AMOLED or IPS, let's understand the differences. Review-explanation: what is the difference between AMOLED and IPS displays

Samsung differs from other manufacturers in that most of its smartphones are equipped with Super AMOLED screens, rather than the more traditional IPS LCDs. Such displays have become the company's signature feature and have gained many both fans and opponents. These matrices are one of the types of screens based on active LEDs, rather than liquid crystals, and indeed have both advantages and some disadvantages.

Super AMOLED is Samsung's marketing term for the latest generation of LED matrix displays, starting in 2010. Such displays initially differed from conventional AMOLED in that they did not have an air gap under the touchscreen. The sensor layer in them is located directly on the matrix, due to which the brightness was increased, power consumption was reduced, the tendency to glare was eliminated, and the risk of dust getting on the matrix was eliminated. Nowadays, most smartphone screens have lost the air gap (except for the cheapest models), including AMOLED, but the term Super AMOLED continues to be used by Samsung.

Super AMOLED displays are built on a radically different principle, unlike conventional LCD matrices. LCD screens consist of an array of liquid crystals, diode backlighting and a mirror substrate. Light passing through the crystals is partially absorbed by them. Depending on the position of the crystal, it glows brighter or dimmer, and transmits only radiation of one color (red, green or blue). The color of the pixel that we see depends on the combination of brightnesses of three multi-colored subpixels.

In Super AMOLED, instead of liquid crystals in the subpixels, miniature LEDs are used, which have the same multi-colored filters. They themselves emit light, the brightness of the glow is regulated by changing the power of the supplied current, using the pulse width modulation (PWM) method. This approach made it possible to abandon additional illumination and a mirror reflective-scattering substrate, which had a beneficial effect on energy consumption and the thickness of the matrices.

Advantages of Super AMOLED matrices over LCD

Less thickness. The absence of a special mirror substrate, as well as light-absorbing and diffusing filters, makes Super AMOLED thinner compared to its liquid crystal counterparts. This is also facilitated by a sensor installed without an air gap.
Reduced energy consumption. Since the matrix itself glows (and not its backlight), and the brightness of the picture is adjusted by changing the brightness of individual pixels, less energy is wasted. So, a dark pixel on an LCD panel simply absorbs light, at a fixed brightness level of the main backlight (which still consumes energy), and in Super AMOLED, reducing the brightness of each pixel leads to a decrease in their energy consumption.
Purer black color. In an LCD, the backlight remains bright, and in order to display black color, the liquid crystals are rotated to a position in which the normal white light of the backlight diodes does not pass through. However, some of it is still scattered, because of this you cannot get perfect blackness: the screen will cast gray, blue or brownish, especially at the edges. On Super AMOLED, when black is displayed, the pixel turns off completely. And since black is the absence of any color, there is nothing to shine.
Adaptive brightness and high contrast. Depending on the displayed shades and their ratio in the picture, Super AMOLED displays are able to regulate the power supplied. If the screen is completely filled with white, its brightness will not be very high, about 400 cd/m2 (top IPS can have more than 1000 cd/m2). However, if there are a lot of dark shades in the picture, the light areas become brighter. Due to this, the contrast increases, and in bright sunlight the picture is perceived better.
Curved screens. The design of LCD panels imposes restrictions on their shape; strong curvature is difficult and expensive to achieve. But LEDs can theoretically be placed on a surface of any shape, achieving a bend with a radius of only a few centimeters.

