(Image credit: Shutterstock / sdf_qwe)
If you’ve heard anything at all about OLED TVs, it’s probably at least one of two things: their picture quality is incredible, and apparently, they’re not as bright as LCD TVs.While both of these things can be true, it’s worth unpacking that second point. Yes, OLED TVs are, on average, dimmer than LCD-based sets. But many of the best OLED TVs are getting brighter every year, and depending on the model in question (and the viewing environment it resides in), an OLED TV could hold up just fine.With this in mind, let’s get to the bottom of OLED brightness once and for all. These marvelously designed TVs deserve to be understood if you’re shopping for a proper living-room upgrade. Here are three things to remember.1. Affordable, entry-level OLEDs are often the dimmest
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)As mentioned, great strides have been made in the area of OLED brightness in recent years, but due to their reliance on organic material, OLEDs are still dimmer than LCD/LED, relatively speaking. It oughtn’t come as a surprise that, with few exceptions, the more affordable an OLED TV is, the lower its peak brightness.LG’s latest entry-level model — the B6 OLED — is a fantastic avenue for folks who want to lock down OLED-driven performance without spending oodles of cash. The 65-inch LG B6 is $1,699 at Best Buy, which is one of the lowest prices you’ll see on a 2026 OLED TV in this size.But there’s a catch. According to our test results, the B6 tops out at around 800 nits of brightness — and that’s just for small, concentrated highlights that flash on the screen. As an OLED TV, its presentation is still eye-poppingly good in dimly lit and darkened rooms, but in a sun-soaked environment, your eyes probably won’t pop.If you do most of your TV-watching during the day (or in a room that produces a ton of ambient light), you might be better off spending roughly the same amount of money on an LCD/LED TV that specializes in a bright, punchy picture.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.The TCL QM7L is a souped-up, mid-range Mini-LED TV with a ton of horsepower under its hood. We clocked this TV’s peak highlight brightness at around 2,300 nits, but crucially, it’s full-screen brightness is far greater than that of LG’s entry-level OLED.Now, the QM7L isn’t perfect, and the B6 is priced higher for a reason. The QM7L can’t render perfect black levels, nor is it entirely free of haloing when bright objects collide with dark backdrops. There is a visual texture to the B6 (and all OLEDs) that even the best Mini-LED TVs can’t quite replicate.But it’s important to remember that there are many ins and outs when comparing a mid-range LED TV like the QM7L to an entry-level OLED. The same can be said when comparing high-end LED TVs to mid-range and flagship-level OLEDs.2. High-end OLEDs are the brightest
