At the moment, global manufacturers have begun to produce smartphones with IPS screen, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of conventional displays in its parameters. So, among the main characteristics of this element, it should be noted:
- Excellent reproduction of the entire existing spectrum of colors. Now the consumer will be able to see an image that maximally conveys the smallest features of the texture of the object.
- The matrix is very resistant to physical or mechanical influences. If ordinary displays begin to distort the image when pressed, then such deformations do not threaten these screens.
- The quality of the picture, which is unable to create problems with vision, regardless of the time of constant use of the phone. This characteristic has been verified with the help of special tests by highly qualified ophthalmologists.
- Fairly wide viewing angles. Now the consumer has the opportunity to watch their favorite programs or play games even in public transport, without feeling the slightest inconvenience. The viewing angle is equal to 178 degrees vertically and horizontally.
- The response takes a very small amount of time, despite the well-established stereotype about the low performance of such devices. Choosing a smartphone with an IPS screen means purchasing a high-quality product that is ready to optimally fulfill any requirements of its immediate owner.
- The ability to watch videos and play games in maximum quality. Together with this display, phone models are often equipped with a high-frequency processor that can guarantee the maximum speed of all device processes.
These excellent apparatuses do not currently cost much. So, for a smartphone with an IPS screen, the price is consistently calculated for all average citizens of the state. The acquisition of such a masterpiece of technology is also quite simple, since numerous stores already work directly with manufacturers' branches. The consumer needs to decide on the model he likes and the company that developed it, and then place an order via the Internet or personally visit the place of sale. These devices can radically change the standard of human life, give him the opportunity to relax, no matter where he is.
We continue the section on how to choose the right smartphone that will delight the user. We have already talked: what are, what is better, the pros and cons. Today we will talk about choosing a smartphone screen. The topic is quite complex and extensive, since by now there are many technologies for the production of displays, their protection, in addition, they are presented in a variety of diagonals, with different ratios, and so on. It is the screen that often becomes a stumbling block when choosing a smartphone. It is not surprising. The display is exactly the part of the device with which we have to work more. In case of the wrong choice, it is likely that the screen will cause a lot of inconvenience: poor picture quality, low brightness, poor sensitivity. But do not worry, today we will touch on each of the aspects, telling you about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen.
Smartphone matrix type
It is worth starting with the type of matrix. In many ways, the quality will depend on the choice of the type of screen matrix. So, today it is customary to distinguish three varieties:
- TN+film
- AMOLED
The first two are based on liquid crystals, the second - on organic light emitting diodes. Each of the types is represented by several subspecies (in the case of IPS, more than 20 different ones), which one way or another are found in the production of panels.
Some of you are wondering: "Where is the TFT?". Due to ignorance of some resources, this abbreviation is often used as a designation for the type of matrix, which is incorrect. The term TFT refers to thin film transistors used to organize the operation of subpixels. They are applied practically in each of considered types of matrices. Transistors are also available in several varieties, one of which is LTPS (polycrystalline silicon). LTPS is a relatively new subspecies, which stands out for its lower power consumption and more compact transistor sizes, which is also reflected in pixel sizes. As a result: a higher pixel density, a better and clearer picture.
TN+film
Back to matrices. Most of the matrices familiar to us, as already noted, are liquid crystal, that is, LCD. The principle is to polarize the light that passes through the filter, turning into the appropriate colors. The first of the varieties of liquid crystal matrices is TN + film. With the spread of "film" was dropped, shortening the name to "TN". The simplest type, which by today is rather outdated and is used only in the cheapest smartphones (and even then, you still have to find it). TN cannot boast of good viewing angles or contrast, and has poor color reproduction.
In general, avoid TN when choosing a smartphone screen - the type is outdated.
IPS
Next comes IPS. This technology is also not young - the age has already exceeded 20 years. Meanwhile, IPS-matrices are the most widespread in the smartphone market. Open any online store, choose the first smartphone that comes across and make sure of my words. This type of matrices is presented both in the budget segment and in the flagship one. In addition to improved performance, when compared with TN, IPS received a large number of varieties. However, you should not understand everything - two types of dominance are divided in the smartphone market: AH-IPS and PLS. Their creators are the two largest companies in South Korea and the whole world: LG and Samsung, respectively. What is the difference? She is practically non-existent. Matrices of two types are like twin brothers, so you can not be afraid to choose a smartphone with any of them. Identity has even been the subject of litigation between companies.
IPS boasts wider viewing angles than TN, good color reproduction, and a high pixel density, resulting in a gorgeous picture. But the power consumption is about the same - in any case, LEDs are used for illumination. Since there are quite a few varieties of IPS matrices, they also differ in their characteristics. This difference can be seen even "by eye". Cheaper IPS can be too faded, or vice versa - have an oversaturated color. It complicates the choice of a smartphone screen in that manufacturers are often silent about the type of matrix.
Definitely, when choosing between a TN and IPS screen, preference is given to the latter.
AMOLED
An even more modern type, which is common today, as a rule, among high-end smartphones. AMOLEDs are organic light-emitting diodes that do not require external illumination, as is the case with IPS or TN - they glow on their own. Already at this point, their first advantage can be distinguished - smaller sizes. Further - AMOLED is represented by more saturated colors. Black looks especially good, during the display of which the LED simply fades out. AMOLED displays are more contrasty, boast wide viewing angles and lower power consumption (there are nuances). Just a fairy tale, right? But before choosing a smartphone with AMOLED screen, you should learn about its shortcomings.
The main disadvantage is considered to be a shorter service life compared to IPS. After a certain period (as a rule, after three years changes in color are observed), on average, after 6-10 years, pixels begin to “burn out”. Moreover, bright colors are especially prone to fading, so users often use dark themes in order to extend the service life. In addition, power consumption is greatly affected by the brightness of the colors on the screen. If a bright picture is displayed in bright colors, then AMOLED consumes more energy than IPS. Finally, OLED arrays are more expensive to manufacture.