Disadvantages of Super AMOLED displays compared to LCD

Price. The cost of Super AMOLED matrices of the latest generations is comparable in price to top-end LCD IPS. However, in the budget segment, LED panels will be more expensive than LCD panels of similar quality. $5 IPS delivers close-to-natural shades, with possible slight variations in white balance and color temperature. A Super AMOLED panel at a similar price will render overly acidic colors, which is why Samsung doesn't make those anymore. The cheapest Super AMOLED matrix will cost more than its budget IPS counterpart.
Tendency to burn out. Miniature LEDs have a limited lifespan and lose brightness over time. If the display constantly displays dynamic scenes (for example, movies) - it will simply reduce the brightness over time. But if it always displays some static information of a light shade (on-screen buttons, indicators, clocks, etc.) - in these places the diodes will burn out faster, and over time, “shadows” may remain under them (for example, silhouette of the battery, even if the charge indicator is not shown at this time).
Flickering PWM diodes. Since the brightness of the pixels is controlled by the pulse width method, they flicker during operation. The flicker frequency ranges from 60 to hundreds of hertz, and those with sensitive eyes may notice it and experience discomfort. The lower the brightness, the shorter each pulse will be, so some people find it unpleasant to look at a Super AMOLED display at brightness levels lower than 100%.
Pentile. The Pentile matrix structure involves the use of a reduced number of subpixels, usually blue. When used, five (hence the name) rather than six subpixels (one blue and two each red and green) are used to construct two pixels. The use of pentile is driven by the desire to reduce energy consumption, reduce the impact of blue light on the eyes and reduce the cost of producing screens. But at the moment, Samsung creates all matrices using this structure, so when we say Super AMOLED, we mean Pentile. With the naked eye, at the current pixel density, only a few can see the lack of subpixels, but in VR their deficit becomes more noticeable.

Today, in the manufacture of screens for mobile phones, two types of matrices are used: AMOLED and IPS. In this article we will tell you what is the difference between screens built on these types of matrix and point out their differences.

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Key benefits of IPS technology

First displays on technology IPS appeared in 1996. But these were rather experimental devices. Mass production of such screens began just a few years ago. During the time from the first screens on such a matrix to modern displays, all the shortcomings were taken into account and errors were corrected. Today we can state the fact that IPS screens have firmly entered our lives.

The main advantages of IPS matrices over competitive technologies are:

Best color rendition. Unlike AMOLED screens at IPS colors are not “enhanced” artificially. Thanks to such honest color reproduction, IPS displays are loved by everyone who works with photographs. Photographers, photo editors and representatives of related professions. IPS screen gives a bright and rich picture, if that is what it is. If the picture is dim, then on a screen built on a matrix IPS it will be dim. Because of this, not everyone evaluates this advantage positively.

IMPORTANT: On AMOLED screens can also convey “honest” colors. But this is achieved through software settings that give pre-embellished pictures a more believable look.

True white. AMOLED screens simply cannot display white correctly. IPS screens, on the contrary, produce true white color. No blue or yellow tint like competing technology. Pure white color affects the entire image as a whole. Therefore, applying a shade to it can distort the entire picture.
No color distortion when viewing the screen at an angle. Some may overlook this advantage of IPS. But imagine that you are in the company of friends watching some interesting video from your smartphone. There will always be someone for whom the screen of your smartphone will not be fully expanded. And if your screen is not IPS, then this will be immediately visible when it is positioned at an angle. This effect has long been felt by owners Sony Xperia Z.

IMPORTANT: When unfolding the AMOLED screen, the color rendition shifts to the cold spectrum or the picture begins to “red” or “green”.

High maximum brightness. This advantage is especially pronounced when using the smartphone screen in bright sunlight. If you have it built on an AMOLED matrix, then the bright rays of the scorching sun will force you to look for shade in order to see what is happening on the screen. The whole point is that IPS-The matrix uses an LCD screen with its powerful backlight. U AMOLED screens, every pixel is illuminated. What “physically” does not allow the screen to be bright.

Detail and sharpness. There are people among us whose eye structure allows us to see pixelation, even at the best Full HD screen. These people definitely don't need to buy a smartphone with a screen AMOLED. Otherwise, using it will lead to great disappointment. Modern screens AMOLED gradually “cure” this childhood disease. But, it is still present on most budget devices.
LED burnout. U AMOLED organic LEDs may burn out on screens. Which is reflected in the different brightness of individual parts of the screen. According to the developers of such screens, the service life of the LED is 6-10 years. But, in practice, they can burn out faster. U IPS there is no such problem.

