CRT to OLED: The Evolution of the Television

Few events have been as transformative to wider human existence as the first successful public demonstration of a practical electronic television back on September 7, 1927, by a young American inventor named Philo Farnsworth.

Contrary to widely held belief, Farnsworth—who had just turned 21 the month prior—did not invent television by himself but rather used the work of other inventors, some of whom had demonstrated mechanical television sets capable of transmitting still images. Farnsworth’s major contribution was his invention of a video camera tube as an image pickup device. The video camera tube is based on the cathode ray tube (CRT), which was the most commonly used display technology at the time.

The direct descendants of Farnsworth’s CRT-based TV then dominated global markets for the next eight decades after his historic demonstration, only losing popularity in the late 2000s. However, in that time, parallel developments took place that have led to a diversity of TV technologies in the market. Today, you can buy OLED TV sets and other displays that use fundamentally different technologies from Farnsworth’s invention.

Let’s look at five important advancements that have literally shaped how we view video content:

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Displays

If you’re of a certain age, bulky, glass screen CRT displays might still be what you visualize when you think of TVs. CRTs were the foundation of the first practical electronic television sets, and they have had surprising longevity—the last CRT set producer, Videocon, ceased operations only in 2015.

The signature bulk of CRTs was necessary because of how CRTs work: controlled electron beams are rapidly fired from the back of the CRT out to the front, exciting phosphors on the screen and creating images in the process. While some very high-quality CRT displays were made, the bulk needed to produce images was a constant issue. This led to their decline when alternatives like liquid crystal display (LCD) sets eventually caught up in quality.

Despite their limitations, CRT TVs are still in demand for niche purposes like retro gaming. However, available CRT displays are all either secondhand or new old stock (NOS), resulting in a finite supply of this once ubiquitous technology.

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)

Debuting in 1964, LCD technology eventually evolved to offer a viable alternative to CRTs. With the flat form factor, reduced weight, and superior energy efficiency compared to CRT screens, LCDs became a favored choice for smaller digital watch and instrument displays. However, early LCDs were slow and offered poor picture quality, which meant that it would be decades before they were considered viable for TVs.

One major thing that LCD technology had in its favor was its potential for continued development. By the 1990s, there were some impressive color LCDs backlit by cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) in early laptops. Beginning in the 2000s, LCD TVs backlit by CCFLs started to appear in many homes. However, the next innovation would be what ultimately made LCD TVs mainstream.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Backlighting

LED TVs are still based on LCD technology, with the key difference being the use of more efficient LED backlights instead of CCFLs. The introduction of LEDs allowed LCDs to offer deeper blacks, brighter whites, and improved color accuracy. Most importantly, it allowed TVs to offer superior energy efficiency and a phenomenal price-to-performance ratio. For these reasons, the vast majority of consumer TVs on the market feature LED-backlit LCDs.

An exciting development in LED technology is the integration of “quantum dots” or  “QLEDs”. QLED TVs work similarly to other LCDs but employ an additional layer of nanocrystals called quantum dots to enhance color purity and efficiency. An iteration of the technology already exists in laboratories that allow rollable LCDs as seen in OLED technology (more on this below).

Plasma Displays

Like LCD technology, the first plasma display also made its debut in 1964. Instead of firing electrons onto phosphors, the technology works through tiny cells containing electrically charged ionized gases (plasma) which emit ultraviolet light (UV) when stimulated by electrical currents. The UV light then causes phosphors on the screen to glow and produce images.

For a time, plasma displays became a favored technology for high-end TVs beginning in the 1990s. The first commercially available sets were among the first to offer “true blacks,” high contrast, and extremely fast refresh rates that were vastly superior compared to competing CRT TVs.

However, partly because of issues surrounding service life and energy consumption, plasma proved to be a dead-end technology. By the 2010s, alternative technologies outdid plasma in all important categories and the last sets rolled off the production line in 2016, just a year after the last CRTs.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) Technology

In contrast to LED panels, OLED displays do not require a separate backlighting source. Instead, each pixel emits its own light, allowing OLED displays to achieve elusive true blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and unparalleled color accuracy. Most impressively, OLED displays can be made thin and flexible, allowing for innovative form factors such as rollable/foldable and curved screens, as seen in many flagship smartphones.

Surprisingly, OLED displays are a relatively old technology, having first been developed by Kodak way back in 1987 for their digital cameras. However, the world would not even see OLED displays in a mass-produced TV until 2004. Eventually, teething problems involving reliability were worked out and OLEDs are now widely considered the premiere technology for mass-produced modern TV sets.

Reflecting on Television’s Remarkable Technological Progress

The technologies behind TV sets are now more diverse and competitive than ever before. Many consumers are no doubt satisfied with the performance offered by more affordable and ubiquitous LED TVs. However, those who want the finest tech may want to buy OLED TV sets that offer the best performance possible. In any case, the advancements in television technology have provided consumers with an unprecedented selection of options to suit their desires.