Today’s smartphones use several different display panel technologies, each with its own strengths and trade-offs.

Today’s smartphones use several different display panel technologies, each with its own strengths and trade-offs.

Some of the most common types are:

• LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
• IPS LCD – In-Plane Switching Liquid Crystal Display
• OLED – Organic Light Emitting Diode Display
• AMOLED – Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode

LCD

LCDs utilize a backlight that shines constantly through a layer of liquid crystals and color filters. Because the light is always on, the screen cannot create perfect black (it appears as dark gray). These displays are known for being affordable, durable, and having a long lifespan without the risk of screen burn-in.

IPS LCD

This is an improved version of standard LCD technology designed to fix color and viewing angle issues. By arranging the internal liquid crystals horizontally, IPS screens allow you to look at the display from extreme side angles without the colors washing out. They offer superior color accuracy and sharpness compared to traditional LCDs.

OLED

OLED screens do not use a backlight. Instead, every single pixel is made of an organic material that lights up individually when electricity is applied. To show black, the pixel simply turns off completely. This results in “true blacks,” infinite contrast ratios, and extremely vibrant colors, while allowing the screens to be much thinner and even flexible.

AMOLED

Mainly used in smartphones, this is an advanced type of OLED that adds an “Active Matrix” (a layer of transistors) to control each pixel. This allows the screen to react much faster and use less power than a standard passive OLED. It combines the deep blacks and vibrant colors of OLED with the high refresh rates and precise touch response needed for modern mobile devices.