It is easy to see that phones with AMOLED screens are more expensive than IPS counterparts. What is the reason for the higher cost? Is it possible to immediately distinguish a display created using AMOLED technology from other types of screens? Why are such LCD panels rarely found outside of South Korean Samsung products? The answers to all these questions are in this article.
AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode. This means that this matrix is based on organic light emitting diodes, while it is active. Each pixel here glows on its own, as a result of which a separate backlit layer is not required - this reduces the thickness of the panel and also reduces power consumption.
Almost any AMOLED screen has the following structure:
- Upper layer - cathode;
- Below is the organic LED layer- there is no air gap;
- More below is thin film transistor array dealing with diode control;
- Followed by anode layer;
- It all lies on a substrate made of silicone, metal or some other material.
The structure of the AMOLED screen
The order in which the LED sub-pixels are arranged in AMOLED displays may vary. Samsung has been using PenTile for a long time - a checkerboard pattern (in the middle - blue, on the sides - two green ones, behind them - two red ones). It is this position of the subpixels that has the most positive effect on power consumption.
PenTile - subpixel order used by Samsung
AMOLED or Super AMOLED: which is better?
Samsung smartphones use Super AMOLED screens. What are the main differences between these displays? Initially, the prefix "Super" meant the absence of an air gap - it was the South Korean company that managed to get rid of it in 2010. But now ordinary AMOLED screens made by other companies can also boast of this. Consequently, Super AMOLED is now a marketing "chip" of the South Korean manufacturer. That is, between AMOLED and Super AMOLED, you can put an "equal" sign.
It should be noted that it is Samsung that produces the largest number of AMOLED panels. South Koreans have already learned how to bend their creations in every possible way (it is much easier to do this without a separate backlit layer). Rest assured, all smartphones with an AMOLED display, the edges of which are curved, are made using South Korean matrices. Apple is going to open its own plant for the production of organic LED screens, but this will not happen until 2020.
The main advantages of AMOLED panels
The physical properties of matrices consisting of organic light emitting diodes are such that the screen can have tiny thickness. In particular, this is especially important for smartwatches and fitness bracelets, the physical dimensions of which should not be large.
But the most important plus of any OLED screen (including its AMOLED variations) is low power consumption. Each pixel of such a display glows independently. It turns out that the greatest energy consumption will be at the moment when the entire screen displays an even white color. And if some areas should display dark colors, then they glow noticeably dimmer, and therefore battery consumption is reduced.
The darker the picture displayed on the display, the less energy is consumed.
High contrast- Another undoubted advantage of such screens. This is explained by the same ability of pixels to glow independently. For example, under the IPS-panel is hidden a substrate of LEDs, which also illuminate black colors. Here, that doesn't happen.
Differences in terms of contrast are immediately noticeable
It is also precisely due to this that the picture on the AMOLED screen Visible even in bright sunlight. IPS technology allows you to see something on the display on a clear day only by unscrewing the brightness of the backlight, which leads to a sharp increase in power consumption.
Phones with AMOLED display
As mentioned above, with organic LEDs on "you" only Samsung. But this does not mean that this manufacturer does not sell its screens to someone else. In particular, the 6-inch AMOLED panel is part of the popular smartphone OnePlus 5T. The resolution of this screen is 2160 x 1080 pixels, and the width of the side frames is minimized.
The screen created on the basis of organic light-emitting diodes possesses and Meizu Pro 7. This device is much more compact - the diagonal of the display installed here is only 5.2 inches, and the resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels. A distinctive feature of the device is the presence of a second screen located on the rear panel, directly below the dual camera. When it was created, AMOLED technology was also used.
As for South Korean smartphones, it makes no sense to single out specific models. For quite some time now, even relatively inexpensive devices manufactured by Samsung have received an AMOLED display. The only exceptions are extra-budget models that are sold for 4000-5000 rubles.
Conclusion
AMOLED screens are the future, that's for sure. Such displays do not have serious drawbacks, giving an image with the best color reproduction and maximum viewing angles, while consuming a very small amount of electricity. The only problem is the higher cost of such panels. It leads to a far from the record percentage of yield of suitable products. You can also mention not the highest production rates - alas, it is extremely difficult for Samsung alone to satisfy the requirements of the smartphone market.
Do you want to know what the "wow effect" is? Pick up at least one Samsung smartphone with an AMOLED display! And, if this is the most "WOW!" you will not break out, consider that the guys from Samsung did not work out their fees. So bright, so colorful, so attractive! Hands are reaching out to scroll sites, flip through the gallery, climb in applications and settings.
