Let’s analyze the advantages and disadvantages of TVs with a matte or glossy finish.
There is one element that is often overlooked when purchasing a television: it is the treatment adopted by the screens. If we exclude low-end products, where the need to save money prevents the adoption of particular functions, there are various solutions that promise to improve viewing quality by reducing reflections on the screen. Most TVs are equipped with glossy screens but there are now also various models available equipped with a treatment opaque.
The latter have long been relegated only to professional monitors, mainly in areas where it is important to avoid annoyances caused by light sources and where at the same time it is necessary to maintain high image fidelity. Today the situation has changed mainly thanks to Samsungwhich first introduced matte coatings on its Frame products and later brought them to its flagship OLED TVs.
Matte and glossy screens: the advantages
What is the difference between a glossy and a matte anti-reflection filter? Recognizing their respective advantages is quite simple: the opaque screens (also called matte) they are much less affected by the presence of lights in the environment, whether natural or artificial. Although reflections are not always completely eliminated, it drastically changes the way light hits the screen. In practice, much less sharp halos are created: the matte treatment is able to disperse light pollution much more effectively.
Samsung The Frame TVs with Matte Display Filter
These features help both when it comes to concentrated light sources (for example, a lamp placed near the TV) and when they are more distributed, as in the case of large windows. The ability to disperse light better makes reflections much less visible, so much so that in some cases they are almost non-existent. There is therefore no doubt that a matte treatment is clearly better for those who make extensive use of the television in well-lit environments.where light sources are not easily controlled.
Moving on to glossy screens, you immediately notice the difference: there are glossy TVs with excellent anti-glare treatments but none match the effectiveness of a matte display. The usefulness of the glossy finish, or glossy if you prefer the English term, it consists ofincrease the contrast perceived by the viewer’s eyeA TV with a glossy finish on the panel can deliver a much more pleasing and convincing image from this point of view.
Matte and glossy screens: the defects
Having clarified the advantages, let’s move on to the disadvantages: TVs with a matte treatment lose something in terms of contrast. The “how much” varies depending on the effectiveness of the filter but even the most advanced solutions, such as the QD-OLED Samsung S95D with Glare Free, must sacrifice something from this point of view compared to glossy products. It is therefore up to the user to understand which solution is best for them.
Sony TV with X-Anti Reflection Glossy Filter
If reducing reflections is not a priority then it is better to aim for a product with a glossy screenalso weighing the other features. Obviously the opposite is true for products with a glossy finish: better perceived contrast that makes the dark parts of the image more convincing. However, when it comes to reflections, you risk having to accept significant limitations, especially on very large models.
Limit reflections on a large diagonal glossy panellet’s think for example of a 75″ or more, it’s really very difficult just because of the sizea seemingly distant light source but at the right angle is enough to cause discomfort and intervening in the environment to eliminate every disturbance can be very complicated if not downright impossible.
Sony TV with X-Anti Reflective Glossy Filter
For those who use the television with abundant and/or poorly controlled light, or in the evening or in the dark, the advice is to look for the best compromise capable of ensuring good results in all situations, accepting some limitations in one sense or another. An example in this sense are the LG OLED G3 or G4, which despite having a glossy panel still manage to contain many of the reflections quite well.
Published on August 18, 2024
