TV Blue Light Investigation  

How Much Blue Light Does Your TV Emit?

Why Blue Light Matters

Before we get into the actual results, let's talk about blue light. What is it, how TVs use it, and why it matters.

What Is Blue Light?

When we talk about blue light, we're referring to a range of the visible light spectrum with a wavelength of around 380 to 500 nanometers. Blue light has one of the shortest wavelengths in the visible light spectrum, and because shorter wavelengths carry more energy than longer ones, it's one of the highest-energy colors in the visible spectrum. Red and green have longer wavelengths, and they're less energetic. Below you can see the entire electromagnetic spectrum, with the range of visible light shown beneath it. It spans from high-energy gamma rays to low-energy AM radio signals, and the visible-light spectrum is only a small portion of it. Although blue light doesn't have as much energy as more harmful forms we can't see, like X-rays, it still has more energy than most other colors.

Is Blue Light Harmful?

While exposure to blue light is necessary to control our body's internal clock, many studies have sought to determine whether exposure to blue light from screens has negative effects. The amount of blue light from your TV is minimal compared to the sun's, and studies are split on just how much damage it causes to the eye, or even whether there's any damage at all.

There are two main ways blue light might impact our health, and the effects depend on the specific wavelength of light. Higher energy blue light with a wavelength between 415 and 455nm has been shown to be the most likely to cause eye damage. Blue light within that range can pass directly through the cornea and lens to the retina, which can cause short-term issues such as dry eyes and general discomfort. Some studies have shown^{(1, 2)} that long-term exposure to such light might cause greater issues like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. Scientists aren't universally agreed on the potential harmful effects of blue light, though^(1,2).

While there's still debate about the effect of blue light on the eye, there's more of a consensus on how blue light affects your sleep. Studies have shown^{(1, 2, 3)} that blue light in the 460-480nm range can cause our circadian melatonin rhythm to reset, suppressing the body's release of melatonin, which can disrupt the body's internal sleep schedule. According to the Sleep Foundation, constant exposure to blue light at bedtime can lead to many negative health impacts, including metabolic disorders and various mental health disorders, including depression. Most portable electronic devices have a night mode, which reduces the amount of blue light they produce so you can safely use them before bed without affecting your sleep cycle.

Do TV Screens Emit Blue Light?

Now that we've explained what blue light is and why certain wavelengths may be harmful, what does this have to do with your TV? Well, let's talk about how most TVs make light. Although most TVs use red, green, and blue subpixels to produce the image you see on the screen, the part of the TV that emits light doesn't actually make each of those colors directly. The vast majority of wide color gamut LED TVs on the market only create blue light in their backlight. Most of the time, this is a good thing, as high-energy blue light is optimal for conversion to other colors through the use of color filters or quantum dot color converters.

Some TVs, especially lower-end models, use white LEDs instead, which they simply pass through red, green, and blue color filters to produce the required colors. Although the LEDs' light appears white, the base LED is still blue, and it's a phosphor that converts some of the blue light to other colors to create white light. Not all of the blue light is converted, though, and there is usually a very strong blue light emission peak, which we can see in their spectral power distribution graphs (SPD).

OLED TVs are a bit different, and they fall into two main types: WOLED and QD-OLED. WOLED models use a stack of light-emitting OLED materials that produce white light, which then passes through color filters to produce the red, green, and blue colors used for each sub-pixel. QD-OLEDs are a bit different, though, as with LED technology above, they produce blue light at the source and then pass that light through red and green quantum dots to create those color channels. Regardless of their internal structures, as shown in the example SPDs above, both OLED technologies exhibit a strong blue spectral peak.

The end result is that no matter how a TV actually creates light, whether it's blue or white, it still produces blue light. The blue light produced by TVs plays an important role in your TV's color accuracy, so manufacturers can't simply eliminate it. It's also not easy to simply adjust the blue light output to a more optimal wavelength, and this hasn't really been a focus for most TV manufacturers in recent years.

