5-Layer Tandem OLED or Gen 4 QD-OLED? How EL Gen 3 Material Improves QD-OLED Monitors
Monitors
Summary
- MPG 272URX QD-OLED features Samsung Display's (SDC) newest QD-OLED panels.
- 5-layer tandem with EL Gen 3 technology improves light efficiency.
- 27” UHD QD-OLED features a 166 PPI density, delivering better image and text quality.
At CES 2025, MSI unveiled our latest QD-OLED monitors, featuring Samsung Display's (SDC) newest QD-OLED panels, known as the 5-layer tandem OLED panel with EL Gen 3. Another brand is called as Gen 4 QD-OLED Panel on their own. Compared to 2024 QD-OLED monitors, light efficiency has improved. Let us introduce the benefits of the 5-layer tandem OLED with EL Gen 3 below.
The Development Process of QD-OLED
Before learning about the 5-layer tandem OLED panel, let’s explore the evolution of QD-OLED.
The Subpixel Gen 1 QD-OLED panel features a diamond-shaped pixel layout, which has raised concerns among users regarding text clarity. This arrangement can affect how text appears, making it less sharp compared to other pixel structures.
The Subpixel Gen 2 and Gen 3 QD-OLED panels introduced changes to the pixel layout to enhance text clarity. While their layouts differ slightly, they remain similar in design. Simply put, these improvements have yielded positive results—text appears sharper and clearer compared to Subpixel Gen 1 QD-OLED.
In addition to subpixel generation improvements, Samsung Display (SDC) has been researching new materials to enhance QD-OLED efficiency and longevity. The Gen 3 Subpixel structure with EL Gen 3 further efficiency.
What Does the 5-Layer Tandem OLED Panel with EL Gen 3 Technology Improve?
The major improvements come from advancements in materials and structure. Compared to EL Gen 2, EL Gen 3 increases light efficiency by up to 30%, further reducing the risk of burn-in.
High PPI Enhances Text Clarity
Thanks to EL Gen 3, the MPG 272URX QD-OLED achieves an impressive 166 PPI, delivering noticeably sharper images and improved text quality compared to 27” QHD monitors. However, increasing PPI on QD-OLED panels is more challenging than it seems. A higher pixel density significantly reduces light transmittance, which has an even greater impact on OLED displays. This is especially crucial in HDR scenarios, where OLED panels must reach high brightness levels—such as 1000 nits—to deliver stunning visuals with high contrast and dynamic lighting.
EL Gen 3 enhances light efficiency by up to 30%, effectively counteracting the impact of high-density pixels on light transmittance. As a result, the panel can achieve higher PPI without compromising brightness and overall display performance.
In the image below, you can clearly see the difference in pixel density between QHD and UHD QD-OLED monitors. The 27” UHD QD-OLED has a significantly higher pixel density (166 PPI) compared to the 27” QHD QD-OLED, which has 109 PPI.
When zooming in on the text, the 27” UHD QD-OLED clearly delivers sharper text quality. The text appears smoother, whereas on a 27” QHD QD-OLED, the text fringing may look slightly jagged. In the past, some productivity users have raised concerns about text clarity on QD-OLED displays. However, with a higher PPI, this situation has now been improved.
Does the Pixel Layout of QD-OLED Change This Time?
As mentioned above, the new panel primarily improves the materials. EL Gen 3 enhances light efficiency. However, the pixel layout remains the same as the Gen 3 QD-OLED. This is why the 5-layer tandem OLED panel with EL Gen 3 technology is not classified as Gen 4 QD-OLED.
Although the pixel layout hasn’t changed, the 5-layer tandem with EL Gen 3 technology still pushes QD-OLED to the next level. The 30% increase in light efficiency enables higher PPI on QD-OLED without compromising HDR performance. This marks a significant achievement.
