First OLED monitor falls below 400 euros
PC monitors with colorful OLED screens are entering the mid-range. Prices have fallen significantly since 2023.
(Image: AOC)
The competition between monitor and panel manufacturers benefits buyers. While OLED monitors were still a luxury item costing 1000 euros or more in 2023, many models are now available for under 500 euros. A single model no longer even costs 400 euros.
However, interested parties have to accept compromises with the cheapest variants. These are mainly 27-inch models with WQHD resolution (2560 Ă— 1440 pixels), a still suboptimal subpixel arrangement, and often without a height-adjustable stand.
Monitors with organic Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes (QD-OLED) from Samsung are particularly colorful, but due to the triangular arrangement of red, green, and blue subpixels, they show color fringing on all high-contrast edges. For example, white text has red undersides. Some notice this immediately, while others don't notice it at all. Samsung is changing the arrangement with the upcoming generation, but high prices are to be expected initially.
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WOLED more expensive than QD-OLED
Meanwhile, previous QD-OLED models are on average cheaper than variants with LG's WOLED panels. The former start below 400 euros, (starting from 369,90 €) with numerous models up to 500 euros. WOLED monitors start at just under 500 euros. At least: The cheapest model (starting from 489 €) already uses a newer panel with an RGWB subpixel layout (red, green, white, blue), which displays text clearly. The white subpixel gives WOLED its name.
Initial monitors with so-called Tandem-OLED panels from LG were temporarily available for under 500 euros, but are currently above this mark (starting from 521,64 €) again. Such WQHD displays use triple-stacked panels for the different colors instead of coating a single layer. This increases brightness; LG specifies up to 1500 cd/m² at peak instead of 1300.
Those who want OLED with 4K resolution (3840 Ă— 2160 pixels) will pay around 200 euros extra. QD-OLED models start below 600 euros, WOLED variants at just under 800 euros. Be careful with monitors from LG itself: they use a fan that can be unpleasantly noticeable in everyday use.
(mma)