Is almost Samsung's branded display so good and what about IPS screens? They, of course, do not lead to wild delight at first glance, but the technology will be somewhat better than AMOLED.
Yes, familiarity with the latest Samsung gadgets is infuriating. And if you haven’t turned into a zombie yet, and haven’t gone to the cashier to lay out hard-earned money for a bright and contrasting image of a bunch of balloons on the mainscreen, all is not lost and there is something to talk about with you.
In fact, the selling brightness and contrast of AMOLED displays is not so perfect: a beautiful wrapper hides a couple of significant annoyances.
What is AMOLED? AMOLED -Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode, i.e. active matrix organic light emitting diodes. Light emitters in AMOLED displays are organic light emitting diodes, which are controlled by an active matrix of thin-film transistors (TFT).
Why AMOLED?
Firstly, AMOLEDs are incredibly contrasting screens, which IPS cannot boast of.
Secondly, thanks to the image transmission technology different from IPS, the AMOLED display can show a completely black color. Why?
IPS screens are illuminated, as a rule, from all sides, and the pixels in AMOLED glow on their own, so the manufacturer was able to perfect the transmission of black in them: when displaying a picture on such screens, pixels that transmit black color will not glow. In IPS screens, the entire picture is always highlighted, so it is impossible to achieve deep black transmission on them. The contrast of AMOLED displays thus becomes almost infinite.
The third advantage follows from the second, albeit a very controversial one: AMOLEDs, due to the selective backlighting of pixels, also claim selective efficiency in energy consumption. In other words: on dark scenes, the AMOLED screen wastes nothing! But, on the other hand, when it comes to displaying a bright picture, the cost-effectiveness of AMOLED technology can be called into question.
Fourth plus (-ik): AMOLED displays have a shorter touch response time than IPS displays. Those. Change of pictures on the screen should happen at lightning speed. In truth, AMOLEDs do work faster in this regard, but the speed difference is hardly perceptible.
By the way, in the Samsung Galaxy S4 the notorious reaction speed even became a problem: when you change the image (even with a banal transition from menu to menu), “loops” from the previous picture stretch across the screen. The manufacturer prefers not to answer questions about what to do with it and how to live further. Looks like it's all about the new Super AMOLED technology. Not that it would interfere very much, but it would be wrong to remain silent.
Fifth advantage: AMOLED is thinner, respectively, devices with such a display are lighter. The difference in the thickness of AMOLED and IPS is explained by the same backlight technology: the pixels in IPS still need to be backlit, and the backlight needs space in the case.
But, in fact, we are talking about a maximum of a hundred grams, therefore, if you don’t have a fad for the ultra-thinness of the gadget, you shouldn’t consider the fifth point as a significant advantage either.
The rich color gamut of AMOLED screens can be appreciated at least in the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy S4, as well as in the Galaxy Nexus.
What is IPS? IPS is a type of LCD monitor matrix, whose name stands for In-Plane Switching. The technology is named so because of the way the crystals are placed in the panel. IPS is distinguished by the fact that the crystals are located in the same plane parallel to the surface of the panel. This made it possible to obtain maximum viewing angles (up to 178 degrees).
Why IPS?
Firstly, despite the contrast of AMOLED, IPS screens convey colors much more accurately. If on AMOLED they can be unscrewed to completely unnatural shades, then IPS will give bright colors only when the real picture suggests it.
You can also set natural colors on AMOLED, but not without difficulty and special access to software settings. But if there are software settings for AMOLED, the matrix can compete with any modern technology. Well, almost anyone.
Secondly, IPS screens give perfect white, which cannot be achieved on AMOLED. This is not a trifle, as it may seem. Take at least the sad stories about the transfer of blue, yellow and pink shades of white by “amoleds”.
On the one hand, a custom software setting can put everything in its place, but it still won’t give you a good white AMOLED: if the color reproduction can still be adjusted, then whitening the device’s display will cost you a lot of effort.
Big plus number three: maintaining color reproduction in IPS is possible even with a sharp viewing angle. Colors on high-quality IPS almost do not degrade, no matter how you look at the screen.
Whoever says that all this is nitpicking, try to get together with a company of at least three people to watch a movie or photographs: the picture will be visible to the person sitting in the center without distortion, but the colors to the right and left of him will give off yellow and blue, respectively.
IPS practically does not give angular distortion, and AMOLED, alas, does not indulge in such characteristics. Recall at least Sony Xperia Z, the screen of which spoiled the impressions of a, in principle, good device: a faded screen with low contrast and meager viewing angles.
