Vssmonitoring.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Crystal UHD vs. LED | Two Different Types of TV Panels Explained

People are always looking for the latest and greatest in technology, so it's no surprise that many customers want to get their hands on 4K TVs. If you're shopping around for a new TV, you might come across two different types of panels: LED TVs and Crystal UHD TVs. But what exactly sets these apart? Which is better for you?

Both LED and Crystal UHD TVs offer high-resolution image displays, which are essential for people who want to take advantage of high definition 4K content. The main difference between these two types of panels is how they produce the images on the screen. LED TVs use an array of LED lights to create their pictures, while Crystal UHD TVs use something called 'Crystal' technology, which uses millions of micromirrors to reflect light and produce visible pixels.

What Is Crystal UHD vs. LED

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) TVs: LED TVs were one of the earliest forms of HDTVs, and most models, even today, are measured in inches. They're also relatively lightweight. The most significant benefit of an LED TV is that it's compatible with both 1080p and 4K signals. Using LED technology, these TVs can offer high contrast and brightness and relatively fast response times. They also tend to be more energy-efficient than other types of TVs.

However, there are a few downsides associated with LED TVs. For example, many TV brands use older VA (Vertical Alignment) panels, which aren't the best for contrast ratio. Additionally, LED TVs are susceptible to screen uniformity issues, so very few models may have uniform color across their entire surface areas. Finally, some versions of LED technology are edge-lit rather than direct-lit - meaning they don't provide proper backlighting and may feature some complications with viewing angles.

Crystal UHD (Ultra High Definition) TVs: Unlike LED TVs, Crystal UHD TVs are a new technology that is only compatible with 4K signals. However, this means there are no compatibility issues with 1080p content - meaning you can watch your previous Blu-rays on these TVs as well. Additionally, A Crystal UHD TV uses a different type of backlighting called 'Crystal' technology, which is reflected off the screen to provide color and light for each pixel on the screen.

black tv
white tv screen

Is Crystal UHD the same as LED?

Both Crystal UHD TVs and LED TVs can be found in 4K resolution - but is one better than the other? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some people complain that color uniformity with LED screens can be an issue. So this might not be the best type of TV for you if you are particularly interested in high-quality image uniformity.

Additionally, since LED TVs are based on older versions of backlighting, they may have lower contrast ratios than Crystal UHD TVs - which can be a big deal if crystal UHD vs. qled.

Although LED TVs may have more screen uniformity issues, it's important to note that Crystal UHD TVs tend to experience color shifting problems. So if you're particularly interested in bright screens and vivid colors, an LED TV might be a better choice for you since they have more vibrant color displays.

Crystal UHD Vs. LED | Resolution, Viewing Angles, & Picture Quality Compared |

UHD vs. LED UHD is an abbreviation for Ultra High Definition, which means that the number of pixels in a screen is four-time bigger than a usual 1080p Full HD TV. LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode, which means that the TVs use LEDs instead of CCFL lighting to create light in their screens. Below are some of the differences.

Image Resolution

Although both types of TVs are available in 4K resolution, you can find LED screens in standard HD. It means that if you're looking for a TV that's compatible with older formats like Blu-rays and DVDs, your best bet is an LED TV. However, 4K TV models tend to offer more vibrant colors and sharper images, which gives them an edge over 1080p TVs.

Viewing Angles

LED TVs offer better viewing angles than their counterparts - but this is only true when comparing priced models to high-end 4K screens. Models based on older versions of LED technology are likely to have worse viewing angles than their Crystal UHD counterparts. So if you're particularly interested in wide-angle viewing, it might be worth looking into newer LED models.

Picture Quality

LED TVs tend to offer better life-like images with vivid colors and high accuracy - but it's important to note that this largely depends on the model you purchase. For example, different LED screens have drastically different life-like qualities - with some being better than others. Additionally, even though many Crystal UHD TVs are designed around AH-IPS (Advanced High-Performance In-Plane Switching) panels, it's important to note that there are some variations in quality between models as well.

detail of a TV

What About MicroLED?

MicroLED is the future of TV backlighting technology. Samsung has already released a 146”4K MicroLED screen. However, the Samsung TV offers better picture quality and color accuracy than anything else on the market, even though they're far more expensive than LED or Crystal UHD TVs.

While it's true that micro-LEDs offer superior brightness and design (with their microscopic size providing very accurate color accuracy), it's important to note that they're still at least two years away from reaching household TVs. Due to their high price tag, MicroLEDs are primarily limited to large screens with niche use cases.

Which TV Should I Buy?

