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

What is OLED Monitor? | A Detailed Guide to Features and Benefits

OLED or Organic Light-emitting diode is a type of flat display technology that uses self-lighting pixels to create images. It does not need a backlight; hence these displays are thinner and efficient.

 In terms of features, OLED outshines LCD on almost every parameter, making it a better choice over LCDs for portable gadgets.

In this article, I will take a look at what you should know about an OLED Monitor, its features, its advantages and disadvantages, and how it is different from an LCD monitor. At this point you should also be aware that LG's Nanocell technology is actually LCD, too. In another article we compared both Nanocell and OLED displays as we look to unswer all questions.

What is OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Monitor?

As you all know, the OLED monitor is the latest monitor released in the market (see also OLED TVs).

OLED, or Organic Light-Emitting Diode, monitors are very different from any other displays. Before I talk about them, it is important that I discuss LCD monitors so you may understand OLEDs better.

apple monitor in the office

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. With LCD monitors, there is a backlight that shines to display an image on the screen. With an OLED monitor, each pixel emits its own light, so there is no need for a backlight.

This translates into an OLED PC monitor having higher contrast which creates darker blacks and brighter whites. It also has a faster response time than normal LCD monitors, which means there's less motion blur when watching videos or gaming.


What Makes OLED Monitors Different? –Their advantages

They are Thinner and Efficient

Monitors are getting thinner, lighter, and smarter by the day. Unlike traditional LCDs that use backlighting, OLED monitors are self-emissive. That means each pixel can generate its own light, eliminating the need for a bulky backlight (and the energy that it requires) to illuminate the screen.

Their simpler design enables ultra-thin, flexible, foldable, and portable OLED monitors.

two monitors

Are Flexible Displays

One of the most exciting applications of OLED is in displays. Since OLED doesn't require a backlight, it is possible to bend the display. Microsoft is bending their OLEDs so that people can roll up their monitors or TV screens and carry them around.

 This opens up possibilities for new application designs like foldable tablet screens and transparent window displays in cars.

Better Contrast

The OLED technology is changing the game in terms of monitors because there is no backlight which means that blacks are truly black. What I mean by that is, usually on normal monitors, black will still have some sort of brightness or grayness to it. With an OLED monitor, this is not the case because the entire screen is not illuminated.

Lower Power Consumption

OLED monitors can save a significant amount of power as they only illuminate the required pixels and not the entire screen. They are considered by professionals and consumers alike to be the best computer displays ever.

energy star

Have the Best Image Quality

Whether you are buying a television, a monitor, a tablet, or anything else that has an image, having great picture quality is important. In fact, the way the picture appears on your device is probably one of the most important factors in determining whether or not you will buy it.

One of the coolest advantages about the OLED Monitor is the fact that it offers you better contrast, higher brightness, a fuller viewing angle, a wider color range. With these features, a display will have a better image quality.

What many of us fail to realize is that this kind of technology is also bringing a lot of images that are brighter and blacker. The result of which is crisper and more defined images with richer colors and more dynamic contrast details.


How do OLED Monitors Work?

Unlike standard LCD displays, which use backlight, OLEDs glow on their own when power is applied to the individual pixels. This enables them to generate light to make images, promoting better contrast and great viewing experiences.

An OLED monitor is made of an extremely thin layer of organic material that sits between two conductive plates. You can think of it as a very thin piece of plate with thousands of lights in it.

Each light can be independently controlled. The lights are "turned off" by applying a positive voltage to the light and "turned on" by applying a negative voltage.

oled monitor

What are the Parts of OLED Monitors?

The parts of an OLED monitor include;

  • The display is the part you see while using your monitor
  • The monitor stand holds up the display and also allows you to adjust the height and angle of the screen.
  • The cables-they are needed for connecting the monitor to a power source, and one more cable is required to connect with other devices.
good setup

What is the History of OLED Monitor?