Cheaper production technology. A trivial but important advantage IPS. The cost of a smartphone consists of various modules and components. The screen is an important and expensive part of a smartphone. The cheaper the screen, the cheaper the smartphone will be.

Pros of AMOLED technology

High Contrast. When comparing IPS With AMOLED the second screen will seem more colorful and saturated. Organic LEDs allow you to make the picture as contrast as possible. Which causes the effect of “embellishment” in color rendition.

IMPORTANT: Special tests show that the contrast level AMOLED screens reach ratio 30000:1 . Whereas IPS this indicator is equal 1500:1 . The difference is significant.

Absolute black. If one of the advantages IPS was “real” white, then AMOLED The screen allows you to display absolute black. This is achieved due to the fact that AMOLED individual pixels on the screen are illuminated. Whereas IPS The entire screen is illuminated. Which has a negative impact on black people.
Less energy consumption. Everything is simple here. Individually backlit pixels consume less power than backlighting the entire screen, like IPS. “On paper,” this advantage seems very important, and for many, a turning point. But, in practice, this is not entirely true. The resource consumption of your gadget is influenced by many other factors. From the style of using the device to the energy saving technologies used by the developer.
Faster response time. AMOLED The matrix allows us to produce screens with a shorter response time compared to IPS screens. This allows the picture to change faster. But this advantage in the speed of changing the picture is so insignificant that in reality it is simply not visible.
Less thickness. IN AMOLED screens do not need backlighting. This saves space. It is due to this advantage that there are ultra-thin smartphones on the market today. If this indicator is important to you, then choose smartphones with a screen AMOLED.

Which screen is better for a smartphone: IPS or AMOLED?

To summarize, it can be noted that both popular screen technologies for smartphones have both their pros and cons. Of course, it may seem that IPS There is a longer list of advantages, which means this technology is better. And in some cases this is true.

But what is much more important is how the manufacturer implements these advantages in practice. In most cases this cannot be done. Although they have already appeared IPS screens that actually outperform even a more advanced matrix Super AMOLED.

High-quality screens on IPS-the matrix can boast Asus ZenFone 3 Max, LG G5 SE, Apple iPhone 5s and some other models. But is it really worth discounting Samsung smartphones with their advanced screens? Super AMOLED?

Video. AMOLED or IPS? Comparison

Supporters of technologies used in the manufacture of mobile device displays are divided into AMOLED lovers and LCD supporters. Both are based on different manufacturing techniques, with manufacturers 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 display. It reproduces colors completely differently than 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, the LCD backlight must create virtual white light as efficiently as possible in order to produce different colors in the LCD element. Most LCD displays have a blue LED backlight that hits phosphors and produces near-white light.

The real complications begin when the light is polarized and passed through the crystal. The 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° relative to the first. This dampens it depending on the angle of rotation. The light then passes through the RGB filter, creating subpixels, which are then grouped into pixels.

All this is to say is 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 either 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 enthusiasts knew about these bulbs before, but in the display panel they are radically 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 subpixels may have a slight effect on the performance of displays.

The letter O stands for organic. There are a number of thin organic films placed between the conductors of an LED that emit light when current is applied.

Lastly, the AM part of AMOLED stands for "active matrix" as opposed to passive technology. This indicates how each OLED LED is driven. To control an individual pixel in a passive matrix, controls are used to control the supply of voltage to the required column or row. It's slow and not precise enough. Active matrix systems in each LED use a TFT transistor and a capacitor. When row and column are activated to access a pixel, its capacitor retains charge between refresh cycles. This allows you to control it quickly and accurately.

Another term that you may come across is Super AMOLED, Samsung's marketing name for a display combined with a capacitive one. Typically, such a screen is made as a separate layer on the outer part of the display. This combination makes the display thinner.

Super AMOLED vs LCD

This profound difference in the way displays operate has a big impact on the user experience. Color gamut is most often mentioned when comparing these technologies. AMOLED provides a greater range of color options than LCD, resulting in brighter images.

OLED displays have extra saturation in green and blue, 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 do not have a very wide gamut, the image they produce closely matches the standard color gamut profile used in photos and videos.

