If you’re shopping for a new television, you’re probably comparing prices and TV types to discover what’s cheaper or the best value for money. Two of the screens that often end up head-to-head are QLED TVs and OLED TVs, with many wondering which screen is better and, ultimately, cheaper.
When bought brand new, QLED TVs are generally cheaper than OLED TVs. However, if you’re open to buying a professionally graded television, you could own a premium OLED TV for a price that’s much closer to (or even lower) than a brand-new QLED model.
Here are some things to consider.
OLED vs QLED: What's the Difference?
Before comparing prices, it’s usually helpful to understand what makes the two displays different and what impacts their price points. An OLED TV offers incredible contrast, perfect blacks and premium picture quality. QLED TVs offer excellent brightness, vibrant colours and great value for everyday viewing.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. This means that the screen features millions of self-lit pixels that can switch on and off independently, creating true blacks and exceptional contrast. This style of screen is particularly popular amongst movie lovers and those wanting a truly cinematic viewing experience.
QLED stands for Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode. These screens use a traditional LED backlight combined with a ‘quantum dot’ layer that boosts brightness and colour. They perform exceptionally well in bright living rooms and are often available in a wider range of screen sizes and price points.
Which Is Cheaper, An OLED or QLED TV?
For brand-new televisions, QLED is typically cheaper than an OLED screen. However, if you buy a graded television, OLED TVs can be within a similar price range to a brand new QLED TV.
OLEDs are typically more expensive because the manufacturing process is significantly more complex as each individual pixel generates its own light.
QLED TVs, on the other hand, are less expensive to produce as they are made using established LED manufacturing processes, making them more affordable across most screen sizes.
That said, if you’re looking for a cheap OLED TV, you can find a screen at a similar price point to a brand new QLED TV by opting for a graded television.
Often unused, graded TVs can’t be marketed as ‘brand new’ due to damaged original packaging, it being surplus stock, or it being returned within a coooling-off period. As such, these graded OLED TVs can come with significant price cuts when buying through a trusted reseller, such as Electronic World.
Is OLED Worth Paying More For?
If you’re wanting the best picture quality available on the market right now, an OLED is worth paying more for. It is ideal if you watch films in darker rooms, love cinematic picture quality and enjoy premium gaming performance with fast response times.
However, if you typically watch TV during the day, want a vibrant display, and would like a larger screen for your budget, it is worth considering a QLED display. For everyday family viewing, QLED often offers exceptional value for money.
How Can I Buy An OLED TV For Cheaper than Retail?
You can buy an OLED TV for a fraction of the price of a brand new one by opting for a graded TV. Professionally graded televisions dramatically reduce the price of premium screens because, despite often being in pristine condition, they can’t be sold as ‘brand new’.
An ‘A’ graded screen is often in pristine, unused condition and is considered to be a graded television because the box has been opened. It is effectively in an as-new condition with no visible signs of wear.
So, instead of choosing between a standard retail QLED screen, or an expensive brand-new OLED TV, you can get your hands on a premium OLED TV for a fraction of the price and save yourself hundreds of pounds.
At Electronic World, each of our graded TVs is fully tested, quality checked and supplied with a 12-month warranty.
Graded OLED vs QLED: Which Offers Better Value?
If your budget stretches to a graded OLED TV, you'll enjoy a premium picture quality for considerably less than you'd expect on the high street.
However, if you’d like to prioritise a bigger screen size, have a tighter budget, or would just like to purchase at a cheaper price point than your original budget, a graded QLED TV still offers outstanding performance whilst delivering substantial savings.
Either way, opting for a graded television allows you to enjoy technology that might otherwise sit outside of your budget.
Our Verdict
A QLED TV is almost always cheaper than an OLED TV. However, opting for a graded television will open up more premium options within your price range.
If picture quality is your top priority, a graded OLED TV is far more accessible than many buyers realise. But, if you’re looking for maximum value and everyday performance, then a graded QLED TV remains an excellent choice.
Whichever technology you choose, buying graded means you can enjoy significant savings without compromising on quality, reliability or performance.