Be that as it may, this does not negate the manufacturability and quality of AMOLED. Sores in the form of "burn-in pixels" are gradually cured, and subspecies of matrices appear that are getting better. For example, Super AMOLED. This variety appeared seven years ago, bringing a lot of improvements. Power consumption has been reduced, brightness has been increased. In addition, the air gap between the tach and the matrix has disappeared, which increased the sensitivity of the screen, and also eliminated the ingress of dust.
AMOLED today is considered the most technological matrices that are actively developing. If until recently they were used mainly in Samsung smartphones, today they are chosen by a huge number of smartphone manufacturers (almost every major brand has presented a solution with an AMOLED screen.
Design features of smartphone screens
But not only the type of matrix should be taken into account when choosing a smartphone screen. There are still a whole bunch of features that affect the final quality of the picture and the feeling of using it. We will focus on the most important points.
Air gap
Until recently, the screens of all smartphones were represented by two components: the touch layer and the matrix itself. Between them there was an air gap, the thickness of which depended directly on the manufacturer. Naturally, the thinner the layer, the better. Companies regularly reduced the air gap, making the picture quality higher and viewing angles wider. Relatively recently, it was possible to completely get rid of the air gap thanks to OGS technology. Now the sensor layer and the matrix are merged together. Despite the significant improvement in quality, there is an obvious drawback. In case of damage to the OGG screen, it will have to be replaced completely, while in displays with an air layer, only the glass takes the blow.
Be that as it may, more and more manufacturers are choosing OGS screens. Yes, and we advise you to give preference to this technology. Believe me, you don't have to worry about the complicated repair of the feelings that you will experience when using such a display.
A relatively recent thread that Samsung brought to the market with its Galaxy flagship S6 Edge (was also Galaxy Note, but only one edge is bent there). The South Korean manufacturer will continue to develop the idea in subsequent smartphones, but the rest of the companies did not share the idea too much. The company bends the right and left sides of the devices - the screen seems to float on the ends. This is done not only for the sake of spectacular appearance but also for the convenience of the user. Are brought here additional functions, notifications can also be displayed here. A fascinating feature, but not everyone needs it.
Samsung managed to implement the curved display most successfully, therefore, if such a design is interesting, we advise you to consider the solutions of the South Korean brand.
An even more recent trend is bezel-less screens. The progenitor is Sharp, which showed the first frameless smartphone back in 2014, but users were attracted by the frameless Mi Mix shown in 2016. By the summer of 2017, a number of companies announced their intention to release such gadgets. Today, the market is rapidly filling up, with the newest models costing less than $100.
To date, there are several variations of the bezel-less screen: elongated displays that have reduced bezels at the top and bottom; familiar displays, devoid of frames on three sides (except the bottom). The first type is samsung galaxy S8 is a pair of smartphones from LG (G6 and ). To the second -, Doogee Mix, Xiaomi Mi Mix and many others, whose ranks are constantly replenished.
Frameless smartphones look really cool, and the low cost allows everyone to try out modern technologies.
The well-known company Apple in the iPhone 6S introduced new technology at the time of release - 3D Touch. With it, the screen began to respond not only to touch, but also to the force of pressing. The technology began to be used, as a rule, to commit any quick action. Also, 3D Touch made it possible to work with text, draw with great comfort (the brush reacts to the force of pressure), and so on. The function did not become something completely unusual, but it found its user. Later, a similar technology appeared 6, was also announced in .
Touch screen type
Not a particularly important criterion when choosing a smartphone screen, but, nevertheless, let's dwell on it a little. There are several types touch displays: matrix (very, very rare) resistive and capacitive. Resistive screens were ubiquitous until recently, but today they are only found in very rare and cheap smartphones. This type is different in that it reacts to any touch: with a finger, a pen, or at least control another phone. It supports only one touch, it does not always work accurately. In general, an obsolete type.
Capacitive screens are vastly superior to their predecessors. They already support more than one simultaneous touch, have better sensitivity, work much more accurately. However, their production is more expensive.
Like it or not, the vast majority of companies have abandoned resistive screens in smartphones. And this is for the best. In addition, the cost of capacitives is constantly decreasing, which allows manufacturers to install them in the cheapest smartphones.
Another important aspect when choosing a smartphone screen is the number of simultaneous touches. This parameter determines what operations you can perform on the display. The first smartphones equipped with resistive screens, were limited to one simultaneous touch, which was not always enough. The screens of modern smartphones often support 2, 3, 5 or 10 simultaneous touches. What gives big number simultaneous touches:
- Scaling and zooming. One of the first features that appeared in the iPhone - the first smartphone with support for two simultaneous touches. For example, you can reduce or enlarge images by pinching or spreading your fingers on the screen.
- Gesture control. Multiple fingers make it possible to use various gestures.
- Management in games. Most modern games require the use of several fingers at the same time.
Do not chase support for 10 simultaneous touches if you do not play on a smartphone. For the vast majority of users, 5 touches are enough, and even less demanding ones will not experience discomfort with 2.
Significant parameters when choosing a smartphone screen go hand in hand. The diagonal of the display reflects its dimensions in inches.
An inch corresponds to 2.54 centimeters. For example, the screen diagonal of a 5-inch smartphone in centimeters is 12.7 centimeters. note: Diagonal is measured from corner to corner of the screen, excluding bezels.
What screen size to choose? You will have to answer this question yourself. The market of modern smartphones offers a variety of diagonals, starting from about 3.5-4 inches, ending with almost 7 inches. There are also more compact options, but you can ignore them - working with miniature icons is not very convenient. The best way choose a diagonal - personally hold the smartphone in your hands. If you are comfortable using one hand, then the diagonal is “your”.
It is also impossible to recommend specific numbers because each person has a different hand size, finger length. One and 6-inch is comfortable to use, the other - and 5 inches is a lot. It is also worth considering that smartphones with the same diagonal can be of different sizes in general. A simple example: a 5.5" is comparable to a 5" model with regular bezels. Therefore, when choosing a smartphone screen, it is also desirable to take into account the thickness of the frames.
