good, but shorter than LED, typically around 30,000-60,000 hours
Response Time: 5/5 - Excellent, with near-instantaneous pixel response
Size and Form Factor: 5/5 - Excellent, allowing for ultra-thin and flexible designs
Manufacturing Cost: 3/5 - Higher production costs, especially for larger sizes
Environmental Impact: 4/5 - Very good, with fewer potentially harmful materials than LED

So, what do people say about OLED displays?

The performance was outstanding in phones, according to this iPhone 15 Pro review on GSM Arena , “While the display does support a wide color gamut and covers the Display P3 color space, in most apps, the iPhone 15 Pro targets the sRGB color space. That's also the case for the software we use for testing purposes, and we got impressive readings for color accuracy for our set of test swatches, with the average dE2000 being around 0.8. That's true whether you're at the minimum 2 nits, 200 nits, or the maximum manual brightness of 800+ nits.”

 

Fine_Roll573 on Reddit shared a similar opinion: “It’s great. Works every day and the battery is ridiculous (I come from an 8). My favorite is how the pictures are just awesome all the time, and the screen is so nice too.”

However, goodguy500hd on Reddit highlighted a big problem with OLEDs, “Stutter! When the camera pans slowly in a scene, high-contrast edges will appear to blink/strobe as they jump from frame to frame. The high refresh rate and fast pixel response causes this.”

Overall, users and experts agree that OLEDs are perfect for those who value picture quality. With true and vivid colors, these displays are perfect for gamers and those who like watching movies on their phones or TVs.

Some experts believe these are the best smartphone displays. Glare issues might upset some users, but flexibility and incredible contrast usually outshine them.

As a newer technology, OLED displays have a premium price. Prices for OLED iPhones like the iPhone 15 Pro usually start at $1299. As for TVs, some displays can cost as little as $1000, with prices going up to $5000 for larger models.

For many users, the higher price of OLEDs is justified, as it guarantees you can enjoy a high picture quality that is worth the price.

Where to find: Depending on the type of device you want, depends on where you need to look to find the very best one! Whether you choose Apple or Samsung or any other brand for your OLED phone or TV, you can envision the best picture that meets the eye here.

This technology is an enhancement of LED technology with quantum dots to improve color accuracy. It’s primarily used by Samsung and although it provides more contrast than LED, it can’t reach the perfect blacks of OLEDs. Yet, it’s still a good choice for bright environments.

With smaller LEDs, Mini-LED provides more control over lighting thanks to more dimming zones. It’s closer to OLED but it can’t dim individual pixels.

Moreover, it’s more expensive if you’re opting for LEDs as an affordable option. But it’s a sweet spot between the brightness of LEDs and the dimming control of OLEDs.

MicroLED displays use newer technology and more durable materials than OLEDs. They can be brighter than LEDs, but the high price is a barrier for many. Nevertheless, with a lower burn-in risk, some would still be interested in this investment.

AMOLED is a specific type of OLED display that incorporates an active matrix to improve response time and power efficiency. Samsung uses it exclusively, unlike Apple’s OLED technology.

In that sense, it has almost the same pros and cons, being flexible, delivering high response time, and accurate colors, with a risk of burn-in.

It’s not always black and white with smartphone displays. OLEDs deliver more accurate colors, high contrast, and amazing response times that make everything look vivid and impressive.

Moreover, OLED displays are more energy efficient. If you struggle with your phone battery life, this display can save the day, especially if you switch to dark mode.

Nevertheless, burn-in issues are a major concern for those who leave their screens on for a long time. Additionally, your phone’s brightness might be a little disappointing at times. However, these drawbacks didn’t stop manufacturers from discarding LED and shifting to OLED.

Regardless of the type of your smartphone display, screen protectors will make your phone deliver exceptional performance for a long time.

Generally speaking, LED displays are made to last over 50,000 hours. That’s almost equal to 17 years of watching if you watch YouTube on your phone for 8 hours a day. A bit too much? No judgment here, but you get the picture.

OLEDs are usually rated for 30,000 to 60,000 hours, which is impressive. But here’s the catch—you can expect the same performance from LEDs till the last day because there’s no risk of burn-in. This isn’t the case for OLEDs.

So, if you tend to leave static images on for long periods, ghost images will soon become a fact of life. But don’t worry. As the technology keeps improving, we’re beginning to see new OLED devices with features to prevent burn-in.