The first OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display was created by 2 researchers at the Kodak Research Laboratories in Rochester, NY, in 1987. The researchers’ names were Steven Van Slyke and Ching W. Tang.

The image of the display took the form of a very basic bar-graph display. It demonstrated the potential of an entirely new technology, one that could someday replace the computer monitor that uses backlight for illumination.

Since then, technology has seen several different stages in its development. By the 2000s, it had become commercially available for use in monitors and other things such as watches, televisions, just to name a few.


Who is the Founder of OLED Monitor?

The founders of OLED monitors are Steven Van Slyke and Ching W. Tang.  Steven Van Slyke is a well-known and reputable display expert.

He has been involved in the design and engineering of display products for over 26 years now - see who created the first computer monitor, too. Incidentally, at high school, Steven invented his first TV camera and the first digital microscope (a product that he later commercialized and sold to a firm).

inventors

Ching W. Tang is also an inventor. Thanks to his dedicated hard work in the past years, OLED technology has led to the development and manufacture of superior monitors and other gadgets that are available today.


What are the Features of OLED Monitors?

The increasing popularity of OLED monitors is due to their high level of blacks and their thin design. These and other characteristics that I will mention here have made these types of displays a favorite for moviemakers, gamers, and even graphic designers.

Here are some of the features of an OLED monitor best buy you should know about before getting one. They have;

  • Higher resolution
  • Greater contrast ratios
  • Faster response rates
  • Are transparent
  • Best image quality
tilted monitor

What are the Advantages of OLED Monitors?

Organic Light Emitting Diode or OLED monitors are the future of display technology. These are thin, power-efficient displays with a good contrast ratio. They have no backlight, so each individual pixel lights up when needed.

  • OLEDs consume less power than LCDs because the pixels lack backlights
  • These monitors give the best and most realistic colors and images in the market today with their self-lighting pixels capable of producing deep blacks
  • OLED displays are composed of self-illuminating pixels, thereby eliminating the need for a backlight or other external light source. This is why many brands are able to produce the thinnest OLED gaming monitor, OLED monitor 4k, or transparent OLED computer monitor
  • They have viewing angles that are at least as good as IPS/PLS/TN LCD displays
  • They can easily bend due to a lack of backlight

What are the Disadvantages of OLED Monitors?

  • They have been on the market for a while already, but only recently have their price been reduced. It is still substantially higher than LCDs, but quite a lot of reviewers and users report that they are worth that premium price.

How is OLED Monitor Picture Quality?

The advantage that OLED monitors have over other types of monitors is better picture quality. This is because of its ability to create darker blacks and have a better contrast ratio.

This makes the picture quality of an LG OLED monitor or Alienware OLED monitor its most notable feature.

what is the best monitor

What is the Average Price of OLED Monitors?

Prices of OLED monitors range from $750 for the smallest OLED monitor to even $3,000 for the largest one. Why are OLED monitors expensive?

OLED monitors are currently quite expensive as they are not built in the same way as standard monitors; they are manufactured using higher-quality organic materials. Also, they are not mass-produced in the same way as standard monitors. As a result, a higher price per unit is charged.

visa and master cards

What is the Energy Consumption of OLED Monitors?

One of the strongest points in favor of OLED technology for display panels is the fact that it is much more energy-efficient than LCD monitors.

So, if an electricity bill is a concern, an OLED monitor could be a better choice for you since it consumes less power.

Power Consumption of Computer Monitors by Screen Size

Monitor Screen size

OLED MOnitor

LCD Monitor

15 inches

14 watts

18 watts

19 inches

18 watts

22 watts

24 inches

38 watts

50 watts

32 inches

50 watts

70 watts

42 inches

75 watts

120 watts

50 inches

95 watts

150 watts


What is the Lifespan of OLED Monitors?

The lifespan of an OLED display is about 8 - 10 years, after which it will start to lose its brightness. That said, there is no mechanical component that affects the lifespan.