Be that as it may, there is a tendency to increase the diagonals of the screen. If in 2011 the vast majority of users were limited to 4 inches, then in 2014 the largest percentage belonged to 5 inches, today the market is captured by solutions with 5.5 inches.
With permission, the situation is simpler.
Resolution reflects the number of pixels per unit area. The higher the resolution, the better the picture quality. Again, the same resolution looks different on two different diagonals. Here it is worth mentioning the density of pixels per inch, which is denoted by the abbreviation PPI. Here the same rule as in the case of resolution: the higher the density, the better. True, experts do not agree on the exact figure: a number claims that a comfortable value starts at 350 PPI, others give large numbers, and others give smaller ones. At the same time, it is worth remembering that human vision is very individual: someone will not see a pixel even at 300 PPI, while the other will find something to complain about even at 500 PPI.
- with a diagonal of up to 4-4.5 inches, most smartphones get a resolution of 840x480 pixels (about 250 PPI);
- 4.5 to 5 inches good choice is HD-resolution (1280x720 pixels) (density ranges from 326 to 294 PPI)
- more than 5 inches - you should look towards FullHD (1920x1080 pixels) or even higher resolutions
Latest Samsung smartphones and a number of models from other companies receive a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels, which provides a high pixel density and a clear picture. The recent flagship from Sony was even presented with a 4K screen resolution, which at 5.5 inches guarantees a record 801 PPI.
Screen coverage
Until recently, the screens of mobile devices were covered with ordinary plastic, which quickly scratched, distorted the color rendition, and did not feel very tactile. It was replaced by glass, which does not care about the keys lying around in your pocket. Now on the market there is not a single type of glass that differs in strength and, accordingly, in price. 2.5D glass, curved from the edges, has gained particular popularity today. They not only guarantee high reliability, but also give the smartphone a more stylish look.
In addition, the screens of modern smartphones have a special oil-repellent coating (oleophobic layer), which provides good finger gliding and prevents stains. To determine the presence of an oleophobic layer, it is enough to place a drop of water on the screen. The better the drop retains its shape (does not spread), the better the layer.
Naturally, the quality of the oleophobic layer and glass affect the cost of the smartphone. You will hardly find a budget model that can boast the same durable glass as the flagship solution. Today, the most popular manufacturer of protective glasses is Corning, whose line ends with Gorilla Glass 5.
Additional screen
If one display is not enough for you, then a number of companies offer smartphones with additional screens. They are usually small, but serve to display notifications. And YotaPhone 2, known to many, offers a second E-link display that occupies the entire back side, which is convenient to read. AT model range LG has solutions with a small screen that displays notifications. Recently, a similar smartphone with additional screen Meizu was also noted with its flagship.
The second screen is a rather peculiar feature that not everyone needs. Nevertheless, such smartphones find their user, and more than one.
Conclusion
Well, they seem to have told about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen. The material turned out to be quite extensive, we hope that everyone will find answers to their questions. You should not chase the most expensive screen, but it is also contraindicated to save too much - we are looking for that very golden mean. Although the current mobile electronics market itself will direct you in the right direction, pointing out what is popular and in demand. Today, the risk of stumbling upon a low-quality display, which will be dull when pressed, is much lower, manufacturers have significantly raised the quality bar. Even third-tier companies in their ultra budget smartphones quite good matrices are used. Well, we can only wish you good luck in your choice.
By the way, the line of articles on the criteria for the right choice does not end there. We have already talked about that, check it out. Materials on the topic of choosing a processor and cameras will appear soon, so subscribe to notifications and the Vkontakte group.
Now many smartphones in terms of hardware are similar to each other. The same processors, graphics accelerators, the amount of RAM and long-term memory - all as one for selection. And sometimes the decisive factor that outweighs our decision in the direction of a certain model is the screen of the device. Therefore, today I want to tell everything that I know about it myself. I hope that the information will be useful to those who take into account the characteristics of the display when buying a smartphone.
Basic terminology
- LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)- liquid crystal display.
- TFT (Thin Film Transistor)- Matrix manufacturing technology based on the use of thin-film transistors.
- IPS (In-Plane Switching)- improved technology for manufacturing matrices, based on the use of thin-film transistors.
- OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)- Matrix manufacturing technology based on the use of semiconductor devices.
- AMOLED (Active Matxrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode)- type of active matrix, based on the use of single transistors.
- Super AMOLED- an improved modification of the AMOLED matrix, in which there is no air gap between the sensor and the screen.
matrices
Most often, this indicator flaunts on the websites of online stores MTS, Svyaznoy, Beeline, Megafon and other companies. So it is written: “matrix type”. And behind the colon are very scary English abbreviations. Such as, for example, TFT TN, IPS, AMOLED and so on. And now let's put everything from this area, as they say, on the shelves.
First of all, I want to mention the division of matrices into liquid crystal and LED. The former include TFT TN and IPS, the latter - AMOLED and SuperAMOLED. What are TFT matrices? FROM of English language this acronym stands for Thin-Film Transistor. From the point of view of circuit and electrical engineering, these are thin-film transistors. They are used in smartphones to control the operation of subpixels. It is believed that the basic principles of TFT technology are applied in absolutely all types of matrices. Only somewhere to a greater, and somewhere - to a lesser extent. Nevertheless, this question remains open, which users, in fact, have been arguing for more than a year.
Until recently, manufacturers of TFT-matrices used amorphous silicon for the corresponding operations. But, as you know, progress does not stand still: polycrystalline silicon is already in use, and thanks to its use, such matrices have a new name (LTPS -TFT). It should be noted right away that the main advantage of such a matrix is the reduction in the size of transistors and, as a result, the reduction in energy consumption. It is easy to draw a logical conclusion: this fact allows you to achieve a higher PPI (pixel density).
It's educational: How do matrices work? Primarily, a current is applied to the molecules of liquid crystals. This leads to the fact that the angle of light polarization is set. By the way, the angle directly affects what level of brightness each individual subpixel will have. A special light filter stands in the way of polarized light. Passing through it, the light changes its wavelength, as a result of which the color applied later to the subpixel (when the screen is backlit) changes.