A closer look at smartphone displays reveals that color gamut can vary quite significantly even within the same type of display. For example, although 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 multiple profiles and different image calibration by the manufacturer.

Color accuracy is another significant difference, especially when it comes to whites. Testing some of the best Android smartphones has shown that OLED displays provide very accurate results, while LCD displays have a slight blue tint. This is not surprising given that LCD displays use filtered blue backlighting.

The lack of backlight and filter layers also speaks in favor of OLED. LCDs often leak excess light and have low contrast because the backlight doesn't turn off even when the pixels are supposed to be black, while OLED can simply turn off its pixels. The LCD filter layer also blocks some of the light, and the greater thickness means viewing angles are narrower compared to OLED.

The downside to AMOLED is that different LEDs have different lifespans, meaning that individual RBG components end up degrading at different rates. The color balance of an OLED display may shift slightly over time, but the LED backlighting of an LCD means 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 element can be turned off, allowing you to achieve deep blacks and a high contrast ratio. Controlling radiation 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, which determines the size of the device and its weight. This is due to the lack of backlight. Although this parameter may seem insignificant to many, 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, which is ideal for portable devices. The absence of hard backlighting and breakthroughs in substrate production 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 you decide which screen is better - IPS or Super AMOLED - is the ability to transmit black color. Due to the fact that LED screens glow on their own, users give them an undeniable 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 and darkest areas of the screen, so the theoretical contrast of organic LEDs 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 20-fold (30,000:1 versus 1,500:1).

Energy consumption

Among the indicators that allow you to decide which is better, IPS or AMOLED, users cite screen efficiency. In LED technology, this is achieved by lighting individual subpixels. The screen spends little energy on dark scenes, but more on light scenes. Therefore, the power consumption of the display depends on the mode of its use.

Performance

Response time also influences consumers' opinions on which display is better - IPS or AMOLED. With the latest technology it is smaller, which in theory should mean a slightly faster picture change. In reality, the longer IPS response time is almost imperceptible. But in the Samsung Galaxy S4, another problem appeared - quickly changing the image causes a noticeable visual effect.

Color rendition

Another question that allows you to choose AMOLED or IPS is which reproduces colors better? IPS displays provide images without distorting the color gamut. The color will be bright when it should be. Natural gamma on LED displays is achieved by customizing the software.

White quality

True white color on LED displays, as users say, is difficult to achieve. LCD, on the other hand, produces an imaginary white color emitted by a phosphor. The result is shades of blue, yellow and pink instead of white. In this case, individual image adjustment can help.

Viewing Angles

Another parameter that will help determine which matrix is better - IPS or AMOLED - maintaining color accuracy when viewed at 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 the image is clearly visible in strong ambient lighting 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 subpixels to compete with backlights in LCD displays.

Definition

Which is better - IPS or AMOLED - will help you decide on the detail and sharpness of the image. Some users have no trouble distinguishing the subpixels of an LED screen, which is not good. Nearsighted people see them clearly even at Full HD resolution. This is explained by the use of PenTile technology, which ensures the same glow of subpixels of different colors. The image loses clarity and has less clear contours. Traditional IPS layout means more detail and straighter lines.

Pixel burn-in

Another “plus” of IPS technology is the “minus” of LED technology. burn out over time. Although quite large, differences in the brightness of different areas will become noticeable within a year. LCD screens are free from problems with burn-in.

Price

The answer to the question of which is better, IPS or AMOLED, also depends on the price. The cost of the device is determined by the sum of the prices of all its components, the most expensive of which is the display. But a lower price for a gadget does not mean a lower cost for 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 manufacturing costs and added benefits of OLED displays make them arguably more promising, and lower-cost 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 today's level. Not to mention the yet unrealized potential of the flexible display market.

The development of quantum dot LCDs could close the performance gap between LCD and OLED, so don't count out LCD just yet.