AMOLEDs often sin by giving a natural color shift to the cold side. The non-standard layout of subpixels, moreover, leads to the departure of the image in different colors: depending on the angle at which you look at the screen, the picture may turn red or green.
Recall that most often one pixel is formed by three subpixels: red, green and blue (the so-called RGB layout).
AMOLED works on a different principle. These screens use a method of constructing an image in which the sub-pixels are aligned in a special way. For clarity, see the picture below. According to the standard, a pixel is formed by three RGB subpixels, and in AMOLED displays, subpixels can be arranged as RG-BG, and not as RGB-RGB in the conventional version. This technology is called PenTile.
The photo below shows the standard RGB layout and the previous generation PenTile.
Subpixels of different colors can glow with different strengths, so the picture looks less detailed and clear on AMOLED (these flaws most often appear along the contours of the depicted objects).
There is no such looseness in IPS displays, respectively, IPS give better sharpness and detail. In fact, to notice the pixelation of the picture, you do not need to have superpowers. Unlike IPS, the structure of the AMOLED matrix can be noticed, say, by any short-sighted user who decides to read a detective before going to bed. This is the fourth plus.
Again, because AMOLED highlights each individual subpixel, there is a possibility of burnout of these organic LEDs (example in the photo, see below). The warranty period of such a screen is at least 6 years, but even after a year of using the device, a change in brightness and color reproduction can still be noticed.
IPS screens give a much higher maximum brightness. Hence: the readability of any image, respectively, becomes better. AMOLED screens with direct sunlight begin to "go out": the brightness of such a screen is not enough to highlight the picture in the sun.
In this article, I will not go into the technical details of creating IPS and AMOLED matrices, they are not so interesting in this case. Much more important is what an ordinary consumer gets by choosing one or another matrix. Therefore, in the material I will talk about the practical advantages and disadvantages of these two types of matrices.
Benefits of IPS
IPS panels are an evolutionary development of TFT displays, but with a number of specific advantages. Firstly, they have much better color reproduction, the picture on IPS is much brighter and juicier. Secondly, they have much higher viewing angles, the picture does not fade when deviated. The overall brightness level of IPS-matrices also exceeds conventional TN-displays. The last advantage is the natural white color, which is quite problematic to achieve on the same AMOLED.
Advantages of AMOLED
AMOLED matrices are produced by Samsung and were originally used only by it, but later other manufacturers also gained access to such displays.
The first advantage of AMOLED matrices is natural black color, and on both IPS and TN matrices, black color is more like gray, especially at maximum brightness. In the case of AMOLED, you get perfect blacks, and the added bonus is reduced power consumption when displaying it.
The second plus is the high contrast of the picture. Many users love AMOLED displays for their bright and vibrant colors. Any picture looks great on such screens.
The third advantage is a high level of maximum brightness. In a direct comparison on a bright sunny day, the AMOLED matrix will outperform IPS.
The fourth advantage is low power consumption. Smartphones equipped with IPS screens will be discharged with an active screen much faster than analogs with AMOLED
Disadvantages of IPS
Perhaps the only drawback of IPS-matrices is their imperfect display of black. Otherwise, these are excellent displays with natural color reproduction, maximum viewing angles and a good level of brightness.
Disadvantages of AMOLED
AMOLED displays have a special pixel structure that uses more green subpixels, this solution has one significant drawback called PenTile. When reading small text, you may notice red halos around the letters, which annoys some people.
The second drawback is PWM (pulse width modulation). Its essence is that individual pixels turn on / off at a very high speed, visually indistinguishable by the human eye. This is done to reduce power consumption, but in fact, the eyes of such displays get tired faster. Because of this, such displays on the camera may flicker.
Conclusion
And yet, despite the shortcomings listed above, it is AMOLED displays that are installed in the flagships of most large companies. The thing is that, all other things being equal, they show a brighter and richer picture, as well as better behavior in the sun.
IPS matrices are also good displays, so Meizu installs them in most mid-range smartphones, and leaves AMOLED for flagships.
Proponents of technologies used in the manufacture of mobile displays are divided into AMOLED lovers and LCD adherents. Both are based on different manufacturing techniques, with manufacturers only emphasizing the benefits of their own manufacturing process.
So which screen is better - IPS or AMOLED? Is there a noticeable difference between these technologies, and if so, what is it?
LCD Technology
LCD stands for LCD. The colors in it are reproduced in a completely different way than in AMOLED. In a liquid crystal display, the light source is the backlight. The backlight can be multiple, which saves energy, but it is used in large TVs.