TV Blue Light Investigation

The goal of this investigation is to determine just how much blue light TVs produce, and how much of that falls in the harmful range. We'll compare and contrast OLED and LED technology, but we're not looking to compare individual models. Since blue light is just one component of how a TV produces colors, we're not looking at this in terms of colorimetry, either.

Test Setup

To understand how much blue light a TV produces, we're using a chart called the spectral power distribution. This chart shows the radiance, or intensity, of each wavelength of light emitted by a TV while displaying a white slide after calibrating it to 100 nits. We measure the radiance from the TV using a Colorimetry Research CR-250. This tool measures the power of light radiated by the TV from 380-780nm in increments of 2nm. When we plot this information into a chart, we get the SPD chart shown above. Normally, this chart is used to examine factors like color separation and the width of each peak, as narrower peaks usually result in better colors. For this article, though, we'll be taking a slightly different approach to the SPD.

Instead of our usual SPD chart, we're processing the data differently to focus it on the areas we care about for this study. We start by focusing on the area of the chart between 400-500nm, which is highlighted in blue under the curve. From there, we break the data down into two sections. The first column, highlighted in beige, shows the 415-455nm range of blue light that can be harmful to your eyes. The second column, highlighted in purple, shows the 460-480nm range of light that affects your circadian rhythm.

Using data analysis software, we calculate the wavelength of the peak of the blue spike (dotted red line) and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) for the blue spike (dotted green line). The FWHM is a useful analysis tool that tells us how precise the blue peak is. Finally, we calculate the total area under the curve for the 400-500nm range to tell us how much blue is there, and then determine how much of that blue light falls within each of our two target zones.

Below are the results for the 83 TVs we've tested on our 2.0.1 and 2.1 test methodologies. We've separated them by LED and OLED models, as there's a significant difference in how these two display technologies perform.

LED TV Results

Looking at the data from the 64 TVs with LED backlights, we can see a few interesting trends. With an average of 64% of blue light falling within the "harmful" zone, it's clear that LED TVs emit a lot of light within the harmful range. There's a lot of variation, though, as the amount of harmful blue light ranges between 48% and 75%. The impact on circadian rhythm seems minor, averaging only 17%.

Looking at the exact wavelength used for the blue peak, there are no real surprises there. Most TVs emit blue light centered at around 446-448nm, which is within the fairly wide optimal excitation range for quantum dots. The FWHM is also very consistent, with the vast majority of TVs producing a clearly defined spectral peak with FWHM of about 16nm.

You can see the full data below:

Product	Spectral Power Distribution	Blue Peak Wavelength (nm)	Full Width At Half Maximum (nm)	Harmful Range (415-455nm) (%)	Circadian System Range (460-480nm) (%)	Total Blue Output Power (W/sr/m²)
Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series		446	16.4	69.3	14.03	0.090079
Hisense 100U8QG		446	15.5	68.67	14.01	0.091164
Hisense 75U8N		448	15.7	66.16	16.57	0.116408
Hisense 98QD5QG		446	16.2	67.14	15.08	0.093869
Hisense A7N		444	16.2	73.23	11.88	0.10262
Hisense CanvasTV 2024		444	16.2	71.33	12.76	0.104838
Hisense QD6QF		448	16.8	65.71	15.81	0.100591
Hisense QD7N		448	17.7	64.78	16.57	0.095974
Hisense QD7QF		448	17	65.95	15.61	0.095143
Hisense U65QF		448	16.4	63.58	17.12	0.111601
Hisense U6N		446	17.6	69.99	13.55	0.105401
Hisense U75QG		452	16.7	49.79	23.46	0.097879
Hisense U7N		446	16.8	66.2	15.38	0.097727
Hisense U8N		448	16.1	64.33	17.42	0.105386
Hisense U8QG		446	15.7	70.78	13.93	0.086574
Hisense U9N		448	16.3	64.88	16.94	0.095286
LG QNED85A		448	16.5	57.04	20.35	0.080865
LG QNED90T		446	16.8	65.27	16.52	0.087129
LG QNED92A		450	17.5	55.56	22.62	0.083207
LG UA77		444	17	71.76	11.84	0.114634
LG UT75		446	18	65.72	15.06	0.099116
Panasonic W70B		448	16	65.33	15.09	0.1073
Panasonic W95A		448	15.1	61.54	19.17	0.095677
Roku Pro Series 2025		450	15.5	58.56	20.63	0.132599
Roku Select Series 2023		448	17.4	65.15	15.21	0.093432
Samsung 100QN80F		450	16.2	50.34	24.75	0.103042
Samsung DU7200		448	16.7	61.84	16.51	0.10085
Samsung DU8000		446	17.5	68.96	14.2	0.11226
Samsung Q60D		448	16.1	58.21	20.76	0.090373
Samsung Q70D		450	18	57.1	21.31	0.103055
Samsung Q7F 2025		448	16.2	64.45	17.12	0.099692
Samsung Q80D		452	15.6	50.24	24.21	0.094049
Samsung Q8F 2025		450	15.9	56.59	21.65	0.087377
Samsung QN80F		450	17.8	48.74	25.95	0.105944
Samsung QN85D		448	15	60.74	19.78	0.084763
Samsung QN900D 8K		448	16	58.59	20.55	0.100956
Samsung QN900F 8K		450	16.2	54.18	23.07	0.099368
Samsung QN90D		444	14.4	73.4	12	0.100769
Samsung QN90F		444	13.8	72.02	13.22	0.103739
Samsung QN95D		446	14.9	66.04	16.49	0.101526
Samsung QN990F 8K		450	16.3	54.59	23.33	0.145109
Samsung The Frame 2024		450	16.9	55.01	22.11	0.098909
Samsung The Frame Pro 2025		448	16.4	62.33	18.71	0.09621
Samsung U8000F		446	15.5	70.64	12.92	0.136798
Sharp AQUOS XLED FV1		448	14.4	63.69	17.71	0.107264
Sony BRAVIA 2 II		448	15.5	62.07	15.51	0.097303
Sony BRAVIA 3		448	17	61.28	18.31	0.132458
Sony BRAVIA 5		444	16.8	74.88	11.33	0.093959
Sony BRAVIA 5 98		444	14.8	75.24	10.97	0.082608
Sony BRAVIA 7		444	15.3	72.84	12.17	0.085514
Sony BRAVIA 9		446	15.3	66.05	16.9	0.105267
Sony X90L/X90CL		446	16.7	69.81	13.46	0.090833
TCL 98QM8K		448	15	64.4	17.66	0.099332
TCL NXTVISION		448	15.9	62.37	17.76	0.111755
TCL Q651G		448	15.7	60.37	18.76	0.100719
TCL Q77K		446	16.7	66.79	15.5	0.11853
TCL QM5K		448	16.9	63.44	17.11	0.102917
TCL QM6K		446	16.6	70.29	13.51	0.112902
TCL QM751G		446	15.4	71.89	13.4	0.09884
TCL QM7K		448	15.7	61.86	19.15	0.112384
TCL QM851G		446	15.2	69.11	15.26	0.091724
TCL QM8K		448	15	63.85	18	0.089981
TCL QM9K		446	14.5	68.73	15.43	0.111901
TCL S551G		448	15.2	62.71	17.62	0.105201

OLED TV Results

Based on the data collected, OLEDs appear to produce significantly less harmful blue light than LED TVs. The blue light emissions from all OLEDs are slightly longer-wavelength, which places them slightly outside the harmful zone. Since they have a broader spectral peak, they still emit some harmful light, though some models perform slightly worse than others. On the other hand, OLEDs emit more light within the circadian system range, which may make them slightly worse for watching TV before bed.