The first type of matrix installed in a smartphone is called TN. The reference information about the matrix is as follows: a small viewing angle, low contrast, an extremely low level of color reproduction by today's standards. If we talk about the angle in more detail, then it is no more than 60 degrees in case of deviation in the vertical plane. Due to such a low indicator, even with small deviations, color inversion is noticeable. AT this moment we can confidently say that the era of TN-matrices is coming to an end, because they remain only in the oldest and / or cheap smartphones.
TFT TN was replaced by TFT IPS. This matrix is installed in almost all budget smartphones. It is the most widespread. Alternative name IPS is SFT. The debut of this type of matrix took place two decades ago. Since different manufacturers worked tirelessly to improve performance and release modifications. Their number, by the way, also almost reached the mark of two dozen. According to the latest data, the most technologically advanced of them are the most popular: PLS manufactured by Samsung and AH-IPS manufactured by LG.
They are close to each other in terms of properties, so the question of choice here is replaced, rather, with the question of dividing the spheres of influence of firms. It is interesting that such similarities in the technological plan at one time became a stumbling block between the two companies, which led to a tough trial. Well, what to do if Samsung has the following fate: today it is suing LG, tomorrow it is Apple.
The main advantages of IPS-type matrices are as follows: they boast wide viewing angles, realistic color reproduction and a fairly high PPI. The viewing angle can reach 180 degrees. However, often smartphone manufacturers do not provide information about which modification of the IPS matrix is installed in the device. And, meanwhile, the differences can be seen even with the naked eye. The disadvantage of IPS is the fading of the image when strongly tilted.
Fundamental differences exist between liquid crystal and LED matrices bearing the name OLED. The light source in such matrices is subpixels. They, so to speak, are organic LEDs of a VERY small size. Smartphones use AMOLED to create displays. It is important that this also uses a TFT-matrix, which allows you to control subpixels. This is just an occasion for discussions between users.
It is AMOLED displays that show black color best. Its incomparable depth can be explained by a technological feature: in order to simulate a shade of black, the matrix simply needs to turn off or not use the LEDs. I think that this will again lead readers to a logical conclusion: if so, then the power consumption of AMOLED is better than that of LCD. And it really is. At one time this type of matrix had its drawback: LEDs of different colors had different service lives. But since he was promoted to a minimum of three years, the problem has gone into oblivion.
Does subpixel pattern affect perception?
Definitely. We are accustomed to thinking that the whole point lies only in the technology used to make the screen matrix. But no, the situation is somewhat different. Let's start with the simplest, namely liquid crystal matrices. They have RGB pixels. Each of these pixels consists of three sub-pixels. They can be drawn out in one of two shapes: either a checkmark or a rectangle.
And then what happens in AMOLED screens? I have already talked about the fact that the light source in AMOLED's is the subpixels themselves. It so happened that the human eye is less sensitive to red and blue than to green. Given this factor, we can say that such a pattern, if used in AMOLED, will worsen color reproduction compared to IPS. The picture will be unrealistic, to put it simply.
To overcome this shortcoming, manufacturers have tried using a technology called PenTile. She assumed the presence of two types of pixels. The first one is red-green, the second one is blue-green. Each, mind you, was divided into two subpixels of the corresponding shades. In parallel, the subpixels had different shapes. The reds and blues were represented by almost perfect squares, while the greens were represented by elongated rectangles. In the end, everything led to the fact that the engineers got an impure white color, as well as visible jagged edges on the borders of the colors. In general, we got almost more problems than before.
But not everything is as bad as it seems. Samsung decided to fix the identified problems, and it succeeded. The company's modern screens are built on the principle of the RG-BG system, but now they use a new type of pattern. It was dubbed the Diamond PenTile after successful testing. If translated, by the way, it will turn out symbolically. But to the point: the technology makes the white shade more natural, the jagged edges are “eliminated” by increasing the PPI to such an indicator that the irregularities are simply not noticeable anymore.
Design features
Well, we figured out the types of matrices, the principle of their work and the peculiarities of the perception of the human eye. Now it's time to talk about how the design features can affect the quality of the display and the choice of potential buyers as a result. Let's start again with the simplest factor.
Manufacturers, wondering what else could be improved, first of all set about the air gap between the sensor and the display. This is where the life of the technology called OGS begins. Speaking indirectly and rudely, then this is nothing more than a technical sandwich. In it, the sensor and matrix are combined into one glass unit. And such an experiment paid off: the image quality was significantly improved due to the increase in viewing angles and an increase in the level of color reproduction. In addition, this “sandwich” was able to be reduced in size, which had a positive effect on the dimensions of smartphones. As for the disadvantages: if the user breaks the glass, then the entire package will have to be changed. It is not possible to separate the component from the display. Although this is the case when there are more pluses than minuses.
The greatest success in this area was again seen with the South Korean giant Samsung. The engineers decided to place capacitive sensors between the subpixels. What did it lead to? To further reduce the thickness of the “sandwich”. I would say that the technology of 2.5D displays is now actively spreading. The bottom line is the glass curved around the edges. This principle allows you to make the smartphone more attractive and comfortable, as the edges become as smooth as possible.
As a logical continuation of the procedure, not only curved glasses appeared, but also curved displays. What company has them? Of course, everything is clear here! Oh, those Edges ... Although Samsung was the first to get on this peculiar path, LG also contributed. Although in terms of technology, their method is slightly different from that proposed by “other Koreans”. In the case of LG, we have to talk more about curved smartphone, not the display.
Screen technologies
1. LTPS (Low-Temperature Poly Silicon or Low Temperature Poly Silicon Technology). This technology allows you to get a screen built on silicon polycrystals. Polycrystals are obtained by using (relatively) low temperatures. Laser burning allows you to complete the crystallization process at the interval of 300-400 degrees. By embedding semiconductor elements directly on the screen using laser burning, we can save on substrates, because all transistors will be located together with liquid crystals. We also save energy because the design results in less heat generation. The same goal is achieved by engineers who lower the technological standard of processors. You can read more about this here. Keep in mind that a display with LTPS technology will show increased brightness, as well as more compact dimensions.
