What are OLED displays anyway?

OLED displays generate the image to be displayed using organic light-emitting diodes. An OLED (organic light-emitting diode) is a luminous component made from organic semiconductor materials. Unlike inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs), it requires lower current density and luminance and does not need single-crystal materials. This allows it to be produced more cost-effectively using thin-film technology. However, its lifespan and light output are still lower compared to conventional light-emitting diodes.

Use of OLED Displays

OLED technology is used in the production of screens for smartphones, tablet computers, as well as larger televisions and computer monitors. Only AMOLED displays (Active Matrix OLED) are used, as PMOLED displays (Passive Matrix OLED) are limited to smaller screen sizes (under 3 inches) due to their design. Additionally, OLED technology is also used in large-area room lighting. Thanks to their material properties, OLEDs can also be used in the form of flexible screens.

Why do displays reflect at all?

Reflections on displays occur due to the phenomenon of light reflection. A display is made up of various layers, including a glass or plastic surface, a layer with pixel elements, and a backlight. When light hits the surface of the display, some of the light can be reflected and bounce off the surface of the display.

The reflected light can then be perceived by the viewer and lead to reflections. This occurs when the reflected light from the display has a specific angle to the surface that matches the viewer's angle of view. The reflected light can originate from the surroundings (such as light sources, like a ceiling lamp as a point source) as well as from objects in the environment (such as mirrors, reflective table surfaces, window panes, or similar).

Factors that influence reflections

There are several factors that can affect reflections on displays. The surface of the display plays an important role, as smooth surfaces tend to reflect light more strongly than rough surfaces. Additionally, the brightness of the display and the ambient light can influence the intensity of reflections. The brighter the display or the ambient light, the stronger the reflections usually are. Furthermore, the type of display itself can play a role. For example, OLED displays tend to reflect less due to their organic materials compared to LCD displays, which use a backlight. This is because OLED displays do not have a backlight, and the reflected light is less intense.

How can one reduce reflections?

To reduce reflections on displays, there are various approaches. One option is to apply special coatings to the surface of the display that scatter the reflected light, thereby reducing reflections. Samsung introduces a special processing step for selected OLED displays that mattes the surface of the display to scatter or significantly reduce reflections. As explained in the Heise article, since only certain OLED displays are equipped with a matte display, a large number of displays will still have reflective surfaces.

However, the matte finish will not necessarily be found in other monitors and TVs with QD-OLED panels. As the panel manufacturer Samsung Display explained to us, the so-called finish of the display surface—the matte finish—is not done in the panel factory in this case, but is carried out by Samsung Electronics itself. Therefore, monitors from Dell and smart TVs from Sony with QD-OLED panels are likely to retain a glossy surface, at least for the time being..

How can I reduce the glare on my reflective TV?

It seems clear that probably only selected Samsung panels will receive this matte finish. In all likelihood, Samsung will certainly charge a high price for the additional step of matting. Many TV and monitor displays, especially in the mid-range or lower price segment, will continue to have a glossy – often referred to by manufacturers as glossy or ultra-clear – display. Do owners of a glossy display now have to forgo a matte, anti-glare display?

Matte anti-glare films from Neoxum suitable for TV sets, monitors, and screens.

In particular, professional matte anti-glare films from Neoxum, the German certified quality manufacturer from the Allgäu, are excellently suited to significantly reduce annoying and distracting reflections on the TV display, allowing for relaxed movie enjoyment once again. The matte anti-glare films are custom-made depending on the TV manufacturer and model.

Buy matte anti-glare screen protectors online

Through our partner, the company docda, suitable anti-glare films for televisions for many manufacturers and models can be purchased online. If you do not find your manufacturer or model of your television on the site, you can still order a suitable anti-glare display film – at no additional cost – very easily. In the form, select the option "Manufacturer and/or model not found" and submit the inquiry form.

Why doesn't a 55-inch anti-reflective film fit every 55-inch TV?

Many people are not aware that a 55-inch TV is not the same as another 55-inch TV. The following graphic shows, as an example, that a 55-inch diagonal of a TV can be represented in different ways. In the graphic, this is illustrated with 3 variants, which are color-coded (black – green – blue): In the black variant, the height and width are almost identical. In the green variant, the width and height are approximately in a 16:9 ratio. The display shown in black is more of a widescreen format.

How many variants are there now?

To answer the question of how many variants there are for a 55-inch screen—and ultimately for a suitable 55-inch matte anti-reflective screen protector—we need to go back a little to school mathematics. The answer is provided by the good old Pythagorean theorem. The theorem states that in all flat right-angled triangles, the sum of the areas of the squares of the legs is equal to the area of the square of the hypotenuse. If a and b are the lengths of the sides adjacent to the right angle, the legs, and c is the length of the side opposite the right angle, the hypotenuse, then the theorem can be expressed as an equation:

Solving for c, the hypotenuse, one obtains:

This corresponds in our example with the three colored displays to the display diagonals.

Unendlich viele Kombinationen von Displaybreite und Displayhöhe bei einer gegeben Displaydiagonalen

Aus obiger Gleichung wird deutlich, dass es unendlich viele Möglichkeiten gibt, ein und dieselbe Displaydiagonale mittels Variation von Höhe a und Breite b darzustellen.
Aus diesem Grund produzieren wir für jedes Display individuell nach Hersteller und Modell die passgenaue Displayfolie. Es gibt sicherlich identische Displaygrößen für unterschiedliche Hersteller und Modelle, jedoch stellt dies tatsächlich die Ausnahme dar und ist häufig dem Zufall überlassen.
Fazit: Eine 55 Zoll Folie für eine Samsung Fernseher Modell XYZ passt mit an Sicherheit grenzender Wahrscheinlichkeit nicht auf ein 55 Zoll TV-Gerät von LG.