White color does not have its own wavelength. It is a mixture of all other visible colors of the spectrum. Thus, an LCD backlight needs to create virtual white light as efficiently as possible in order to produce different colors from it in an LCD element. Most LCDs have a blue LED backlight that hits the phosphor and generates near-white light.
The real difficulties begin when the light is polarized and passes through the crystal. An LCD element can rotate it to different angles by changing the voltage applied to it. Next, the light passes through another polarizing filter, shifted by 90° with respect to the first one. This extinguishes it depending on the angle of rotation. The light then passes through the RGB filter, creating sub-pixels, which are then grouped into pixels.
All of this is to say that the LCD controls the amount of light by blocking the backlight and does not generate colored light for each pixel. Like AMOLED, LCD displays can be active or passive matrix devices.
AMOLED technology
Hidden in the name, the key component of this type of screen is the light-emitting diode (LED). Electronics fans have known about these bulbs before, but in the display panel they are drastically reduced and placed in the form of red, green and blue clusters, which make up a single pixel capable of reproducing white and other colors. The arrangement of these sub-pixels may slightly affect display performance.
The letter O means organic. There are a number of thin organic films placed between the conductors of an LED that emit light when current is applied.
And finally, the AM portion of AMOLED stands for "active matrix", as opposed to passive technology. This indicates how each OLED is driven. To control an individual pixel in a passive matrix, voltage supply controls are used in the required column or row. It's slow and not accurate enough. The active matrix systems in each LED use a TFT transistor and a capacitor. When a row and column is activated to access a pixel, its capacitor retains a charge between refresh cycles. This allows you to quickly and accurately control it.
Another term you might come across is Super AMOLED, Samsung's marketing name for a display combined with a capacitive display. Typically, such a screen is implemented as a separate layer on the outside of the display. This combination makes the display thinner.
Super AMOLED vs. LCD
This profound difference in the way displays work has a big impact on the user experience. Color gamut is the most frequently mentioned when comparing these technologies. AMOLED provides a greater range of color options than LCD, resulting in brighter images.
OLED displays feature extra saturation of greens and blues, the most powerful colors in subpixels. Some feel that this extra saturation produces unnatural colors. LCDs tend to overcompensate for red tones with more muted greens. Although they don't have a wide enough gamut, they produce an image that closely matches the standard color gamut profile used in photos and videos.
A closer look at smartphone displays reveals that color gamuts can vary quite a lot, even within the same type of display. For example, even though the BlackBerry Priv and Galaxy Note 5 use an AMOLED display from the same manufacturer, they have completely different gamma profiles. This can be partially explained by the presence of several profiles and different image calibration by the manufacturer.
Color accuracy is another significant difference, especially when it comes to white. Testing some of the best Android smartphones has shown that OLED displays produce very accurate results while LCD displays have a slight blue tint. This is not surprising given that LCDs run on filtered blue backlighting.
The absence of backlight and filter layers also speaks in favor of OLED. LCDs often let in extra light and have low contrast, as the backlight won't turn off even though the pixels should be black, while OLEDs can simply turn off their pixels. The LCD filter layer also blocks out some of the light, and the greater thickness means viewing angles are smaller compared to OLED.
The downside of AMOLED is that different LEDs have different lifetimes, meaning that individual RBG components end up degrading at different rates. The color balance of an OLED display may shift slightly over time, and the LCD's LED backlight means that the color balance is more stable.
Controllability
One of the main advantages of OLED screens is their high controllability at the level of each pixel. This item can be turned off to achieve black depth and a high contrast ratio. Light control at the individual pixel level results in energy savings, and the absence of additional layers above the LEDs means that maximum light reaches the surface. Images become brighter and the viewing angle improves.
Thinness and flexibility
Adherents of AMOLED note the smaller thickness of the screen, on which the dimensions of the device and its weight depend. This is due to the lack of backlight. Although for many this parameter may seem insignificant, it affects another important indicator - the viewing angle, which directly depends on the thickness of the display.
The use of LEDs means that LED screens are extremely thin, ideal for portable devices. The absence of hard backlighting and a breakthrough in the production of substrates made it possible to create the first generation of flexible displays, which are very promising for creating new form factors.
Contrast
One of the main parameters that will help you figure out which screen technology is better - IPS or AMOLED - is contrast. The advantage of LED technology is its huge contrast, which is why users love this technology. When a person sees such a colorful display for the first time, he is very surprised. This is the "wow effect" so revered by marketers.
