4K TV 55" $3000 Budget OLED VS QLED

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › 4K TV 55" $3000 Budget OLED VS QLED

1 | 2 | 3

1564 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2385921 6-Jan-2020 10:06

Unless you need to go with a bigger size that puts an equivalent OLED above your budget, OLED 100%. Doubly so if you are coming from a Plasma. At your budget, and barring any edge use cases like watching in direct light or 8-12 hours a day of static content displayed (channel logos, HUD elements in games etc), there is no reason not to go OLED.

All currently available OLEDs have panels manfactured by LG Display, so any OLED is going to give you an idea of how good the PQ is in general, but specific implementations will differ in terms of motion handling, picture processing, OS and other OEM specific stuff.

See below for a well-unscientific comparison between a Panasonic FZ950 (2018 OLED) and a Sony X950g (2019 LCD/LED, one of the better ones) in-shop. That is a rather extreme case (white text on black background), but illustrates a big point of difference between OLED and LCD/LED that may be quite apparent to you after enjoying a Plasma for a few years: backlight blooming.

The higher range Samsung Q80/Q90r will do slightly better, but not unnoticeable better. And honestly, the only Samsung QLEDs worth considering are not comparable price-wise to competitors unless you have very specific use cases. The Q60 is not worth considering at any size.

As others have said, you missed the boat on Boxing day prices, but if you can wait, in the next couple of months you may get close with run-out pricing towards April or a special sale ie. Waitangi day.

How far away do you sit from your main viewing position?

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2385983 6-Jan-2020 12:27

This must be one of the most popular topics on GZ; agree that a bit of digging and reading will reveal all to those willing to put in the time, so these threads do get somewhat repetitive...

ShinyChrome: That photo should be compulsory viewing for anyone buying a TV, simply so they know what to expect from most LCDs (wish I'd seen it before buying our LG!).

OP: seriously, listen to the comment re those coming from plasma TVs - if you've any interest in a quality picture, you'll never get used to the 'blacks' of (most) LCD TVs. Ref 1: the photo in the post directly above here. IMO this is amazingly distracting, and really takes away from viewing enjoyment.

If you really do want to go LCD, then listen to the recommendations of those types/specific models where this isn't such an issue - lots of good threads on GZ and info on the web covering this (eg IPS vs VA panels; backlighting type etc).

I note you're looking at a screen 55-65 inches - my recommendation would be to not sacrifice quality for quantity, ie go with a 55" OLED over a 65" LCD of a similar price. Given you've got a 50" currently, even the jump to 55" will be substantial (21% larger picture).

Agree with other comments re bad timing, so you may indeed be best waiting for the run-outs in a few months. That said, the Panasonic 55GZ100U is $2797 at HN at the moment, which is a $400 premium on the great Boxing Day price but still cheaper than at any other time but that sale (similarly, I got the 65" version of this last week for $3399, now the cheapest is $3999). The 950 (the 2018 version) is $2299 at Magness Benrow, if you don't care about the latest and greatest (others here could tell you the key differences; main one I can think of is it supports one fewer of the HDR formats).

keriboi

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2386084 6-Jan-2020 14:22

Thanks guys. Sold me on the oled. How did you get that price last week? I will wait untill I can get a TH-65GZ1000U for around. $3400. Not in any hurry

kharris

1209 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2386128 6-Jan-2020 14:30

I picked up the Sony A8G 55" OLED for $2755 during the black Friday sales. This is currently between 3195 and 3999. So I would wait... it will come down again.

This is the best TV I could find for the price that suited my needs. The main need being up-scaling (which Sony seem to be the best at) because not all content we are watching is delivered in 4k. If you are a gamer I have heard that Panasonic might be the way to go... but I don't know much about it sorry. You might have to do some research on that.

Kirk

ShinyChrome

1564 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2386129 6-Jan-2020 14:30

keriboi: Thanks guys. Sold me on the oled. How did you get that price last week? I will wait untill I can get a TH-65GZ1000U for around. $3400. Not in any hurry

Boxing day/week sales. The LG B9 was also around that price, exclusive to HN, and the C9 was around $3700.

2020 models will probably start appearing around April, so you will probably see lower pricing then now closer to then.

Movieman

3245 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2386238 6-Jan-2020 18:36

keriboi: Thanks guys. Sold me on the oled. How did you get that price last week? I will wait untill I can get a TH-65GZ1000U for around. $3400. Not in any hurry

The TH-65GZ1000U is the model that I bought in the Black Friday sale for $4000 minus $400 Panasonic cash back. I had a 30 day price promise, and received another $602 back from HN as the Boxing Day sale price was $3398.

You won’t regret buying this model. Superb picture quality. Love it 😍

MAN CAVE: 2019 Panasonic GZ1000 65" OLED TV - Panasonic DP-UB 820 4K Blu-ray Player - PlayStation 5 Console - Yamaha Aventage RX-A1080 Receiver - Dolby Atmos / DTS:X 5.1.2 Surround Speaker System - Apple TV 4K 32gb (2nd Gen) - LIVING ROOM: 2021 Sony 75” X95J LCD TV - Apple TV 4K 32gb (1st Gen) TECH: iPhone 15 Plus, iPad Gen. 10

Suckle

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2387325 8-Jan-2020 12:57

keriboi: Thanks guys. Sold me on the oled. How did you get that price last week? I will wait untill I can get a TH-65GZ1000U for around. $3400. Not in any hurry

Kicking myself for not buying on those Boxing Day prices. I wanted to wait for CES 2020 announcements to make sure I wasn't going to regret buying a 2019 model. Looks like prices have been hiked right back up to 4K-6K. Judging by my pricespy price history research it looks like we'll be waiting til end of May for prices to drop this low again.