When deciding which type of display to choose - Super AMOLED or IPS, which is better for the user - you 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, does it make sense to make a choice. LCD screens offer slightly more advantages. Among them are natural high-quality color and high image brightness. LED technology is characterized by excessive color saturation, poor readability in bright ambient light, and a shorter service life. However, AMOLED displays have an excellent “wow” effect, bringing the next victim to consumer ecstasy again and again.

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. What is more important is what the average consumer gets when choosing this or that matrix. Therefore, in this material I will talk about the practical advantages and disadvantages of these two types of matrices.

Benefits of IPS

IPS matrices 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 richer. Secondly, they have much higher viewing angles; when deviated, the picture does not fade. The overall brightness level of IPS panels is also superior to conventional TN displays. The last advantage is natural white color, which is quite problematic to achieve on AMOLED.

Advantages of AMOLED

AMOLED matrices are produced by Samsung and were initially used only by it, but later other manufacturers also gained access to such displays.

The first advantage of AMOLED matrices is the natural black color; on both IPS and TN matrices, the black color is more like gray, especially at maximum brightness. With AMOLED, you get perfect blacks, and the added bonus is reduced power consumption when displaying them.

The second plus is the high contrast of the picture. Many users love AMOLED displays for their bright and rich colors. Any picture looks very cool on such screens.

The third advantage is the 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 discharge with an active screen much faster than their counterparts with AMOLED

Disadvantages of IPS

Perhaps the only drawback of IPS matrices is their imperfect display of black colors. Otherwise, these are excellent displays with natural color reproduction, maximum viewing angles and good brightness levels.

Disadvantages of AMOLED

AMOLED displays have a special pixel structure that uses a larger number of green subpixels; this solution has one significant drawback called PenTile. When reading small text, you may notice red halos around the letters, which some people find annoying.

The second disadvantage 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 get tired faster from such displays. Because of this, such displays on the camera may flicker.

Conclusion

And yet, despite the disadvantages 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 juicier picture, as well as better behavior in the sun.

IPS matrices are also good displays, so Meizu installs them in most mid-segment smartphones, leaving AMOLED for flagships.

You can often hear the question, what is the difference between oleophobic displays and liquid crystal displays? They are also AMOLED and IPS. This question is important, since more than 90 percent of the smartphone and tablet market is focused on these two types of displays. So you'll have to answer.

It’s worth starting with the fact that AMOLED can also be Super AMOLED. And IPS can also be referred to as LCD. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Without delving too far into the technological jungle, we will try to explain in our own words.

It’s worth noting right away that all major manufacturers prefer either one type of display or another. This is due not so much to the price (and IPS is cheaper than AMOLED), but to the technology patents, using which companies pay royalties to the patent holders. Moreover, two seemingly AMOLED smartphones placed side by side can produce pictures of different quality. And this is due to the fact that technologies are patented for slightly different indicators. That is, patent holders are different organizations, in order to avoid monopolies.

When it comes to the difference between AMOLED and IPS LCD in a broad sense, the differences between the two technologies have changed over the years and will continue to change as updates are introduced. So stay tuned for the latest updates from major manufacturers.

And now the specifics.

AMOLED

AMOLED technology is an active matrix based on organic light-emitting diodes. Nowadays we often see it in a new look - Super AMOLED. With these displays, individual pixels light up separately. This is called the active matrix. Moreover, they burn on the top of the thin film transistor (TFT). When the entire array passes through an electrical organic compound, it is called OLED. But some companies are cunning and do not pass through the entire array, leaving an unfinished version of the display, which is called TFT. It is cheaper than AMOLED because it has an incomplete cycle. Or, to put it simply, this is half of the whole process. But in any case, a complete or incomplete cycle of this technology shows a better picture than that of IPS LCD. But not in all regions. Assembly is different. So we can only talk about the picture as a whole.

At the heart of its technology, OLED uses anodes and cathodes to flow electrons through a very thin film. The brightness is determined by the strength of the electron current. And color is controlled by tiny red, green and blue LEDs built into the display. The best way to understand the process is to think of each pixel as an independent light bulb with three colors to choose from.