Black Depth
The next parameter that will help determine which screen is better - IPS or Super AMOLED - is the ability to transmit black. Due to the fact that LED screens glow on their own, users give them an indisputable advantage. Only the pixels needed in the image are used, and not the entire screen, as in IPS. Contrast is the ratio of the brightness of the lightest to darkest parts of the screen, so the theoretical contrast ratio of OLEDs is infinite since there is no glow. But in reality, the situation is different, reflected light passes through the black areas. The contrast difference is 20x (30000:1 vs 1500:1).
Energy consumption
Among the indicators that allow you to decide which is better, IPS or AMOLED, users call the screen economy. In LED technology, it is achieved due to the glow of individual subpixels. On dark scenes, the screen spends little energy, but on light scenes more. Therefore, the power consumption of the display depends on how it is used.
Performance
Response time also influences consumer opinion about which display is better - IPS or AMOLED. The latest technology has less, which in theory should mean a slightly faster picture change. In reality, the longer IPS response time is almost imperceptible. And in the Samsung Galaxy S4, another problem appeared - a quick change in the image causes a noticeable visual effect.
Color rendering
Another question that allows you to choose AMOLED or IPS - which conveys colors better? IPS displays provide an image without distorting the color gamut. The color will be bright when it should be. The natural gamut on LED displays is achieved by software tuning.
white quality
True white color on LED displays is said by users to be difficult to achieve. LCD, on the other hand, gives an imaginary white color emitted by a phosphor. The result is shades of blue, yellow and pink instead of white. In this case, customizing the image can help.
Viewing angles
Another parameter that will help determine which matrix is better - IPS or AMOLED - is maintaining color accuracy when viewed from an angle. If we talk about LCD screens, then their colors shift to the cold side, and the non-standard layout of subpixels of LED displays, which is different from the usual one, takes the picture into different colors, for example, it can turn green or red.
Brightness
High brightness means good image visibility in strong ambient light conditions. This is the next parameter that will allow you to decide which is better - IPS or AMOLED. Screen contrast won't help here. In LCD displays, white light is created by a powerful backlight, while LED panels emit every pixel. This explains the difference in light intensity - AMOLED technologies do not yet allow the brightness of sub-pixels to compete with the backlights in LCD displays.
Definition
What is better - IPS or AMOLED - will help judge the detail and sharpness of the image. Some users can easily distinguish the sub-pixels of the LED screen, which is not very good. Nearsighted people can see them clearly even at Full HD resolution. This is due to the use of PenTile technology, which provides the same glow of subpixels of different colors. The image loses clarity and has less sharp edges. Traditional IPS layout means more detail and straighter lines.
Pixel burn-in
Another "plus" of IPS technology is the "minus" of LED. burn out over time. Although quite large, differences in the brightness of different areas will become noticeable after a year. LCD screens are free from burn-in problems.
Price
The answer to the question of which is better, IPS or AMOLED, also depends on the price. The cost of a device is determined by the sum of the prices of all its components, of which the display is the most expensive. But the lower price of the gadget does not mean the lower cost of the screen. For example, HTC One with IPS and Samsung Galaxy S4 with Super AMOLED cost the same, although the price is higher.
AMOLED, TFT IPS: which is better?
Technologies have qualities that can be called advantages or disadvantages, depending on the user's color and contrast settings. Although the many available display modes in modern smartphones allow you to achieve maximum quality. The lower production costs and additional benefits of OLED displays make them likely to be more promising, and cheaper LCDs are destined to fill gaps in the budget segments of the market.
Leading display manufacturers such as LG Display are betting on OLED technology by investing in additional production capacity. The AMOLED panel market is expected to reach $30 billion in 2022, more than double its current level. Not to mention the as yet untapped potential of the flexible display market.
The development of quantum dot LCDs could close the performance gap between LCDs and OLEDs, so LCDs shouldn't be discounted just yet.
When deciding which type of display to choose - Super AMOLED or IPS, which is better for the user - one should remember: each technology has its pros and cons. Only after weighing all the pros and cons, taking into account the degree of importance of each parameter, it makes sense to make a choice. LCD screens have slightly more advantages. Among them are natural high-quality color and high image brightness. LED technology tends to have excessive color saturation, poor readability in bright ambient light, and a shorter lifespan. Nevertheless, AMOLED displays have an excellent “wow effect”, again and again bringing the next victim to consumer ecstasy.
What is the most important thing in a smartphone?
Do not rush to answer, think. I suppose that most readers will still answer: “ CPU».
This is indeed a significant component, but not the most important in modern realities. Even processors from 3 years ago cheerfully cope with their work.
At all times exactly display considered one of the most important components of mobile gadgets. We constantly look at the smartphone display, and no processor will save the gadget if the image quality is poor.