If you're looking for a TV with better contrast and wider viewing angles, it might be worth investing in a Crystal UHD model. They tend to have higher brightness than LED models and very accurate colors as well - and since most of them feature AH-IPS panels, they offer better life-like visuals than most brands. However, it's important to note that they're often more expensive than most LED models, which may be a significant downside for some people.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs are another viable option, especially if you're looking for ultra-precise colors and perfect contrast. However, OLED TVs often suffer from burn-in issues - so they're not always a practical choice for everyone.

If none of these features matter to you and vivid color accuracy isn't a concern either, it may be worth getting an LED.

Additionally, there are QLED (Quantum Light Emitting Diode) TVs on the market. These screens are based on MicroLED technology but use quantum dot nanoparticles instead of microscopic LEDs. Since they're created by applying quantum dots to LED backlight, QLED TVs offer similar levels of color accuracy to OLED screens while costing far less.

living space with TV on the wall

What Is High Dynamic Range?

Dynamic Range refers to the contrast between light and dark pixels on a screen. Most TVs have a lower dynamic range, so they can't display bright highlights with great clarity - but HDR screens can show more colors and higher brightness levels. Some TVs also feature 10-bit color depth, which is far greater than most conventional TVs - so colors tend to be more vivid and accurate than images created by usual 8-bit screens.

LED TVs have a low dynamic range and usually have a limited color gamut. OLED screens also have a low dynamic range, and the contrast ratio is better than in LED models. Crystal UHD TVs have a high dynamic range and a lot of colors, but as seen in our LG NanoCell vs Samsung Crystal UHD comparison, they cost more than other types of TV, which might be an issue for you.

The LG UHD TVs are good TVs that offer a high dynamic range and a lot of colors (see also top LG OLED TVs). A QLED tv can be a good choice because they have a high dynamic range, and the contrast ratio is better than in other types of TV. These TVs also offer 10-bit color depth, which means the images will look more accurate and vivid than usual 8bit screens.

What Is an LCD Screen?

An LCD screen is one of the most common TV screens used today. It's based on Liquid Crystal Display technology, which allows pixels (picture elements) to remain lit for a certain period depending on what image they display - resulting in darker areas with faster pixel response speeds and brighter parts with slower pixel response times.

LCD TVs are available in several types. Plasma TVs are similar to LCD screens, but they use special gas-filled cells to create light instead of liquid crystals.

Most LCD screens contain different types of pixels:

A black pixel is one that's turned off, so it doesn't emit any light and appears as a tiny dark spot on the screen. A white pixel is turned on entirely and emits all of the backlight colors at once, resulting in very bright areas. An RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) pixel is turned on only partially by the backlight that emits blue light - meaning it won't be as bright as a white pixel, but it can emit other colors.

a woman on the sofa watching TV

FAQ

Q. What is crystal UHD TV?

A. This is a type of 4K TV that uses quantum dots to create brighter colors, higher contrast ratios, and more accurate visuals.

Q. Which is better, UHD or LED?

A. Picture quality is a key concern for TV shoppers. So, which technology offers the best visuals: UHD or LED?

To start, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. UHD, or Ultra High Definition, displays images at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That’s four times the number of pixels on an HDTV.LED TVs use light-emitting diodes to create images. While not as high-resolution as UHD, they can still offer very sharp pictures.

So which is better? It depends on your needs and budget. If you want the absolute best picture quality, go with a UHD TV. But be prepared to pay more for it. LED TVs are less expensive and still provide excellent visuals.

Q. Which TV should I buy 4K or full HD?

A. This largely depends on your budget and personal preference. Both options offer similar levels of picture quality - but since it's a relatively new feature, 4K TVs tend to be more expensive than their Full HD counterparts.

Conclusion

Crystal UHD TVs and LED TVs offer 4K resolution - but the main difference is how they provide light for each pixel on the screen. LED screens tend to be based around older versions of backlighting, leading to lackluster contrast ratios and not-so-great viewing angles. Additionally, some older LED TV models may feature lower color saturation than their Crystal UHD counterparts - but this largely depends on the model you choose.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.

2 thoughts on “Crystal UHD vs. LED | Two Different Types of TV Panels Explained”

  1. I have a chance to buy a 65″UHD Smart TV, either Philips or LG. Two questions: which brand is better choice(U.S.). The Philips uses Android ODS and the LG uses Web OS. Does the OS matter? I have a Dell Laptop PC with Windows OS and a mobile phone with a
    n Android OS, if that matters

    Reply
    • I still want to see side by side and I’m looking fo 50/60 in for my self I A lot of television a lot of apps and I’ve seen now that they have Google rather than Roku however I found your post very interesting thank you very much and I now understand exactly what I’m gonna be looking for

      Reply

Leave a Comment