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Shopping for a new Smart TV? It's not as easy as you'd think.
With so many different display types (LED, QLED, OLED) and their accompanying acronyms, it's not simple to find the right flatscreen for your needs. Even when different models claim to use the exact same panel technology, there can be hidden differences that result in a dramatically different image.
That's certainly the case for Smart TVs that purport to use "Quantum Dot" or "QLED" displays. Not every telly that sports this label delivers the same quality, with some manufacturers using the brand term pretty loosely — leaving you wondering what you're actually paying for.
The display technology was first developed in the early noughties by a US startup called QD Vision — later acquired by Samsung, the manufacturer perhaps most associated with QLED TVs.
Quantum Dot adds a layer of colourful jewels — the Quantum Dots — in front of the backlight to supercharge the colours on-screen
|SAMSUNG PRESS OFFICE
It involves adding a layer of ultra-fine particles, known as "quantum dots" (hence the name), which emit precise colours when illuminated by a backlight. This is different from a regular LCD screen, which uses a backlit to shine light through liquid crystals that act like shutters — opening and closing to let certain colours through. Colour filters tint the light emitted into red, green, and blue that, when viewed from afar, creates the picture on-screen.
This works well enough, but colours are rarely vibrant and can become muddied in busy scenes.
Quantum Dot displays improve on this technology by adding a layer of glowing jewels (quantum dots) in front of the backlight to supercharge the colours. The result is brighter, richer, more accurate colours compared to LCD.
It's clever stuff and makes a real difference when watching HDR content compared to standard LED displays. HDR, which stands for High Dynamic Range, is widely supported by the latest generation of consoles, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes from Sky and Virgin TV, as well as streamers like Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Netflix.
Although it's worth noting that some of these streaming services paywall HDR picture quality behind its top-tier subscription tiers, so you might not see the difference in picture quality on your new telly without plumping for a pricier plan.
In Samsung QLED TVs, a layer of red and green quantum dots is combined with a blue LED light source to create a clean white light, which passes through a filter to help produce a broad and vivid colour range
|SAMSUNG PRESS OFFICE
In Samsung QLED TVs, a layer of red and green quantum dots is combined with a blue LED light source to create a clean white light, which passes through a filter to help produce a broad and vivid colour range. This isn't the case with all panels that advertise themselves as relying on QLED technology.
Speaking to GB News, Samsung TV Director of Product Management, Jeremy Demont said: "Samsung has been developing Quantum Dot technology for more than a decade and was the first to introduce a “no cadmium” quantum dot display – one that uses a QD ‘layer’ that doesn’t have this toxic heavy metal in it.
"Quantum dots have attracted attention as a next-generation material for a wide range of applications, including TV screens, medical devices and solar cells. Not all TVs labelled with QD or QLED are built to the same standards, so consumers need to be wary as to what they are potentially purchasing."
How can you tell if you're getting the real deal? Look for the certifications.
Samsung's QLED televisions all sport approval from TÜV Rheinland. This brand has a history of 150 years of testing and inspection services, and now boasts 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries.
And that's not all.
There's also Pantone verification, which evaluates the quality of the colours used in the Quantum Dot layer.
Mr Demont explained: "Pantone’s certification ensures exceptional colour reproduction capability that meets Pantone’s rigorous standards for authentic colour that is nearly indistinguishable to the human eye under standard lighting conditions."
Without these industry-standard certifications, it's possible that two TVs that both market themselves as QLED offer very different picture quality. As Samsung's Director of Product Management for TV and Audio Visual, Jeremy Demont told GB News: "To make an informed decision, consumers should look beyond labels and consider verified certifications, display performance, and brand reliability. The best way to do this is by searching online for independent reviews and asking retail staff for details on certifications and product performance."
Technical specifications alone rarely tell the whole story — so it's not just a case of comparing numbers on a product listing to find the biggest possible figure. The quality of assembly, the amount of quantum dot material, and the type of components used will all make a huge difference, even if that's not obvious from the box.
"While picture quality always depends on the specific panel type and model, Samsung’s QLED range combines quantum dot technology with other enhancements depending on model – such as Quantum HDR, Vision AI, AI upscaling and precision-controlled backlighting," Mr Demont adds. "These features take the end user experience a step further, such as using AI to upscale content to stunning 4K, even if it wasn’t originally shot that way.
"This way Samsung TVs can breathe new life into new and iconic television moments – as well as providing consumers with the ultimate viewing experience."
Samsung's 2025 QLED lineup starts from £449. For a limited time, the South Korean firm has lashed £30 off the cost of these flatscreens, dropping them to £419.
If you trade in your existing telly at checkout, you'll save more.
Samsung has been ranked the biggest-selling TV manufacturer globally for the last 19 consecutive years.
Outside of Samsung, other household brands that build and sell QLED TVs include Hisense, TCL, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Amazon Fire TV. If you're comparing TVs from any of these brands and deciding on the right fit for your home, follow the advice above to check for the certifications that'll really make a difference to the next Premier League fixture, movie night, gaming session, or concert at-home.