Since 2010, companies have started to pay really close attention to screens in devices. Now there is only one leader.
1. Where did AMOLED come from and how it was created
It all started 6 years ago: it was then that Samsung began to actively promote the outlandish AMOLED technology. At that time, it lagged behind IPS matrices in terms of picture quality and was not up to the mark, say, on the screen in the iPhone 4.
At that time, the lion's share of Samsung's orders were IPS matrices for the same Apple. Koreans used their own LCD development for their mass products pls(Plane-to-Line Switching), adopted instead of PVA. Again, all this happened without a twinkle and enthusiasm.
A very different effort has been focused on AMOLED. The Korean company demonstrated the results of work in this direction on flagship mobile devices, starting with.
Samsung Galaxy S with first commercial Super AMOLED display
Why waste time and money on technology that lags behind alternatives? There were two main reasons:
- Lack of competitors(more on this below).
- Huge development potential.
From year to year, Samsung managed to show more and more impressive results. And today, AMOLED is not only in their devices - you wear it every day on your wrist. Yes, yes, hello, Apple Watch with AMOLED display from Korea.
Samsung is the king of the mobile display industry today. What will happen tomorrow, in three years, five years? To answer this question, let's first dive into the history of one big, complex innovation.
2. What is AMOLED
It is decoded like this: Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode or active matrix OLED. And OLED is a semiconductor device made of organic compounds that emit light when an electric current is passed.
OLEDs are driven by an active matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs). That is, each pixel is responsible for its own transistor.
Hard? Imagine a crowd of workers (OLEDs) led by managers (TFT matrix). There are many managers, but even more employees. Together they form an effective display management system. But managers should not be confused with simple workers - this is to the fact that OLED and TFT are different things.
This system is very similar to LCD technology. There, too, individual TFT-controlled pixels are used. But AMOLED has a number of advantages:
- Each pixel in AMOLED glows on its own, while the LCD uses a general backlight. This allows in the first case to create thinner displays(no separate backlight unit) with practically infinite levels of black(the pixel simply does not emit light if it is black that is needed). In addition, the average AMOLED matrix consumes less energy than the LCD, since when displaying dark images, some of the pixels do not light up, and the backlight in the LCD matrix is always on.
- AMOLED displays a wider color gamut. On average, 32% more. The picture is richer and juicier.
- Two orders of magnitude faster response time(0.01 ms versus 2 ms for the fastest TN matrices). That is, no blurring of the picture, with fast moving objects on the screen.
- Full 180° viewing angles without color distortion and brightness reduction.
There are also disadvantages. Samsung has been working on eliminating them all these years:
- Fragility of matrices- the slightest crack will lead to a partial failure of the display, as well as depressurization between the layers of the screen.
- Reduced service life when working in bright colors compared to LCD. Moreover, subpixels of different colors lose their brightness at different rates (blue ones degrade most quickly).
- High production cost compared to LCD.
- Relatively low brightness compared to other display technologies.
- Increased power consumption on bright images.
A very serious list. But almost all of it is irrelevant today. Problems solved by 95%. How did all this happen?
3. Six "LED" years before the appearance of AMOLED in the smartphone
The Korean company has not out of the blue focused on organic LEDs:
- In 2004, Samsung became the largest OLED manufacturer in the world with a 40% market share.
- In 2006, it finally consolidated its leadership position by becoming the largest owner of intellectual property in the field of OLED: more than 600 US patents and more 2800 international.
- In 2010 98% of the global AMOLED market is already owned by Samsung.
To date, the company has no competitors.
It is worth noting that the Korean manufacturer has been actively experimenting with the use of OLED in various areas, and smartphones are just one of them. Yes, back in 2005 Samsung demonstrated the largest OLED TV with a display diagonal of 21 inches and the highest resolution at the time of 6.22 million pixels.
In 2008 it showed the largest and at the same time the thinnest OLED TV: 31 inches with a thickness of 4.3 mm. In the same year, in May, the company introduced a thin 12.1-inch matrix (1280x768 pixels) for laptops, planning to launch mass production by 2010. But it didn't work out.
And at the end of 2008 Samsung showed the thinnest (0.5 mm) foldable OLED display and the world's largest TV (again). This time the diagonal has grown to 40 inches, resolution - up to 1920x1080 pixels (plus a contrast ratio of 1,000,000: 1, 107% NTSC color gamut and a peak brightness of up to 600 nits). It was a breakthrough that everyone wrote about.
However, Samsung's AMOLED displays reached the market devices only in 2010. They were smartphones. Wave S8500 and Galaxy S i9000. Since then, a very active development of Samsung mobile displays began, which surprises to this day.