But let’s face it. By the time your display approaches its end of life, you’ll probably be considering a new one for the latest technology upgrades.

Whether you enjoy playing games on your TV, computer monitor, or smartphone, the winner is OLEDs.

First, nothing beats the response time of OLEDs. The pixels change so fast, keeping the response time often under 1 ms. So, what does it mean for you? Less motion blur, crisper images in fast-paced games, and overall excellent performance.

It only gets better. OLEDs deliver perfect blacks that make the dark game scenes burst with life. Those chasing scenes inside a dark cave will literally take your breath away.

But hey. LEDs aren’t totally out of the game. If you play in a well-lit room, high-end LED displays can get much brighter, which is great for HDR gaming. They’re also more budget-friendly.

So, what is the verdict? For competitive gaming, OLEDs will be an exceptional choice. However, if you’re on a tight budget, a high-end LED display won’t disappoint you.

The short answer is no. Yes, LED screens can deliver excellent blacks. But they can’t reach the same black levels as OLEDs.

Yet, LEDs have come a long way (when it comes to TVs and monitors), with features like local dimming, where groups of LEDs can be dimmed or turned off to improve black levels. High-end LED TVs with hundreds of dimming zones can produce some pretty deep blacks.

OLED technology, on the other hand (for both smartphones and other tech), achieves perfect blacks by completely turning off individual pixels. When an OLED pixel is off, it emits no light whatsoever. It’s not dark black. It’s literally nothing.

So, while LEDs can get close, especially in a well-lit room where the difference is less noticeable, they can't quite match OLED's perfect blacks.

However, for many viewers, the blacks on a high-quality LED display are more than satisfactory, especially considering other factors like brightness and cost.

It really depends on what you are looking for. OLED displays are known for their perfect blacks, vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles. This makes them the go-to options for cinephiles, photography enthusiasts, and anyone who must have the best in picture quality. These features can significantly enhance your experience, especially on smartphones, where OLED is now the standard.

However, if your main use for the screen is to watch news, sports, or daytime TV in a bright room, then a high-quality LED display may suit you just fine at a lower cost. Ultimately, your decision should factor in your personal budget and how much you value picture quality.

If you’re someone who appreciates every detail, OLED could really be worth it. For others, LEDs might offer better overall value. And let’s not forget smartphones have embraced OLED for a reason! The visuals you get on devices like the latest iPhone and Samsung models show us just how far this tech has come to truly enhance our viewing experience.

It’s been such a ride, as we explore the features of LEDs and OLEDs. From the brightness of LEDs to the inky blacks of OLEDs, we've seen that these technologies have their strengths and quirks.

Both are impressive, but they excel in different areas. Here’s a summary of our findings.

• You can’t find a smartphone with a full LED screen - it’s obsolete.

• Smartphone brands like Apple and Samsung have shifted towards OLED (Apple) and AMOLED (Samsung).

• LED displays offer brightness, longevity, and value, making them great all-rounders.

• OLEDs provide unmatched picture quality with perfect blacks and vibrant colors but at a premium price.

• Your choice of monitor or TV should depend on your viewing environment, content preferences, and budget.

• Both technologies continue to evolve, with LEDs improving contrast and OLED addressing longevity concerns.

• Alternative technologies like QLED and MicroLED are emerging, potentially offering the best of both worlds in the future.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best display for you is the one that meets your needs and brings you joy every time you fire it up.

So to sum up for smartphone enthusiasts our choices are between OLED and AMOLED, but whether you go iOS or Android, you’re going to need to protect your device at all costs! Especially if you’re binge-watching your favorite show or going head-to-head as a gamer.

That’s where Rokform comes in. Our rugged cases are designed to keep your phone safe. Be sure to check out our durable mounts too if you love using your iPhone as a second screen for gaming - or if you need a reliable hold for your car, bike, or motorcycle. With N52 neodymium magnetic strength, they can secure your device at just the right angle no matter what.

Remember, the best technology is the one that fits seamlessly into your life. So choose the display that lights you up, and let Rokform handle the rest. Happy viewing, folks!

Before you go, check out the most protective phone cases for 2025. These are designed to keep your device in excellent condition.

Don’t forget this cool iPhone feature and master the art of screen recording! Rokform has your back wherever you are, teaching you the secrets of wireless CarPlay, how to scan on an iPhone, and more to make the most of your smartphone.