You can see the full data below:

Product	Spectral Power Distribution	Type	Blue Peak Wavelength (nm)	Full Width At Half Maximum (nm)	Harmful Range (415-455nm) (%)	Circadian System Range (460-480nm) (%)	Total Blue Output Power (W/sr/m²)
LG B4 OLED		WOLED	456	22.1	31.32	34.45	0.094838
LG B5 OLED		WOLED	456	22.3	30.48	35.06	0.101696
LG C4 OLED		WOLED	456	21.9	29.56	35.76	0.107456
LG C5 OLED		WOLED	456	22.3	30.8	34.68	0.092195
LG G4 OLED		WOLED	454	24.1	29.92	34.49	0.123643
LG G5 OLED		WOLED	452	21.2	44.43	27.26	0.122751
Panasonic Z85A OLED		WOLED	454	21.8	32.54	33.23	0.102905
Panasonic Z95A OLED		WOLED	454	24.3	31.03	33.54	0.132481
Panasonic Z95B OLED		WOLED	452	21.3	42.69	28.38	0.106664
Philips 974 Series OLED		WOLED	454	22.2	32.74	34.04	0.122866
Samsung S85D OLED		QD-OLED	454	22	33.1	33.35	0.069944
Samsung S85F OLED		QD-OLED	452	21	39.39	30.72	0.096546
Samsung S90D OLED		QD-OLED	452	20.9	39.15	30.72	0.102461
Samsung S90F OLED		QD-OLED	452	21	38.95	30.43	0.105934
Samsung S95D OLED		QD-OLED	452	21	39.51	30.6	0.131087
Samsung S95F OLED		QD-OLED	456	20.6	30.65	38.23	0.130799
Sony A95L OLED		QD-OLED	452	21.2	39.11	30.9	0.120001
Sony BRAVIA 8 II OLED		QD-OLED	456	20.3	30.6	38.19	0.108204
Sony BRAVIA 8 OLED		WOLED	456	22	29.84	35.57	0.098413

Conclusion

Whether we like it or not, blue light is a necessary component of any TV backlight, and we can't eliminate it completely. Different TVs produce different amounts of blue light, though, and not all of it falls within the range that might be harmful to your eyes. LED TVs emit the most blue light within the harmful range, but they also emit the least amount of light in the circadian rhythm range. OLEDs, on the other hand, emit significantly less blue light in the harmful range, but they might have a greater impact on sleep cycles. If you're shopping for a new bedroom TV, it seems like LED TVs might be the best choice, but OLED is the safer choice for extended, general-use viewing.

Additional Information

Color Accuracy

Pure blue is defined by the ITU-R by its chromaticity coordinates in the CIE 1931 x'y' color space. This coordinate corresponds to a wavelength of 467nm. This is both good and bad news if you care about blue light and its impacts. To achieve full BT.2020, this means you need a laser-sharp peak centered at 467nm, which is well above the most harmful blue light zone. The problem is that the materials used by the vast majority of TV panel manufacturers can't deliver the combination of brightness, wavelength, and, more importantly, lifespan that modern consumers need from their TVs.

This is starting to change, though. New research in material sciences has found ways to improve the wavelength of blue emitters, and some of this is starting to trickle down to consumer electronics. At CES 2026, the Hisense 116UXS was shown off for the first time. This innovative TV adds a cyan subpixel, shifting the wavelength of blue light emitted by the TV much closer to the ideal 467nm. Hisense hasn't shared any measurements or spectral data, but one of Hisense' stated goals with this product is to reduce the amount of harmful blue light emitted by the TV. They might be on to something with this approach, and it may actually work to reduce harmful blue light without negatively impacting color accuracy.

Reducing Blue Light On Your TV

So now that we've shown that all TVs emit some harmful blue light, what can you actually do about it? Almost all TVs on the market offer a "Night Mode" or "Reduce Blue Light" setting. These features are designed to reduce the amount of blue light emitted by the TV. This comes at a cost, though, as this forces the TV into a warmer color temperature, so you'll see a less accurate image. We looked into these blue light filters on monitors and found them to be very effective at reducing blue light emitted from displays, and we expect this feature on TVs to be just as effective.