You inquired: An explanation of quantum dots and the reasons monitors cannot compare to TVs.

      In today’s You Asked: Clarifying misunderstandings about quantum dots, their functions, and the reasons PC monitors may not match TVs in quality.

      Quantum Dot Clarification

      Samsung QN900C QLED 8K Samsung

      Farid inquires: With quantum dot TVs (whether LCD or OLED) and their superior color volume compared to non-quantum dot TVs, should viewers be able to perceive the additional colors that creators intend? How much content utilizing these expanded colors am I missing without a QD-OLED or QD-Mini LED TV? I'm considering upgrading from my 2020 WOLED TV.

      Firstly, it’s important to note that not all OLED TVs incorporate quantum dots, and those that do use them differently than LCD TVs. LCD TVs utilize quantum dots because the LED or mini-LED backlights typically fail to produce pure white light. Without pure white light, the color filter in an LCD TV struggles to create a broad color gamut. Quantum dots harness the pure blue light generated by LEDs to emit red and green light. When you combine the blue LED with the red and green glowing from the quantum dots, you generate a very pure white light that the LCD panel’s color filter can manipulate into millions of colors.

      There are quantum dot OLED TVs where red and green quantum dots work at the pixel level alongside a glowing blue OLED. Here, there's no color filter involved; instead, the blue, red, and green utilize additive color mixing, unlike LCDs, which rely on subtractive methods to achieve wider color ranges. However, it's worth mentioning that WRGB OLEDs also cover a wide color gamut without quantum dots. So, your 2020 OLED TV does have a wide color gamut, and you’re not missing out on anything.

      A considerable amount of content features colors beyond the capabilities of LCD TVs that lack quantum dots. Any HDR content—which is becoming increasingly prevalent—contains colors that non-quantum dot TVs can't reproduce.

      For optimal and enjoyable picture quality, having a quantum dot (QD) LCD TV or an OLED TV is advisable. That said, LCD TVs without quantum dots aren’t necessarily poor; they just don't excel in enhanced color production. With quantum dots becoming more common in budget TVs, it signals that non-quantum dot models may soon be more affordable but will typically not deliver outstanding picture quality. They may offer good quality, but not exceptional.

      Monitor or TV Screen?

      Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

      Gavin asks: I recently acquired a QD-OLED G6 Samsung monitor. I'm curious as to why glossy screens are scarce in monitors and why some TVs perform better as monitors for certain users. For instance, reviews of glossy monitors indicate they don't compare favorably with models like the LG C4/G4.

      Additionally, I want to know why the brightness in monitors is generally limited compared to their TV counterparts. You can have identical panels in both monitors and TVs (with similar cooling systems), but monitors still face brightness limitations.

      Why aren’t glossy screens more common in monitors? Monitors are typically used near windows or brightly lit spaces where glare can present a significant issue. If you sit closely in front of a monitor with ambient light, reflections can be quite prominent unless the screen has an anti-reflection treatment. Furthermore, any reflections on the screen appear brighter since you're viewing them at close range compared to viewing from several feet away.

      This leads to the question of why monitors usually have lower brightness than TVs. A major factor is the power supply; achieving the brightness of a TV in a monitor requires a more robust power supply, which, while feasible, would necessitate a cumbersome external power brick—a common source of complaints among reviewers, and personally, I find it inconvenient as well.

      Additionally, monitors are designed for close-up viewing, so they don't need to be as bright. Zeke and Chris can confirm: a 1,000-nit display viewed from a foot or two away will appear significantly brighter than when viewed from eight feet away.

      Monitors often lack sophisticated picture processors; if present, they are generally less advanced. To get a monitor to match the visual quality of a TV, calibrating the video signal output is necessary, but this is relatively rare, especially outside of professional settings, since such processing can introduce input lag—which isn’t ideal for gaming.

      No Dolby Vision? No Problem?

      Samsung S95D Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

      Gabe writes: Many people point to the absence of DTS audio and Dolby Vision HD format support in QD-OLED Samsung TVs as reasons for not purchasing them, despite the high quality and ratings of these TVs. Is there a workaround for the DTS issue if I connect my Blu-ray player or streaming device to my AVR/soundbar setup, using HDMI passthrough for video to the TV? If so, why does this remain a concern for some? Regarding Dolby Vision, I assume support must be built into the TV and can't be bypassed, correct? Or is