4. How AMOLED was “forged” for smartphones
The Galaxy S used a so-called display Super AMOLED. It differed from the usual AMOLED in that the sensor layer was integrated directly into the matrix.
The problem with the first AMOLED displays was the relatively low resolution and the use of a sub-pixel scheme like RGBG(red-green-blue-green, PenTile).
Compared to the classic pixel structure (RGB), the one mentioned above produced about a third lower sub-pixel density, which was very noticeable in small text when directly comparing LCD and AMOLED matrices with identical resolution. The latter significantly lost in clarity.
The next step was the release of the matrix Super AMOLED Plus with a 50% increase in sub-pixel density due to the use of the RGB scheme. In addition, it has become even thinner, brighter and consumes 18% less energy.
Users were able to evaluate it live in the legendary smartphone Galaxy S II. In terms of picture quality, he tore everyone, but in terms of resolution (800x480 pixels with a diagonal of 4.22 inches) he lagged behind the latest LCD matrices.
So the time has come HD Super AMOLED. The resolution was increased to 1280x720 pixels, but the company again applied the RGBG sub-pixel scheme. Compared to LCD competitors, there was a slightly reduced clarity, plus a number of features in terms of color display. People got acquainted with such a matrix in such devices as the Galaxy S3.
PenTile in Galaxy S3
Around the same time, the company introduced a unique tablet with a 7.7-inch HD Super AMOLED Plus matrix based on the classic RGB sub-pixel scheme. For four years it remained the only tablet with an AMOLED display.
Sub-pixel structure of the HD Super AMOLED Plus matrix in the Galaxy Note 2
2013 was the starting point in the development of Full HD resolution in smartphones. Samsung did not stand aside, presenting with matrices Full HD Super AMOLED(1920x1080 pixels).
It would seem that there is much more to increase the resolution, but further Quad HD Super AMOLED(2560x1440 pixels) fit the theme. The incredible pixel density, the highest clarity and the active development of technology by Samsung specialists have finally replaced PenTile flaws.
The pinnacle of modern mobile display technology is implemented in . Let's see what this very peak is.
Curved on both sides 5.5-inch AMOLED display with QHD resolution (2560x1440 pixels, 534 ppi), protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and recognized as the best in the world in picture quality, color reproduction, brightness, contrast. In general, on all fronts. DisplayMate has a detailed study, and we will briefly review the most interesting points.
Compared to the previous champion, the Galaxy S6, display brightness increased by 24% when used in bright ambient light conditions - daylight, intense artificial lighting, etc. This is a serious, noticeable difference. Thus, the brightness level can reach 440 nits and above, which is the peak, and even exceeds the majority of the best representatives from the LCD field. That is, Samsung finally solved the problem of the low brightness of AMOLED compared to LCD.
Moreover, in the auto-brightness mode, under extreme conditions for the display (bright sunlight), it produces impressive 855 nits, which is an absolute record for a mobile screen. Wherein screen reflectivity is only 4,6% , which is also one of the best indicators in the industry. This means that even in bright sunlight, the display remains fully readable.
And that's not all. Samsung implemented the technology personalized automatic brightness control, when the device monitors how the user adjusts this parameter and adapts to his preferences.
Judging by eyewitness reviews, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge automatically adjust the brightness even better than the previous record holder - the iPhone. It makes no sense to even compare with other representatives of the Android fraternity, everything has always been sad there with automatic brightness control.
Another interesting feature - Always On Display. The screen can remain active almost always, while consuming a minimum of energy, in the region of 3-5% of the total battery capacity per day. We are talking about the standby mode, when the necessary streaming information, such as clock, calendar, etc., can be displayed on the display.
In terms of color reproduction, Samsung's AMOLED remains ahead of the curve. In adaptive mode, this 131% sRGB color gamut. If you don't like bright colors, then it's easy to adjust the gamut to your taste - Korean flagships have the richest choice in this regard. There is even a “warm lamp” option, which is very close to IPS in terms of color reproduction.
Samsung has implemented a sub-pixel layout Diamond Pixels, in which the blue and red subpixels are larger than the green ones. The last one shines brightest, the first two have the lowest brightness. Thus, the company leveled the brightness of the subpixels, but this is a trifle.
The density of the active matrix here is three times higher than that of any other displays, including LCDs with a sub-pixel RGB scheme. This allows you to completely eliminate the effects of the "ladder" and achieve highest possible quality in terms of image smoothness and clarity.