Most issues or problems that affect this type of monitor are burn-in (from static images left on-screen), external impact (such as dropping the monitor), and uneven degradation.

connect monitor and a laptop

What are the OLED Monitor Brands?

There are a number of companies that now make OLED monitors, and they include;

  • Samsung
  • Alienware i.e., Alienware 55 OLED gaming monitor
  • Sony, an example being Sony OLED broadcast monitor
  • LG
  • ASUS
  • Dell, i.e., dell 30 inch OLED monitor
laptop and pc

What are the Best OLED Monitors?

I have listed here the best OLED monitors that deliver the best picture quality you can find.

Their unique organic LED technology provides breathtaking contrast and color depth, while their fast response time means blur-free action scenes and reduced eye strain during long marathon gaming sessions. They are;

  • Asus pro art pq22uc professional OLED monitor
  • Dell 30 ultrasharp OLED monitor up3017q
  • Dell alienware 55 OLED monitor
  • Alienware 55 oled gaming monitor aw5520qf
  • Sony bvm e250 trimaster el oled master monitor
  • Sony BVM x300 4k OLED mastering monitor
  • Dell Ultrasharp UHD 4K OLED Monitor

How to Buy an OLED Monitor?

OLED monitors are relatively new to the market, as opposed to other types of monitors such as LCDs. With little knowledge about this type of display, it can be hard to figure out which one is right for your needs. Let's see what you need to look for when buying an OLED monitor.

monitor on the desk

Screen Resolution

The screen resolution is one of the most important specs to consider when buying a new OLED monitor. It can affect things like picture quality and more. The good news is that both the smallest and largest OLED monitor comes with good resolutions and contrast ratios.

Common resolutions you'll find with this type of computer monitors include 1080p (1920 x 1080), 4K (3840 x 2160) and 1440p (2560 x 1440).

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate refers to how many times per second a monitor can change the image on the screen, which is measured by the number of Hertz (Hz). For most gamers, this is an important metric to consider because it affects gaming performance.

The refresh rate will determine how smoothly your OLED gaming monitor will operate with fast-moving images, such as games or movies. A 4K resolution or delivering 3D content requires a high refresh rate to make the object appear smooth and natural.

boy playing games

Screen Size

This is another factor to consider if the size is a great concern when buying an OLED PC display.

If you travel frequently, obviously, it's more convenient to carry a compact OLED monitor. To display data in Excel sheets, which is mostly done by users in office settings, a 21-27-inch big OLED monitor is OK.

If you want to watch movies or play games, then a larger screen size such as OLED curved monitor and OLED ultrawide monitor will be ideal.


How to Install an OLED Monitor?

Installing a monitor is easy if you have the right tools. You will need a small screwdriver, some screws, and a bracket.

You can use a VESA mount bracket to mount the monitor on the wall or stand-alone arms designed to hold your monitor on top of a flat surface.

  1. The first step to installing an OLED monitor is removing it out of its box. Lift the monitor out with two hands gripping each side of the monitor. Place it in a location where you can easily add or remove cables, and do not place objects on top of the monitor.
  2. You should read the instructions manual that comes with your dell OLED monitor, LG OLED gaming monitor, etc., to properly install it. It should have a list of steps for installing a monitor and also should inform you of any special instructions or hardware that is required during installation.
  3. When you purchase a new monitor, it comes with power and sometimes signals cables already attached; all you need to do is connect those cables to the corresponding inputs on your system. Plug the computer power cord, and your OLED monitor will be ready to use.
man fixing monitor

How to Clean an OLED Monitor?

Cleaning your monitor is especially important if it's your primary workspace, or you use the monitor for office work, gaming, security cameras, or other visual applications.

Cleaning a monitor will clear up annoying sticky fingerprints left on the monitor's screen after use and harmful dust particles.

Below are some tips for cleaning your monitor using a glass cleaner and microfiber cloths.

