Measurement data summarised from independent testers. TV performance varies by panel lottery and calibration. We may earn commissions from retailer links. Data verified April 2026.
Brightness Data
OLED vs QLED Brightness: The Real 2026 Nits Data
When manufacturers say "4,000 nits peak," they mean 10% of the screen for two seconds. Here is what every 2026 flagship TV actually outputs on real content -- peak, sustained, and full-field.
The Number You Need to Understand First
TV brightness is measured in multiple scenarios. The headline "peak nits" figure is almost always the 10% window peak -- the brightness of a small patch covering 10% of the screen area, measured in a short burst. This figure matters for HDR specular highlights. The 100% full-field figure -- what the TV outputs when the whole screen is white -- is far lower due to automatic brightness limiting (ABL) that protects power consumption and panel temperature. For judging real-world viewing, the full-field figure is more honest.
2026 Flagship Measured Brightness Table
All values in nits (cd/m2). Measured by Rtings-style independent testing methodology. Last verified April 2026.
Model
Panel
Peak 10%
Peak 25%
100% Field
SDR
65" Price
TCL QM8K
Mini-LED
3,800-4,200
2,200-2,800
700-900
500-600
$999
Hisense U8K
Mini-LED
3,500-4,000
2,000-2,500
650-850
480-580
$799
Samsung QN90D
Mini-LED
2,800-3,200
1,800-2,200
800-1,000
600-700
$1,799
Samsung S95D
QD-OLED
1,800-2,100
1,200-1,500
300-420
200-260
$2,699
Sony A95L
QD-OLED
1,700-2,000
1,100-1,400
280-390
190-250
$3,299
LG G5
WOLED
1,300-1,500
950-1,100
220-300
170-220
$2,499
LG C5
WOLED
1,100-1,300
780-950
200-280
160-210
$1,499
Sony A80L
WOLED
1,000-1,200
720-880
190-260
155-200
$1,999
Samsung S90D
Mixed
1,500-1,800
1,000-1,300
250-360
180-240
$1,499
Samsung BRAVIA 9
Mini-LED
2,400-2,800
1,600-2,000
700-900
520-620
$2,499
All values nits (cd/m2). Source: Rtings.com measurement methodology. All figures are measured ranges across tested samples, not manufacturer claims.
What the Brightness Differences Mean for You
Dark room, evening moviesNeed: 200-400 nits full-field
Best: Any OLED -- blacks matter more than brightness in the dark
Best: QD-OLED (S95D) is the best compromise: OLED blacks plus higher brightness
Bright room, afternoon sun reaching screenNeed: 1,500+ nits sustained
Best: Mini-LED QLED (TCL QM8K, Samsung QN90D) -- only option that fights ambient light effectively
Very bright room, conservatory, sports barNeed: 2,000+ nits
Best: TCL QM8K or Hisense U8K Mini-LED -- the only TVs with sufficient headroom
HDR Format Support Matrix 2026
Model
Dolby Vision
HDR10+
HDR10
HLG
LG C5 / G5
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Samsung S95D / QN90D
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sony A95L / A80L
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
TCL QM8K
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hisense U8K
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Note: Samsung deliberately excludes Dolby Vision in favour of their own HDR10+ format. Most Netflix and Apple TV+ content is mastered in Dolby Vision, which Samsung panels tone-map from the HDR10 fallback layer. The visual difference is modest but measurable in side-by-side tests.
What does '4,000 nits' actually mean on a TV box?+
The peak brightness number on TV boxes refers to the maximum brightness in a small 10% window area of the screen for a brief period. A TV claiming 4,000 nits does not output 4,000 nits across the whole screen -- in fact, full-field sustained brightness on that same TV might be 700-900 nits. The 10% window figure matters for HDR specular highlights (the glint of sunlight on water, the burst of a fireworks explosion) where a small portion of the screen needs to be very bright. For judging how bright the TV looks in a bright room, the 100% full-field sustained figure is more representative.
How bright is OLED compared to QLED?+
In Rtings-style measured testing: WOLED (LG C5) peaks at 1,100-1,300 nits in a 10% window. QD-OLED (Samsung S95D) peaks at 1,800-2,100 nits in the same test. Mini-LED QLED (TCL QM8K) peaks at 3,800-4,200 nits. However, full-field sustained brightness is WOLED: 200-280 nits, QD-OLED: 300-420 nits, Mini-LED: 700-900 nits. The gap narrows substantially from peak to sustained because all panels use automatic brightness limiting to manage heat and power consumption.
What is the brightest TV you can buy in 2026?+
By peak 10% window brightness, the Hisense U8K and TCL QM8K compete for the top spot at approximately 3,800-4,500 nits measured. The Samsung QN90D measures around 2,800-3,200 nits at 10%. For OLED panels, the Samsung S95D QD-OLED is the brightest at 1,800-2,100 nits, followed by the LG G5 WOLED at 1,300-1,500 nits. Note that in real-scene viewing conditions, the full-field differences are what matter most.
Does brightness matter in a dark room?+
Less than you might think. In a properly dark room, your eyes adapt to the ambient light level. The perceived contrast comes primarily from the ratio between bright and dark areas -- which is where OLED's advantage lies with its infinite contrast ratio. A 1,000-nit OLED in a dark room looks more impressive than a 3,000-nit Mini-LED because the OLED's blacks are truly black while the Mini-LED has residual light in dark areas from backlight bleed. Brightness matters most for fighting ambient room light in daytime viewing.
Data verified April 2026. All nits figures from Rtings-style measurement protocols. Not manufacturer specifications.