If you closely look at the specifications of smartphones or other gadgets that have a display, you will see different names like LCD, OLED, or AMOLED display panels. These terms confuse a lot of people. If you are not sure what are these things and how they differ, you are in the right place.
If you just see the price of smartphones and compare their display type, you can already guess what is better. But you should also know why one kind of display is better than another kind of display. In this article, I will try to explain LCD, OLED, and AMOLED displays in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.
LCD vs OLED vs AMOLED
LCD
LCD or Liquid Crystal Display is the very basic type of display that replaced the old CRT. It is made up of some liquid crystals that are illuminated by a fluorescent backlight.
There are basically two types of LCD display TFT LCD and IPS LCD which we see in smartphones. TFT LCD consumes lots of power. IPS LCD consumes less power than TFT and also provides better viewing angles. THis is the reason most smartphones that use LCD display adopt IPS LCD for less power consumption.
LCD is cheaper, more versatile, and consumes less power. But it lacks per-pixel backlighting. So color reproduction is not as good as it should be.
OLED
The recent iPhone uses an OLED panel. After reading this term, I am sure you will think of knowing this term. OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diode is another kind of display technology that uses organic compounds and pixel-specific lighting.
OLED offers great color reproduction and it is also not as expensive as AMOLED. But it consumes more power than AMOLED.
OLEDs are also of two types: PMOLED and AMOLED. I am sure you may have heard about AMOLED. I will talk about this later.
POLED is a Passive Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. It uses a simple control scheme where each row of the screen will be monitored in a sequential manner. It cannot sustain for larger periods and PMOLED panels can also only support display sizes up to 3-inch. This is the reason it couldn’t become popular.
AMOLED
AMOLED or Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting is also a kind of display technology. As the name suggests, It is a step forward in OLED display technology.
AMOLED is expensive but it is the best. It is also thinner and more flexible. It offers great color reproduction, consumes less power than OLED, and offers faster refresh rates.
| Feature | LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) | OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) | AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Uses liquid crystals to modulate light | Each pixel emits its own light | Each pixel emits its own light, but with an active matrix for better control and power efficiency |
| Contrast Ratio | Lower contrast ratio compared to OLED | High contrast ratio, deeper blacks | Similar to OLED, offering high contrast ratios and deep blacks |
| Black Levels | Generally not as deep as OLED | Achieves true blacks, as pixels can be turned off individually | Similar to OLED, offering true blacks |
| Power Efficiency | Typically consumes more power compared to OLED | Consumes less power when displaying darker content | Similar to OLED, with power-efficient operation |
| Response Time | Generally faster response times compared to OLED | Faster response times, suitable for fast-paced content | Similar to OLED, offering fast response times |
| Color Reproduction | Good color accuracy, but not as vibrant as OLED | Vibrant colors with high saturation | Similar to OLED, offering vibrant and saturated colors |
| Viewing Angles | Generally good, but can suffer from color shifting at extreme angles | Excellent viewing angles with consistent colors | Similar to OLED, offering excellent viewing angles |
| Lifespan | Typically longer lifespan compared to OLED | Each pixel’s lifespan may vary, but overall longevity is improving | Similar to OLED, with ongoing improvements in longevity |
| Screen Flexibility | Not flexible, rigid structure | Flexible and can be manufactured into curved or foldable displays | Similar to OLED, offering flexibility for curved or foldable displays |
| Price | Generally more affordable compared to OLED | Initially more expensive, but prices are decreasing | Initially more expensive, but prices are decreasing with advancements |
Final Words
Now you know about LCD, OLED, and AMOLED. It is clear that LCD is good to use in low-end devices where cost should be low. This is the reason, it is used in budget phones, low-end TVs, and PC monitors. OLED is better where viewing experience is important but cost should also be under control. It is good for HDTVs. AMOLED is good for smartphones, laptops, and tablets where one needs energy efficiency and a great display.
So, now you know what is good and why. I hope this article simply explains what you wanted to know.