- OLED screens depict vivid colours with boosted contrast and flawless blacks.
- As opposed to LCDs and LEDs, OLEDs are relatively very power-efficient.
- With OLED, Motion Blur and ‘ghosting’ is a thing of the past, ensuring you nab your opponent without any visual artifacts or ‘tearing’.
For me, gaming has always been about immersion.
Whether it’s the thrill of exploring vast open worlds, the adrenaline rush of competitive multiplayer, or the emotional depth of a story-driven narrative, the goal is to lose yourself in the experience.
For years, I thought I had achieved the pinnacle of gaming immersion with my high refresh rate 2K/4K IPS monitors. But maybe that’s because there never was a feasible alternative. All of that changed when I experienced an OLED gaming monitor for the first time. Now, there’s no going back.
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology has been around for a while, primarily in high-end TVs and smartphones (the Samsung Galaxy phones were the first to feature OLED displays). But its adoption in gaming monitors has been a literal game-changer (no pun intended).
After spending several months gaming on an OLED screen, I can confidently say that it has redefined my expectations for visual quality, responsiveness, and overall gaming experience.
Here’s why OLED has ruined other gaming displays for me—and why it might do the same for you.
The Perfect Blacks: Immersion Redefined
For starters, one of the most striking features of OLED technology is its ability to produce true blacks. Unlike traditional LCD/LED displays, which rely on backlighting, each pixel in an OLED panel emits its own light.
This means that when a pixel needs to display a black colour, it simply turns off. The result? Perfect, inky blacks that make dark scenes in games look breathtakingly realistic while also minimising power consumption.
Playing horror games like Left 4 Dead 2 or exploring the shadowy corridors of Resident Evil Village on an OLED display is an entirely different experience. The depth and detail in dark areas are unparalleled, and the contrast between light and dark is so pronounced that it feels like you’re peering into another dimension.
Even in brighter games like Genshin Impact or Elden Ring, the enhanced contrast makes every scene pop with vibrancy. If you’re a fan of HDR (High Dynamic Range) gaming, OLED takes it to the next level. The combination of true blacks and bright highlights create a visual experience that’s hard to match.
Pixel-Perfect Motion Clarity
Moving on, another area where OLED shines is motion clarity.
Courtesy of its near-instantaneous pixel response time, OLED displays eliminate the motion blur that plagues many LCD panels.
Whether you’re racing at 200 mph in Forza Horizon 5 or engaging in fast-paced combat in Call of Duty, every movement feels crisp and fluid.
This is especially noticeable in games with high frame rates like Valorant.
The lack of ghosting and smearing makes everything feel more responsive, giving you a competitive edge in fast-paced games.
Vibrant Colours & Wide Viewing Angles
Furthermore, OLED panels are known for their exceptional colour accuracy and wide colour gamut.
Whether you’re exploring the lush landscapes of Red Dead Redemption 2 or the neon-drenched streets of Cyberpunk 2077, the colours on an OLED display are rich, vibrant, and true to life.
What’s more, OLED screens maintain their colour accuracy and contrast even at wide viewing angles.
This is a huge advantage for when you’re gaming on your couch or when you and your friends are locked into multiplayer sessions where everyone might not be sitting directly in front of the screen.
Unlike some LCD panels that suffer from colour shifting or brightness loss when viewed from the sides, OLED displays deliver a consistent experience no matter where you’re sitting, making your crib the automatic go-to spot for late-night gaming seshes.
The Downsides: Burn-In & Pricing
Of course, no technology is perfect, and OLED is no exception.
The most common concern with OLED displays is burn-in, where static images (like Heads-Up Display elements in games) can leave a permanent mark/shade on the screen over time.
While modern OLED panels have made significant strides in mitigating this issue thanks to features like pixel shifting and screen savers, it’s still something to be mindful of, especially if you play games with static elements for extended periods.
Another downside is the price. OLED displays, especially larger ones, tend to be vastly more expensive than their LED counterparts.
Why I’m Never Going Back
After experiencing gaming on an OLED display, it’s hard for me to go back to anything else.
The combination of perfect blacks, vibrant colours, and unmatched motion clarity creates a level of immersion that’s simply unmatched.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a competitive player, OLED elevates every aspect of the gaming experience.
Sure, it’s not without its drawbacks, but the pros far outweigh the cons.
If you’re serious about gaming and want to take your setup to the next level, investing in an OLED display is a no-brainer.
Trust me—once you go OLED, you’ll never look at your old screen the same way again.
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[Wiki Editor]
Ali Rashid Khan is an avid gamer, hardware enthusiast, photographer, and devoted litterateur with a period of experience spanning more than 14 years. Sporting a specialization with regards to the latest tech in flagship phones, gaming laptops, and top-of-the-line PCs, Ali is known for consistently presenting the most detailed objective perspective on all types of gaming products, ranging from the Best Motherboards, CPU Coolers, RAM kits, GPUs, and PSUs amongst numerous other peripherals. When he’s not busy writing, you’ll find Ali meddling with mechanical keyboards, indulging in vehicular racing, or professionally competing worldwide with fellow mind-sport athletes in Scrabble at an international level. Currently speaking, Ali has completed his A-Level GCEs with plans to go into either Allopathic Medicine or Business Studies, or who knows, perhaps a full-time dedicated technological journalist.
Get In Touch: alirashid@tech4gamers.com