2. GFF (Glass-to-film-to-film full lamination or full lamination of glass from film to film). This technology consists in the fact that the screen is assembled according to the sandwich scheme, where the “filling” is glass, and the “buns” are films. If we compare GFF with other technologies, then it can lose to them more than once in color reproduction, brightness range and other parameters. On the other hand, do not think that GFF provides poor performance, no. Everything is relative. And the trump card of this technology is the lower cost. For many users who are not fans of watching movies on a smartphone, this is an important criterion. For it directly affects the final cost of the device.
3. In-Cell. For the first time in the world smart phones this technology was demonstrated by Apple on the example of the almost sunk into oblivion iPhone 5. Following Cupertino, Koreans from LG presented their developments. The essence of the technology is as follows. A layer is formed inside the display, which consists of a mixture of indium oxides and silicon oxides. This killer chemical mixture has an effect on throughput screen. And this includes not only color reproduction, but also the refraction of the light falling on the display. At the same time, the use of In-Cell leads to an increase in the compactness of the screen. And this means that the device itself will become thinner and lighter.
4. OGS (One Glass Solution or single glass solution). The point is that the matrix and the touchscreen are a monolithic inseparable structure. Now in the middle and upper price segment, this technology is very popular. It is generally accepted that the absence of OGS can only be forgiven by state employees, and even then users sometimes demand the presence of this technology from them. In any case, the point of using OGS is to get best color reproduction, extended viewing angles, thin screen. Secondarily, it is possible to improve energy efficiency (due to the lack of a buffer layer, where losses usually occur). In addition, a priori, dust or dirt cannot get between the touchscreen and the matrix. The disadvantages of the technology are obvious: firstly, it is the high cost of manufacturing. Secondly, in the event of a breakdown, you will have to change the entire module, which again will come out more expensive.
Separately about IPS
Since it so happened that IPS is the most common matrix in modern smartphones, we need to talk about them separately. Especially considering the fact that today they are produced by different companies, and indeed the number of various modifications has almost reached two dozen units. If you manage to clarify what type of IPS-matrix is installed in the device that you are considering buying, this will give a big bonus. Because such knowledge is the key to choice. I will not name all types, but only those that are most often installed in mobile devices.
1) "Pure" IPS. Base, standard - call it what you want. Pure IPS has good viewing angles, and fairly realistic color reproduction (at 8 bits per channel).
2) S-IPS (Super-IPS). Improvement of the ordinary matrix, in which, in addition, the response time is reduced.
3) A-SIPS (Advanced Super-IPS). This modification was created by a corporation called Hitachi. Improvements touched on contrast, color gamut.
4) H-IPS (Horizontal IPS). As the name implies, the developers managed to improve the visual uniformity of the image displayed on the screen in the horizontal plane. Secondarily improved contrast.
5) H-IPS A-TW (Horizontal IPS with Advanced True Wide Polarizer). The NEC corporation became the customer of such matrices, the matrix itself was developed and supplied by Korean LG specialists. In fact, this is an H-IPS modification panel that uses a True White color filter (translated as "real white"). This results in increased viewing angles as white becomes more realistic. The use of Advanced True Wide Polarizer technology (a polarizing film is technologically used) allows you to achieve even greater viewing angles. As a result, we get a display that can be twisted without loss of image quality as soon as you like.
6) IPS-Pro (IPS-Provectus). The improvements mostly relate to the level of contrast and color gamut.
7) S-IPS Pro (aka Advanced Fringe Field Switching). There are use cases in smartphones, but most of these matrices are integrated into tablet computers. They use a more powerful electric field, which allows you to achieve record levels in terms of brightness. The viewing angles are secondarily increased and the distance between pixels is reduced. This makes the picture more uniform, erasing sharp inter-pixel borders.
8) E-IPS (Enhanced IPS). Reduced response time (5 milliseconds), increased diagonal viewing angle. Compared to their counterparts, E-IPS matrices use more technologically advantageous backlight lamps. And it's not that their production is cheaper, but that they have less energy consumption.
9) P-IPS (Professional IPS). Matrices of this type have a 30-bit color depth, with the ability to transmit up to 1.07 billion shades.
1 0) AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance IPS). The main arguments "for": increased image resolution, increased PPI value, minimum power consumption, high brightness and improved color reproduction.
Who makes the matrices?
The main suppliers of matrices for smartphones are companies such as LG and Samsung. They are echoed by Phillips, NEC, Dell. However, LG remains the undisputed leader in this area. To date, it is her matrices that are most in demand. It is understandable: the company is responsible for quality. Often these matrices are used in the company's devices. With all this, Samsung is focusing on the release of AMOLED and Super AMOLED for their devices. Phillips and Dell produce mediocre products. But NEC is working more on the design and production of matrices for professional computer monitors.
Help in choosing
I talked about what types of matrices are, how they work and what affects the color reproduction of an image displayed on a smartphone display. And now it's time to draw final conclusions that will help users decide on the purchase of devices. You need to pay attention to the following indicators:
1) Matrix type. Probably the most important indicator. If you come across IPS, try to clarify its modification as much as possible. Good AMOLED matrices are offered by Samsung in a fairly cheap price segment (up to 15,000 rubles).
2) Screen size. Yes, yes, it affects the time battery life and overall performance. Today, 5 inches is considered the standard, although the transition to "shovels" with diagonals from 5.5 inches is actively taking place. Remember: the larger the diagonal, the greater the power consumption, all other things being equal, so be sure to check the battery data.
3) Screen resolution. It may seem strange to many, but screen resolution affects performance. To understand the meaning of this statement, it is enough to recall the impact of resolution on the performance of the same PC in games. Roughly speaking, the device has to spend more resources on processing pixels, which can lead to stuttering. On the other hand, regular HD will suffice for ordinary users, and moviegoers should think about buying a device with Full HD. It is hardly worth looking further, because for our eyes this difference will be almost imperceptible.
