Most parameter enthusiasts will scrutinize the screen used in smartphones when purchasing:
For example, the iPhone 11 uses an LCD screen, while the 11 Pro uses an OLED screen.
So, which is better when buying a phone, LCD or OLED?
Definitions of LCD and OLED
An LCD screen is simply a liquid crystal display that cannot emit light by itself and requires backlighting; the backlight emits white light that passes through color filters to project the three primary colors. To simplify, think of an LCD as a neon light casing that cannot emit light by itself but shows neon colors through internal lighting.
OLEDis made of organic self-emitting materials that have the property of emitting light. When current passes through, these organic materials emit light, projecting red, green, and blue light. It is like a billboard filled with small bulbs, where each bulb can emit primary colors of light by itself.
Thus, the main difference between the two is that LCD cannot emit light by itself, while OLED can emit light by itself.
Differences Between the Two
1. Thickness: LCD screens are thicker and harder, and cannot be bent; OLED screens can be bent and are lighter and thinner. From a structural perspective, AMOLED can be nearly 30% thinner than LCD.
2. Price: Due to the maturity of LCD technology, LCD is cheaper.
3. Lifespan: LCD screens use inorganic materials, while OLED screens use organic materials, and OLED has a shorter lifespan than LCD.
4. Color performance: LCD emits light through backlight refraction, which can cause light leakage and a whitish effect when displaying black, making black appear more gray. OLED can showcase colors through self-emission, resulting in more vibrant and saturated displays, but it has a risk of burn-in.
(Performance on black)
5. Power consumption: The light-emitting principle of LCD causes light efficiency to drop due to color filters. Some analyses suggest that the utilization rate of backlight brightness for LCD does not exceed 15%, wasting 85% of energy. Thus, OLED is more energy-efficient than LCD.
LCD will never be a slave
OLED screens are often referred to as “eye-straining screens” due to the issue of screen flickering. When adjusting the brightness of the screen, OLED screens use PWM dimming, which means that they turn on and off every second to control brightness, adjusting the brightness based on the ratio of on-off time.
As long as I can turn on and off fast enough, the brain will not perceive the rapid switching of on-off states. For those sensitive to flickering, PWM dimming can be particularly uncomfortable at low brightness, especially at night, which is why some people feel noticeable eye pain and discomfort when using their phones at night.
However, many manufacturers have introduced DC dimming to address flickering issues, but this has led to burn-in and uneven brightness problems.
LCD fans shout: LCD will never be a slave, precisely because of the critical flickering problem of OLED.
(Demonstration of screen flicker under camera)
Future Trends
Although OLED has flickering issues, in everyday use, the human eye cannot perceive it significantly; only those who are very sensitive to flickering will truly feel discomfort.
With more advantages than disadvantages, OLED has better contrast, better black performance, wider color gamut, is lighter, thinner, and can be bent, etc. This is why mainstream flagship devices now choose OLED screens.
In the future, the trend of smartphone development will also move towards full screens, curved/foldable screens, and under-screen fingerprint and camera technologies, making OLED’s position unshakeable. LCD screens will be more commonly applied in mid to low-end smartphones due to their low cost and mature technology.
So, should you choose an LCD or OLED screen? I have summarized the pros and cons of both for you.If you are particularly sensitive to flickering, it is recommended to choose LCD; otherwise, choosing an OLED screen can provide a better visual experience.
What type of screen does your phone currently use, LCD or OLED, and how is your experience? Feel free to leave a message and chat with me.
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