Colors tend to be brighter on AMOLED and Super AMOLED, and black tones appear darker due to part of the screen that can be effectively turned off. When the light bulb is not lit, it produces a “pure” black color. When all three colors are lit, it produces a “pure” white color. So the contrast is better, the colors look brighter, more saturated. Just because each element works separately. Each pixel in this case is an independent nature.

Moreover, it is not said anywhere that the rich colors of the display must destroy the battery charge faster. Battery performance rather depends on the efficient operation of the processor. So AMOLED may be more power hungry than IPS LCD.

Another thing is that AMOLED burns out faster. And this has nothing to do with sun exposure. It’s just that in this case the display works at full capacity, which leads to more intense wear. So pixel quality degrades over time. But they are actively working to solve this problem.

It is also often noticeable that upon closer inspection of a smartphone or tablet based on this technology, the user seems to see all the pixels separately. Only in this case you need to look at the screen at a distance of less than 5 cm, which, of course, spoils your eyesight. So these experiments have no actual application in life. The average user holds a tablet or smartphone about 30 cm from their face.

Samsung is a big fan of Super AMOLED displays and actively equips its devices with advanced technologies in this area. This also applies to white balance and sharper black tones. So the latest devices from the Korean manufacturer have amazingly rich pictures and are not afraid of the sun. A wide viewing angle and a long time of normal pixel operation are included.

The key difference between Super AMOLED and standard AMOLED technology (which is often used by companies that are trying to save money, such as Motorola) is that Super AMOLED has reduced the thickness of the protective film over the sensors by an order of magnitude, which results in a more saturated color under the same conditions security.

Plus, Super AMOLED also offers better battery life, although again manufacturers work hard to minimize the differences between the technologies.

IPS LCD

In the other corner of the ring we have an IPS LCD, which stands for In-Plane Switching Liquid Crystal Display. If Super AMOLED is an upgrade from AMOLED, then IPS LCD is an improvement on the first types of liquid crystal displays. The mighty Apple has become fixated on these types of displays, releasing all iPhones with the same technology over the years. It's cheaper to produce, which is a bonus. But iPhones have never been cheap. So?

Essentially, LCD uses polarized light, which is then passed through a color filter. No separate elements. Horizontal and vertical filters on either side of the liquid crystals control brightness and operate regardless of whether each pixel is on or off. We add backlighting here and we see that usually phones with similar technology have a rather thick body. iPhones from Apple this is rather an exception.

Since all the pixels are backlit, the black balance turns out to be backlit, “gray”. This is where the contrast suffers. But the white color doesn’t care - it loves many colors, so white looks more beautiful than all other tones on this technology and sometimes even better than an oleophobic display, since there it becomes a little yellowish. The most interesting thing is that Apple calls one of its colors offered for phones dark gray. It's black though. Just overexposed. Because it cannot be otherwise. But against the background of the same color of the case it is not so noticeable. Mimicry tricks the eyes. We think we see black because the brain matches it with the color of the body. A cunning commercial move.

The first thing that's bad about this technology is that the viewing angles are often not very good. This is again the fault of the backlight. Photographers tend to choose IPS LCDs because they display colors more accurately. After all, photographs are often taken in excellent artificial or natural lighting, hence the predominance of white over black. And when we see black and gray night photos, we can blame the bad flash. Only the flash has nothing to do with it. This is the same “dark gray” black color.

Conclusion

There's no winner when it comes to AMOLED vs IPS LCD, but there are conventions worth considering. Therefore, the quality of the screen primarily comes down to which reference technology the manufacturer uses. It is also worth considering that many color rendering problems - from blurry blacks to white spots - can be removed using digital processing, which is what advanced processors actively do before giving us the final picture. Of course, this affects battery performance. So the company HTC, which relied heavily on digital processing of its advanced cameras by the processor, suffered severe overheating of the chips. The IPS display type played a cruel joke on the Taiwanese manufacturer.

In any case, both technologies have their drawbacks. So it’s nice to have something new, a third, that will bring the advantages of both technologies together to the delight of a satisfied consumer.