4) Pixel density. For budget devices, an acceptable indicator is a figure that falls in the range from 250 to 300 pixels per inch. For more expensive representatives of this class, the figure can rise up to 400 PPI. Well, then there are already pre-top and top-end configurations. Do not forget that the density of pixels is inextricably linked with the diagonal of the screen and its resolution. From experience I can say that everyday use 5 inches with HD resolution and a density of just over 300 PPI is enough, but in VR glasses the picture will be terribly pixelated.
5) Backlight level. Considering that many of us spend almost more time behind the screens of smartphones than in front of the displays of computers and laptops, this is an important parameter. Firstly, the presence of an anti-reflective coating or glass (which is undoubtedly better) is more important than ever. Secondly, the brightness adjustment range should be such that the text remains readable in the sun, and in the dark, with a minimum backlight level, the screen does not blind your eyes.
6) Technology. The more expensive the device, the more amenities it will have in the form of a variety of technologies. We have already discussed in more detail what technologies can be used in the manufacture of screens in a dedicated section.
7) Screen protector. If the device does not have a structural protective glass, you need to run for the pasted to the store. Secondly, the presence of an oleophobic coating is important. Now it is quite often applied to screens, including state employees. One plus of oleophobic is that the finger slides over such a coating, well, just like a knife through butter. The second plus, more important - the coating protects the screen from greasy stains. Of course, over time, even the applied oleophobic coating will begin to wear off.
What awaits us?
Companies are actively working not only to improve the performance of smartphones. It is naive to think that batteries and processors are a priority. No, firms distribute efforts evenly. And one of the branches of development is just screens. It is possible that we will soon see QLED technology in action, based on the use of quantum dots. It will once again reduce power consumption, while increasing the level of color reproduction. The likelihood of creating flexible displays. But until this happens, we will rely on the results of this article.
To date, there are several different technologies for the manufacture of phone screens, and between them there is an unspoken struggle for superiority.
Such a fate did not pass and ips along with amoled.
IPS and AMOLED - what it is?
When buying a telephone, not everyone pays attention to its important part - the screen. The main thing is that he was. And he worked well.
Not even all users know that they are different and differ from each other in a number of characteristics.
But still screenips oramoled- what's better?
In the IT technology market, there are several methods for the production of telephone screens:
- Amoled - Used by Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG.
- TFT - Siemens, Samsung.
- E-Ink - Digma, Sony, Tesla.
- LCD - are more common among all presented. Nokia, Samsung.
- Ips - Lenovo, Xiaomi.
A moled
Display technology inspired by LCD screens . They convey a fairly rich range of colors, for which they differ from all the others.
The image is bright and saturated. At first, such a color rendition indescribably pleases consumers, but over time, people begin to notice that their eyes get tired of it.
Such displays appeared for the first time in 2009 and were used by Samsung. During the first year, this technique was introduced into production by about fifty more manufacturers.
Ips
ips - appeared in 1996 and over the entire period of its existence have been transformed and improved their specifications. Copyright belongs to Hitachi and NEC.
Transmits fairly natural colors. This is achieved by the fact that crystals with this technology do not turn into a spiral, but perform a turn together when an electric field is applied.
It has won the recognition of consumers and is widely used by manufacturers in the manufacture of mobile phones.
What is the difference between the screens?
Many users now understand mobile phone screen formats and choose a device based on these characteristics. And more and more people are wondering ips or amoled?
The difference between them is not obvious to everyone. After all, both options are good, but regarding what the consumer requires from them, one can name the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Phone display made in use IPS technology requires a backlight for the screen, which consumes a lot of battery power.
The difference with amoled technology is that such phones do not need a backlight at all.. The next point, if we compare, it is much thinner.
Referring to the figure, it can be seen that in the first variant top corners darkened to a greater extent, that is, the viewing angle is smaller.
Also, when visually studying both models, you can see that in the second picture the picture is a little brighter.
Still, the lights on the screens are different, and this is clearly visible to the naked eye.
If you express your own opinion about both models, then both drawings are good in their own way.
And after buying any of the models, the owner of the device will not even notice that there is any difference. It's just that each of the topics is presented in its own way.
After some time, Samsung tried to improve amoled displays and developed a new product - this technology was called super amoled.
Now let's figure out what took the lead among buyers - ips or super amoled?
In super amoled displays, manufacturers tried to eliminate some of the negative qualities of the technology and came to the conclusion that they eliminated one layer in the screen, and therefore removed one layer of air.
The main task of the new development was to get rid of the phone's screen glare while using it in the sun.
Method, from previous version differs only in that the number of subpixels has changed. And, as you know, the more of them, the better the color rendition occurs.
This is due to the fact that light conducts in more and the output image is very clear and bright.
Both models, as a result of the comparison, can boast of their positive aspects. As well as show their own shortcomings.
Positive qualities Ips
1 On its screen, the picture appears beautiful, bright and clear - real, without a technically invented design of the gamut of colors. Matrices made using amoled technology cannot convey such a natural picture. That is, if the photo turned out to be successful and all the colors are captured and transferred correctly, then this is how it will appear on the screen.
2 On amoled, you can get a natural color only by performing various manipulations in the settings. So, the manufacturer has developed a special database of configurations that are responsible for setting up the correct color reproduction.
If such settings are present on your device, then both models made using the technologies in question will be almost equal in rights and will not differ from each other.
3 In amodet phones it is absolutely impossible to set up the transmission of white color in a qualitative way. But Ips displays exactly this, without any distortions and changes. What I received when photographing, I sent it to the display. For some users, this anomaly does not interfere at all. But there are other problems with colors.
When the same white is reproduced, a variety of pinks, blues, or yellows appear on the monitor.
Manufacturers have not yet been able to remove this defect. Only it was decided to fix the problem with individual settings.
Solving the problem described in the first option is not difficult, but as for the rest of the output gamma presented in option number two, it is much more difficult to achieve the desired result.
