The best OLED TVs could get even brighter – here’s how
A new electrode design could show the way forward
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
After a brighterOLED TV? Researchers at the University of Michigan may have crackedOLED’s dim brightness problem, with a new electrode that can “liberate” 20% more light from respective screens – at the same time as increasing energy efficiency and improving the battery life of portableOLEDdisplays (smartphonesand the like).
The electrode design effectively improves the emission of light from an OLED screen’s diodes, with ablog poston the Univerisity of Michigan’s website stating that “the approach prevents light from being trapped in the light-emitting part of an OLED, enabling OLEDs to maintain brightness while using less power.”
This electrode is intended to replace the transparent model typically used between the panel and its glass surface, using a 5nm (nanometer) silver and copper layer that better directs light towards the glass – with far less light being lost to the sides of each electrode.
But this could go even further, we’re told. Co-author of the study Changyeong Jeong says researchers were “able to free up about 34% of the light by using unconventional materials with special emission directions or patterning structures” – adding that manufacturers could even “liberate more than 40% of the light” using their processes.
Light at the end of the tunnel
OLED TVs are notorious for their dim output, which is the next big hurdle for OLED manufacturers to overcome. It’s something that’s already changing, as with the new OLED evo panel used in theLG G1, which also outputs 20% more peak brightness than its 2020 predecessor, theLG GX.
However,LGDisplay tells us thatlarger TV sizes have the biggest impactin this regard, with a83-inchpanel size being best for their own luminance improvements – despite the LG G1 not currently coming in that size.
The real test for TV makers is whether they can apply widespread brightness solutions across their OLED TV ranges, in every size and iteration – getting closer to the 1,000 nits brightness level desired forHDR, or even the heady heights ofQLEDTVs that can output several times that.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.
Black Friday has arrived: LG’s 65-inch C4 OLED TV gets a staggering $1,300 discount
The Apple TV 4K just got even more interesting for projectors in tvOS 18.2
Your doctor may have an AI assistant taking notes during your next Zoom call
