Be it a smartphone or a tablet, the display owned by our pieces of tech play an important role in determining our overall user experience. Ever since the emergence of the first-ever touchscreen phone featuring a black and white LCD screen in 1992, mobile phone displays have evolved significantly and have come quite a long way. Afterward, smartphones across different brands have managed to bring in new innovations within the device screens over the years.
Smart device manufacturers have been putting consistent efforts into coming up with newer and better screens for users to experience more immersive viewing. Consequently, this has given birth to many types of screens throughout the era, now being the time of AMOLED and Super AMOLED displays.
AMOLED is an acronym for “Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.” Before starting a more elaborate discussion on AMOLED displays, a little overview of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) displays is mentionable. As the name suggests, the displays are equipped with Light Emitting Diode (LED). Technically speaking, each LED contains a series of thin organic material films, sandwiched between two conductors, which produce light when a current is applied. Coming back to AMOLED, each LED is equipped with a thin film transistor (TFT) and a capacitor. Hence, the capacitor at the correct pixel is able to retain its charge between refresh cycles when a row and column are activated to access a pixel, accounting for more precise control.
In such displays, pixels can be switched off for deeper blacks and a high contrast ratio – perfect for HDR content. Thanks to the direct pixel-to-pixel illumination control, it comes with a wider color spectrum and true color reproduction, producing vivid, lifelike images. Moreover, the ability to dim and turn off pixels also means some savings on power. AMOLED displays do not have many layers on top, allowing more light to reach the display surface for a brighter viewing experience from all angles. Additionally, this also accounts for slimmer and lighter display on devices, making it sleeker and more comfortable in hands. Apart from lower power consumption and vivid picture quality, viewers can also expect a relatively faster motion response.
Super AMOLED, on the other hand, is a more advanced version of the AMOLED display, combining touch sensors and the actual screen within just one layer. It accounts for a 20% brighter screen, 20% lower power consumption, and 80% less sunlight reflection for a more comfortable, efficient, and immersive viewing experience. Moreover, super AMOLED screens boast a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, enabling devices equipped with this display to adapt to all kinds of lighting conditions. Hence, be it an instant session of Call of Duty or a few hours of watching your favorite video, it all shall be much easier on the eyes.
Looking for a device with such a top-grade display may feel overwhelming, considering the budget. However, many smart device manufacturers are bridging that gap by introducing devices equipped with AMOLED and Super AMOLED displays. For instance, the youth-centric brand realme is about to launch realme 9 4G, featuring a Super AMOLED display– the best within the price segment.
An immersive viewing, comfortable scrolling and swiping, and reduced strain on the eyes can add a great deal to enhance the smartphone experience by quite a few notches. Combining that with vivid, lifelike images and constrained power consumption makes it even better. Hence, a good quality display is essential, making devices equipped with an AMOLED or Super AMOLED display a smart choice.