If the user has such a phone for the first time, then he will spend a lot of time before something changes.
4 Another advantage of Ips is that the picture remains the same, no matter what viewing angle you view it from. There is no degradation. For example, if many people want to see on one screen, then they will have absolutely no difficulty with this. Under all tilt angles, the picture will be the same.
5 In amoled screens, a shift in the color gamut to cold shades is often visible. In addition, because of the interestingly distributed sub-pixels, green and red tones are clearly visible when viewed from different angles.
6 Amoled screen burns out over time and this is its next disadvantage when compared with Ips. Because in the latest phone such problems simply do not exist.
7 Ips is considered better because the sharpness of the screen and its detail is much better. In AMOLED display, some of the users can see the pixels in the picture. Such a defect is noticeable even to the naked eye, without comparison with any other model.
8 The last advantage, but important enough for consumers, is the price policy. Ips is much cheaper than the other option, but at the same time, it has a lot of qualities that make you think when choosing a model to buy.
Positive qualities Amoled
This is not to say that amoled displays are so bad, as it turned out to be shown in the first comparison. These phones certainly have their positive qualities, consider them.
1 The screen, if a comparative analysis is carried out, is noticeably thinner. Although not a very weighty argument, some users may appreciate it.
2 It is believed that the display of the model in question is more economical. It turns out that each individual subpixel glows independently.
3 However, the issue can be called disputable, because when using light backgrounds, the energy consumption is stronger, on dark colors - less. That is, if a person uses a light screen more often, the charge does not last long, and if it is black, then vice versa.
4 Contrast is considered to be an undoubted advantage in Amoled. There are no similar analogues in the world yet. This is very attractive to a person who has not yet used a phone that shows such vivid images. After some time, the euphoria passes and only eye fatigue remains, but this is later.
5 Display on mobile device responds to responses faster. So, we can expect that the pictures on the screen will change faster.
6 Just like Ips, it has a completely dark display. This effect is obtained due to the fact that, if necessary, not all subpixels are highlighted, but only those that are currently needed.
User opinion about phone screens
Summing up the listed advantages of each of the phones, it's hard to say which one is better.
One thing is clear amoled or ips- which is better, everyone should make a choice individually.
After all, some people are chasing a wide screen, others for the speed of the device, the next important thing is its size.
All these and many other characteristics, to some extent, are present in each of them.
Of course, judging by what is written above, ips has a little more advantages and is better made, but this does not mean at all that the other option is not worth your attention.
You can see that the technological characteristics of the latter have a slight overkill in the supply of colors. This, by the way, slightly affects the eyes.
Also, you need to be prepared for the fact that one hundred of its service life is less than what the manufacturers claim.
After all, most often, before using the device for a year, a person begins to notice that the screen is slowly burning out.
Unfortunately, but for some time this will lead to its complete unusable state.
About ips, we can say that in terms of the transmission of colors, it surpasses the naturalness of the resulting image. And their service life is a little longer.
Of course, it is impossible to foresee all the nuances and do without drawbacks. Such a fate did not pass and the models we are considering.
Ips Disadvantages
- One of the points for which a phone can be given a negative rating is the thickness of its screen. It is slightly larger and the reason for this is the backlight, which is built into the middle.
- The backlight for such a model is required much more powerful, and because of this, it turns out that energy consumption is also more.
- The matrix produces its response to actions a little slower. This fact is almost not noticeable, but still, there is a place to be.
Disadvantages of Amoled
- The production technology of such a model, in comparison with Ips, is more expensive, and at the same time even more difficult.
- After a short time, the colors begin to fade and the screen becomes unusable.
Comparison super amoled andips
After the manufacturer saw its obvious shortcomings, it tried to correct them as soon as possible.
As a result, an updated technology called super was born. amoled. So, super amoled or ips what's better?
Recently, Samsung has been using a production technology for displays called super amoled in almost all of its models.
It is quite different from the manufacture of a liquid crystal screen.
The main difference is that there is an air cushion that is located between the touch screen and the rest of the phone.
Layer touch screen in such models is located directly on the matrix. Thanks to this move, a reduction in the power consumption of the device was achieved.
Also, dust cannot get under the cover by any of the images. And yet, the glare disappeared in the phone.
Screens made using super amoled technology are completely different from liquid crystal screens made using the ips method.
So, if the displays of the latter consist of a group of crystals, a substrate, a mirror type and a diode backlight, amoled screens use LEDs instead of such particles. They just have multi-colored filters.
And so, let's list the advantages of both options and try to decide which is better.
super amoled
This screen is made even thinner than its predecessor. This was achieved due to the fact that they removed one layer - the air cushion.
This decision affected the transmission of the brightness of the display. It has increased by twenty percent.
Energy consumption is quite economical, it practically did not succumb to any changes.
Manufacturers promise that phones will be readable when in places where it is impossible to hide from direct sunlight.
Having checked given argument in sunny territory, one can argue a little against such a theory and say that visibility continues to limp.
Yes, in comparison I ips, the picture looks better. But this is not the result that the average person would like to see.
Positive qualities of super amoled display:
- The screen will last a very long time, according to the developers.
- The viewing angle is huge.
- There is a muting of glare at the time of exposure to the rays of the sun.
- The brightness is greater than in all of the above options.
- The color options are very saturated and the shades are very diverse.
- The picture that the phone gives out is much worse than the first one. And even less bright.
- The device is very vulnerable to all sorts of mechanical damage, which makes it not so versatile and adapted to the big rhythm of the city.
IPS models also cannot be inferior in quality and have a number of their positive aspects:
- The screen has a high resolution.
- Electricity consumption is at a very low level.
- The transmitted colors in the pictures are as close as possible to the real ones.
- The screen has excellent contrast, and the brightness is also at a good level.
- Pictures are obtained on such a phone clear and accurate. Keep a grid of subpixels in such phone models cannot be seen with the naked eye. This is one of the reasons for such a good image transmission.
