When purchasing a new smartphone, the display type is an important factor to consider besides the camera, processor or battery. You would come across terms like OLED, AMOLED and pOLED that denote different display technologies. But what exactly sets them apart? Let’s find out.
What is OLED?
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is a display technology where organic compounds emit light when electricity is applied. Each pixel in an OLED display lights up independently without needing a backlight like traditional LCDs.
This allows OLED displays to offer better contrast ratios, wider viewing angles, faster refresh rates and greater energy efficiency compared to LCD panels. They can also be made flexible for curved or foldable devices.
AMOLED
AMOLED is a specific type of OLED display that incorporates an active-matrix backing to offer more granular control over each individual pixel. The active-matrix enables higher refresh rates, better color reproduction and lower power consumption compared to standard OLEDs.
AMOLED displays are commonly found in smartphones, tablets and other portable gadgets as they can deliver vibrant colors and true blacks without compromising too much on battery life. They are considered superior to plain OLED panels for phone displays.
What is Plastic OLED?
pOLED is another variant of OLED technology that uses plastic substrates instead of glass to create thinner, lighter and more durable displays. The plastic construction also enables flexibility, allowing the creation of curved or rollable screens.
pOLED displays are typically found in wearable devices like smartwatches where flexibility and durability hold more significance than top-tier visuals.
Visual
In terms of visual clarity, AMOLED panels deliver richer colors and deeper blacks over pOLED. But plastic OLED displays offer greater durability over glass AMOLED screens while being thinner and lighter.
Plastic panels are also cheaper to produce but get scratched more easily. For smartphone displays, AMOLED is deemed as the most premium option.
Right Choice
When choosing a phone, go for AMOLED displays for the best visual experience, especially for watching multimedia content or playing games. If you want maximum durability or plan to use AR/VR apps, pOLED is the way to go.
For most typical smartphone usage, AMOLED strikes the ideal balance between visual quality and durability. Consider your specific usage preferences before deciding on the display.