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2387351 8-Jan-2020 13:09

Suckle:

keriboi: Thanks guys. Sold me on the oled. How did you get that price last week? I will wait untill I can get a TH-65GZ1000U for around. $3400. Not in any hurry

Kicking myself for not buying on those Boxing Day prices. I wanted to wait for CES 2020 announcements to make sure I wasn't going to regret buying a 2019 model. Looks like prices have been hiked right back up to 4K-6K. Judging by my pricespy price history research it looks like we'll be waiting til end of May for prices to drop this low again.

Yep, it was Pricespy's history data (and goading from ShinyChrome) that persuaded me to go for it now rather than wait; I looked at the price history for the equivalent but previous model to the TH-65GZ1000U (the TH-65FZ950U) and that showed its cheapest price (prior to the last couple of weeks, that is) was the 2018 Boxing Day sale.

I haven't seen any CES announcements that have made me regret my decision - somehow I don't think I'll have the money for the 77" 8K OLED even when it does become available!

Suckle

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2387362 8-Jan-2020 13:45

Yeah super gutted. Watching 'You' on Netflix right now and wishing I was watching in 4K OLED glory.

I agree, I mean the only things I feel might potentially be nice, is hdmi 2.1 - if I ever get back into console gaming and Hollywood mode (although I think this is just a quality of life gimmick).

Also, double kicking myself that I didn't buy from JBhifi on Christmas eve to cash in on their early boxing day prices and the Panasonic cashback. Would have made the TV $2998, unreal!

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2387370 8-Jan-2020 13:58

To the OP, are you planning on selling the plasma?

ShinyChrome

1564 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2387378 8-Jan-2020 14:10

Suckle:

Yeah super gutted. Watching 'You' on Netflix right now and wishing I was watching in 4K OLED glory.

I agree, I mean the only things I feel might potentially be nice, is hdmi 2.1 - if I ever get back into console gaming and Hollywood mode (although I think this is just a quality of life gimmick).

Also, double kicking myself that I didn't buy from JBhifi on Christmas eve to cash in on their early boxing day prices and the Panasonic cashback. Would have made the TV $2998, unreal!

Good show.

Even though my funds are tied up right meow, I was quite tempted by that deal, however rickety my assumption about it was.

I must admit, if I were seriously looking at buying a TV right now, I'd probably be ambivalent around HDMI 2.1. It probably won't be til the next round of GPUs/console wars that we will see actual HFR use cases, and as has been pointed out in other threads, you will probably have to sacrifice visual quality for the next generation to actually make use of it. And if you aren't hardcore into gaming, then it don't mean much to you anyhow since 4K movies or TV shows are not going to need that extra bandwidth. That is probably why Panasonic is eschewing it this generation and continue focusing on PQ, since they seemed to be marketing their lineup to movie-going folk.

Other 2.1 features like VRR, eARC are end user dependent and don't require the full bandwidth 48gbps inputs as well; not exactly game-changing either (unlike ALLM *ba-dooooom-chssh*).

If you can manage to nab a 2019 OLED for a good price now, that is a whole lot more time you could be enjoying a good TV instead of waiting for like a maybe 10% improvement.

Suckle

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2387384 8-Jan-2020 14:17

Seriously hey, I was sure it was a loophole. Retailers get a supplier rebate to help them achieve boxing day prices like that. The consumer cashback ended on Christmas eve. Most retailers didn't launch their boxing day prices til at least Christmas. Sounds like Jonathan copped the same deal with his 30 day price promise refund. Another loophole. So good.

If I could go back in time I'd pull the trigger without hesitation for exactly the reason you're saying, so much more time I could be enjoying the TV. Really regretting it now, but I suppose I have to be patient.

What are your thoughts on Hollywood Mode? (I realise the details are scant atm)

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2387386 8-Jan-2020 14:19

Kiwifruta: To the OP, are you planning on selling the plasma?

@Kiwifruta: I happen to be selling my 60" plasma; main issue would be transport, I assume!

ShinyChrome

1564 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2387400 8-Jan-2020 14:41

Suckle:

Seriously hey, I was sure it was a loophole. Retailers get a supplier rebate to help them achieve boxing day prices like that. The consumer cashback ended on Christmas eve. Most retailers didn't launch their boxing day prices til at least Christmas. Sounds like Jonathan copped the same deal with his 30 day price promise refund. Another loophole. So good.

If I could go back in time I'd pull the trigger without hesitation for exactly the reason you're saying, so much more time I could be enjoying the TV. Really regretting it now, but I suppose I have to be patient.

What are your thoughts on Hollywood Mode? (I realise the details are scant atm)

You and me both friend; like a benevolent god, I spared my grateful credit card for not mercilessly brutalizing it with that purchase.

I think it is a neat piece of marketing; a way to undo the crappy processing that TV makers force upon the unwary by default. But really if you are comfortable with diving into a few settings menus and switching it all off yourself, it is kinda unnecessary.

In saying that, some are getting good at not being able to switch everything off, so it could be one way to counter that. And it would be nice not to have to immediately begin your new TV purchase by re-configuring the poos out of it. But not enough to pay extra money for it.

Suckle

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2387453 8-Jan-2020 14:59

Thanks ShinyChrome. Appreciate the thoughts and advice. Will keep you posted. The second I see the GZ1000 at $3400 I'm buying that THANG.

1 | 2 | 3