But it cannot be said that models of such phones do not have drawbacks.
All users who have encountered a similar model note that the phones react to clicks for a long time. It does not bring much discomfort, but I would like better.
Naturally, when presenting phones whose displays are made according to this method, one cannot give a one hundred percent guarantee for all the presented models. After all, they all contain different types matrices.
But the screens that are made using super amoled technology are all similar to each other and the quality is about the same in all.
That is, there is an obvious difference between these two models. And bright color reproduction, and the thickness of the screen, which surpasses the technology of amoled.
But if you need natural colors, for example when photographing, then ips will provide them to you.
According to all of the above, the leader can be called super amoled screens, which manufacturers are happy to put on tablets and smartphones.
They have a sufficiently high sensitivity, which, in turn, allows the device to respond to commands much faster.
Conclusion
And so, you are in front huge selection and trying to decide on the model that you will use in the next couple of years.
The very first thing you need to pay attention to when making an important decision is what you will use the device for.
If you need pictures in which all colors are correctly transmitted, then it is better to stop at ips.
If such a moment is not important for you, but at the same time you want the battery not to discharge at a tremendous speed. Stop at amoled displays. The picture in this phone will look richer.
If we compare phones, many differences could not be obtained during visual inspection. And the technologies by which each of them are made are not those in which everyone should understand.
That is, when choosing for personal use, you need not spare money, but choose exactly those offers that have fallen to your soul.
If there are no plans to change the device every year, you should still stop at ips.
After all, a burnt-out screen on another model under consideration will not allow you to work normally with it. Although there are times when such burnout is almost imperceptible.
Instruction: Manufacturing companies are tacitly fighting for supremacy in the world of the IT industry and ordinary users in this competition are judges.
After re-reading this article and considering both options for phone screens, each user will be able to individually decide what exactly he likes.
Each technology has its positive and negative qualities. They are outlined above.
I advise you to watch the video, it will help you to more specifically understand both models and draw the right conclusions regarding each of them.
The smartphone may have powerful stuffing and take excellent pictures, but the user will still not be completely satisfied with them if the screen quality leaves much to be desired. Unfortunately, in terms of display performance, many buyers are complete laymen. Therefore, it is so important to consider what types of smartphone displays are found and what parameters you need to pay attention to when choosing a gadget.
Previously all displays touch phones classified into:
- capacitive. The principle of operation is as follows: the user's finger transfers the charge, and the device software calculates in which area of the screen the change occurred.
- Resistive. Behind the screen are two metal plates. When the first is pressed against the second, the smartphone reacts. Smartphones with resistive screens often came with styluses.
The use of resistive displays was inconvenient, since you had to apply force when pressing. Resistive displays finally disappeared from shop windows in 2011, and the last “swallow” was the model Samsung S5230 star , once very popular among the fair sex.
Common Display Technologies
There are such types of displays:
TFT
Screens made using this technology are mounted in budget gadgets. Image quality can be very decent, but some imperfections will still be noticeable (such as minimal viewing angles). Peculiarity TFT displays is that they are not capable of producing a perfect black color - only dark gray.
IPS
advanced TFT technology, which guarantees high contrast, rich colors (in particular, black and white), large viewing angles. Recently, IPS phone displays have become more and more common - even Chinese sellers are abandoning TFT technology.
AMOLED
Matrix consisting of organic light-emitting diodes. This technology not only provides brighter colors than IPS, but also allows the smartphone to work longer in offline, because the black color is formed by turning off part of the LEDs. AMOLED displays are usually found on Samsungs, which is not surprising, because it was the Korean company that developed them.
SuperAMOLED
Later improved the device AMOLED displays, removing the air gap between the screen and the touch layer. Due to this, image detail, color saturation have increased, and the display itself has become thinner. Curiously, Super AMOLED screens have been nicknamed "acid" by the people because of their excessive brightness.
SuperLCD
Such screens are rare on smartphones - one of the gadgets with a similar display was One X. SLCD technology provides warm and rich colors, but puts the smartphone down faster than AMOLED and IPS.
What gives screen resolution?
Any screen consists of a huge number of "squares" - pixels that fit snugly together. Each of the pixels in turn consists of 3 subpixels (subpixels): red (R), green (G), blue (B). As nutrition is received, they mix in different proportions and give some color. You can calculate the number of pixels on a device screen by multiplying two display resolution parameters: height and width. For example, an HD display ( 1280 * 720 ) comprises 921600 pixels. That is, the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture will be. On gadgets with a minimum resolution, the “squares” will be visible to the naked eye.
There is another indicator - DPI, which reflects the density of dots per inch of the screen. When choosing a gadget, the DPI indicator should be given even more attention than the resolution, because the screen sizes of smartphones are different. Note that a person with excellent eyesight and ideal conditions capable of distinguishing density up to a maximum of 350 DPI. In real conditions, 250 DPI is enough. This means that for a smartphone with a diagonal of 4.5-5 inches, an HD display abounds. Buying a gadget with more "cool" display characteristics will only lead to negative consequences: firstly, the buyer will overpay, and secondly, the smartphone will run out faster.
What are the best screen sizes?
Visionary Apple Steve Jobs determined that the most suitable screen size for a smartphone is 3.5 inches; that's exactly what they had popular models 4 and 4S. With a diagonal of 3.5 inches, the average user can reach the thumb of the hand (which holds the gadget) even to the farthest point of the display.
However, you can now find a smartphone with such a diagonal only in a showcase with budget models. The trend of increasing display sizes continues to gain momentum - large companies are already releasing smartphone-class devices with screens as large as 6 inches! For comfortable work, 4.7-5 inches is enough - such a gadget can still be controlled with one hand. A larger smartphone will cause inconvenience both in use and when stored in your pocket.
Conclusion
When choosing a smartphone, you need to remember that chasing outstanding display characteristics is pointless - the owner of a device with a 4K screen resolution will not receive any visible advantages. On the contrary, the user will be doomed to constantly wearing a charger, since the battery life of a smartphone directly depends on the display parameters.