Don't believe? Go to any Samsung brand store, there are test samples of the Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge, and compare the picture with your smartphone. Especially in a web browser on small text.
I compared with my own and the difference was far from in favor of the latter. At the same time, I also compared it with Nexus 6 (the same resolution), but here the picture is completely sad. The AMOLED matrix in the Nexus is several generations behind. The resolution is high, but the color rendition and clarity are nowhere near the latest achievements of Samsung.
So that all this does not seem like marketing gloom, just read the DisplayMate report. The guys specialize in displays, do not engage in advertising and write as they are.
What do we end up with. Current competitors
For now, the only technology that stands up to AMOLED in the mobile world is LCD. In particular, matrices based on IPS(in-plane switching). The technology was developed by Hitachi and NEC in 1996 with great promise for the future. After 20 years, this backlog was exhausted.
At the moment, mobile LCD displays are considered to be the best in terms of characteristics in and according to the same experts from. It is about the first place among mobile LCD displays. The absolute leader is now AMOLED.
Apple has achieved good results by using all the technologies available for IPS:
- dual domain pixels(provide increased contrast and deeper blacks);
- integrated directly into the matrix touch layer;
- no air gap between screen and matrix;
- application of perfect manufacturing process;
- very thin color setting.
But Samsung has dealt with all the childhood ailments of AMOLED. Now alternative technologies simply have nothing to offer. They hit the ceiling and need to look for something completely new, or develop the most promising, which is what the Koreans, in fact, are doing.
However, interesting developments in other areas exist too. Let's talk at the end about future.
The Future of Mobile Display Technology
More AMOLED
The display described above in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge is unique in that it surpasses LCD technology on all fronts. The Korean company solved all technical problems and began to increase production. Because there are no more compromises.
There are only pluses in comparison with LCD:
- AMOLED matrices lighter and thinner;
- may be curved due to the use of polymer substrates;
- very flexible in terms of power supply and in the vast majority of cases more economical than LCD;
- allow you to create devices with minimal bezels around the display;
- indicators of minimum and maximum brightness greatly exceed those in the LCD;
- wider color gamut;
- significantly less response time matrices;
- individual control of each subpixel, which is basically impossible for an LCD.
Since everything is so worthy, why doesn't Apple use OLED matrices? Two reasons:
- it just ended up being good last year;
- top display technology Samsung did not give to the side due to the high cost of components and wanting to maintain an advantage.
But now it's time to collect the cream and bring the technology to the masses.
The first bell rang when it became known that Samsung intends to greatly expand the production of AMOLED displays for a major customer. Everyone thought on Apple, and that was recently in the form of rumors about OLED in the iPhone 7s.
In the future, we will see rollable OLED displays and foldable ones. It is quite possible that this will completely change the form factor of future smartphones.
P.S. What's in store for us in the future? quantum dots
Quantum dots are cutting-edge technology that Samsung will one day see in the smartphones of the future. The points themselves are a fragment of a conductor (crystal) with electrons limited in space in three dimensions. These dots are so small that quantum effects are observed inside them.
When an electric current is applied to a quantum dot, radiation of a certain frequency occurs. It can be influenced by adjusting the size of the dot and experimenting with its chemical composition.
What this means in practice: You can very accurately adjust the color value of the emitted color and achieve a much higher image quality than in LCD.
In 2010 the first prototypes of quantum dot displays were created, but they used highly toxic cadmium selenide, and the stability of the matrix left much to be desired (burnout after 10 thousand hours).
In 2013 researchers from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore have created quantum dots based on an alloy of zinc, cadmium and sulfur doped with manganese. They turned out to be practically non-toxic and much more stable, and even glowed in the range from green to red, while the previous development produced only orange. Since then, the technology has been actively developed. QD LED.
At the moment, the technology has found its way into premium TVs, including those from Samsung, but in the future it will clearly pave the way for other areas.
Advantages of quantum dots:
- The potential peak brightness of QD-LED is 40,000 nits, which is two orders of magnitude higher than LCD.
- 30-50% reduced power consumption compared to LCD, as no separate backlight is needed (quantum dots glow by themselves).
- Can be used in flexible and folding displays.
- The life of displays is much longer than that of OLED, since the pixels practically do not burn out.
- The small size of quantum dots makes it possible to achieve incredibly high resolution compared to modern designs (important for VR).
As you can see, classic LCD technologies have reached the ceiling, but two have come to replace them at once: diligently capturing the market AMOLED and potentially even more sophisticated QD LED. In the first case, Samsung is ahead of the rest. What will happen in the second - we will find out in a year;)
Thank you for reading.