Turn off the OLED Display

Turn off your monitor, unplug it from the wall outlet, and remove the power cord. Place a towel over the computer or monitor before cleaning it to absorb any liquid that gets spilled.

Cleaning the Monitor

If you use a liquid cleaner, spray it on the cloth rather than directly onto the monitor. You also should not spray cleaner directly onto your monitor, as some cleaners will damage the monitor.


How to Turn OLED Monitor into a TV?

It is possible to turn an OLED monitor into a TV. It's common these days to have a second TV in the house, whether it be for checking your favorite news and scores or catching up on your shows that you don't get on time.

Before you begin the process, you need to find out if the monitor has the right ports and cables to do what you need. Your OLED monitor should have HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI/VGA ports.

If you are going to watch television on your monitor, you will need speakers. Assuming your cable box has the same connection type as your monitor, connect both, and it will be ready for watching.

where to watch

What are the Connection Types of OLED Monitors?

When it comes to connections, the most common are VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

  • VGA carries analog signals only
  • DVI is completely digital and analog
  • DisplayPort delivers audio and video signals
  • HDMI enables to send high-quality video and audio signals.
hdmi

What are the Common OLED Monitor Problems and Solutions?

Some problems might appear on an OLED monitor after using it for some time. These issues, however, are easy to spot because the affected areas on the screen become unresponsive or show images that you don't intend to see.

The following information will help you identify the common problems associated with this type of PC monitor.

Screen Burn-in

Screen burn-in may occur on OLED monitors but isn’t common since many manufactures are aware of this issue and have put various measures to curb this problem. Screen burn is a noticeable discoloration on display caused by the use of certain pixels for a long period of time.

 When you see uneven brightness, uneven colors, or ghost images, these are signs that your display has this problem. To solve this problem, try to adjust the brightness of the display. You can also enable pixel shift or take your display to a repair shop to fix the problem.

Cracks, Spots, and Blotches

Other OLED monitor problems include cracks, spots, and blotches caused by physical trauma. If your monitor falls, it will have these problems. Immediately turn it off. The safest thing to do is take it to a professional or buy a new one.

Random Shutoffs

If your computer monitor randomly shuts off, this can be due to a faulty power supply. Check its power cable to see if it is broken or loose and correct if any issues with it. Check if any power adapter or monitor component is overheating and replace it.


Are OLED Monitors Suitable for Gaming?

Yes, OLED monitors are suitable for gaming. The best gaming monitor should produce images with high contrast and resolution, high refresh rates, low input lag, and fast response time. What if I told you that the perfect gaming monitor is already here and it is OLED?

An OLED monitor is an excellent option when looking for a new gaming display due to its fantastic visuals and high refresh rate. Having a display that reacts quickly to your every move will put you at an advantage over players who are stuck with low refresh rate displays.

Other Gaming Features

Many OLEDs are also compatible with the latest AMD FreeSyncâ„¢ technology (see also VSync) that seamlessly synchronizes the screen refresh rate with your graphics card for ultra-smooth gameplay.

It's also pretty clear that OLED monitors are the way to go for gamers. These displays can deliver higher contrast ratios than their LCD counterparts, which is important for games that rely heavily on the screen's black levels.

ps4 switch

Are OLED Monitors Suitable for Business?

Yes, OLED monitors are suitable for business. They will suit your business due to their superb color performance, resolution, amazing contrast, and ability to save on power.

man with two screens

What is the Difference Between LED and OLED Monitors?

The main difference between the two is their backlighting technologies. An LED monitor uses an LED backlight to illuminate the display while OLED panels are self-illuminating, meaning that each pixel produces its own light (unlike LEDs, which require a separate backlight). Check out how much you'll benefit from the upgrade in displays in this OLED and LED comparison.


What are the Other Types of Monitors?

Apart from OLED monitors, other types of monitors include;

  • LCD or liquid crystal display computer display
  • LED or light-emitting diodes computer display
  • Plasma computer display
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.

Leave a Comment