Which is better PLS or IPS? How to choose a good screen - a guide. What is an LTPS display in a smartphone and what are its advantages?

Ophthalmologists never tire of saying that visual contact with a gadget screen is not the best pastime for our eyes. What characteristics of a smartphone screen affect vision and what needs to be taken into account when choosing a display, we will tell you in this material.

Medical educational program from CHIP

A person who spends a lot of time in the company of a smartphone or any other device with a display should be wary of two things. The first of them is dryness of the eyeball, the second is the risk of developing myopia.

Normally, we blink about eighteen times per minute. With this frequency of eyelid movement, the cornea of ​​the eye is constantly moistened with tear fluid. Looking at a screen, be it a monitor, a TV screen or a smartphone display, we simply forget to blink, which causes our eyes to feel dry and tired. Scientists have calculated that when in contact with a screen, the frequency of eyelid drooping decreases to 2-3 times per minute - almost 9 times!

Safety glasses without prescriptions will be useful not only for hipsters, but also for gadgetophiles

Myopia, or myopia, caused by contact with a screen, can be true or false. First, spasms of the eye muscles occur, due to which, when abruptly removed from the screen, the surrounding reality begins to “blur.” This is the so-called false myopia. If the eye muscles constantly experience tension, it gradually increases, turning into true myopia, in which the eyeball is slightly elongated. There's nothing you can do about it - you have to wear glasses.

How does the display digital device is it so bad for our eyes? There are several important characteristics of a smartphone screen that determine how harmful contact with it is for human vision.

PPI: dots per inch

The first important characteristic of a smartphone display from an ophthalmological point of view is the relationship between its size and resolution, that is, the number of dots per inch (pixels-per-inch or PPI).

In terms of harm to vision, this ratio should be considered as follows. A small screen with a high resolution is much easier on the eyes than a large one with a low resolution. On small screen with a high resolution, the PPI will be higher, since the pixels will be closer together and the picture will be clearer.

And vice versa: the larger the screen and the lower the resolution, the lower the PPI, and the more blurry the image becomes. Because of this, our eyes will have to strain, independently adjusting the sharpness. This leads to the aforementioned muscle tension and spasm, which can subsequently lead to myopia.

If you want to choose a smartphone that will be safer for your eyes, when purchasing, pay attention to the screen diagonal size (in inches) and resolution (width in pixels and height in pixels). The ratio between them will be the PPI value.

For example, let's take two screens with the same resolution 720x1280 (HD). The first has a diagonal of 4.3″, and its PPI will be equal to 342. The second has a diagonal of 4.7″, and its PPI will be 312. Despite the fact that both displays are HD screens, the first one is still safer for the eyes.

You can calculate the PPI of the smartphone of your dreams using special online calculators - for example, this one. And if you're curious about how bad your current smartphone is for your eyes, you can visit DPI love, which will automatically detect your actual screen diagonal and resolution and calculate your PPI score.

Brightness and backlight technology

The human eye is not designed to look at bright light for long periods of time. How long can you stand staring at a light bulb? Smartphones and others digital gadgets place us in an artificial environment in which we are forced to distinguish between text and images against a backdrop of bright lighting for a long time.

This is precisely the reason for the body’s unnatural reaction: we stop blinking. The eyeball is not moistened with a sufficient amount of tear fluid, and dryness, tension, and a feeling of “sand” appear in the eyes. All together is called a special medical term - “dry eye syndrome”.

The following rule applies here: the brighter and harsher the light, the more harmful it is to the eyes. The first parameter depends on how bright the screen is in relation to the surrounding environment (reading from the screen at night in the dark is definitely harmful), but this can be adjusted in the smartphone settings. The second depends more on the type of display and the backlight technology used in it.

Older LCD family displays use constant backlight technology. The liquid crystals that form the basis of such displays are illuminated from the inside, due to which the image is formed. Depending on the type of display, the backlight may be brighter or more subdued. Thus, cheaper LCD-TFT displays are dimmer than more advanced LCD-IPS displays, which use enhanced backlighting. However, the effect is the same: the eyes are constantly exposed to bright light.

More modern OLED displays in this regard, they are less harmful, since their illumination is selective. In fact, the OLED display is "always off" and the LEDs that make up the screen light up depending on where and what needs to be displayed. Accordingly, the light exposure of these screens is much lower than that of their predecessors, and the light is much softer and harmless to the eyes.

In general, we can say that it will not be possible to clearly rank smartphones based on harmlessness to the eyes. It cannot be said with certainty that a smartphone does not damage vision just because it has Ultra HD resolution or uses Super technology AMOLED. You need to evaluate how suitable the screen is for your eyes based on a set of factors, and first of all, for reasons of your own comfort.

We continue the section devoted to how to choose the right smartphone that will delight the user. We have already talked about what they are, what is better, 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's not surprising. The display is precisely the part of the device with which we have to work more. If not the right choice There is a high probability that the screen will cause a lot of inconvenience: poor-quality picture, low brightness, poor sensitivity. But don’t worry, today we will touch on each aspect, telling you about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen.

Smartphone matrix type

It’s worth starting with the type of matrix. The quality will largely depend on the choice of screen matrix type. So, today it is customary to distinguish three varieties:

1. TN+film
2. AMOLED

The first two are based on liquid crystals, the second on organic light-emitting diodes. Each type is represented by several subtypes (in the case of IPS there are more than 20 different ones), which are one way or another found in the production of panels.

Some of you are wondering, “Where is TFT?” Due to ignorance of some resources, this abbreviation is often used to designate the type of matrix, which is incorrect. The term TFT refers to thin film transistors used to organize the operation of subpixels. They are used in almost every type of matrix under consideration. Transistors also come in several varieties, one of which is LTPS (polycrystalline silicon). LTPS is a relatively new subtype, which is distinguished by lower power consumption and more compact transistor sizes, which is also reflected in pixel sizes. The result: higher pixel density, higher quality and clearer picture.

TN+film

Let's return 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 it into the appropriate colors. The first of the types of liquid crystal matrices is TN+film. With the spread of "film" was dropped, shortening the name to "TN". The simplest type, which is now quite outdated and is used only in the cheapest smartphones (and even then, we still need to find it). TN can't boast good angles visibility or contrast, has poor color rendering.

In general, avoid TN when choosing a smartphone screen - the type is outdated.

IPS

Next comes IPS. This technology is also not young - its age has already exceeded 20 years. Meanwhile, IPS matrices are most widespread in the smartphone market. Open any online store, choose the first smartphone you come across and see my words. This type of matrices is also presented in budget segment, and in the flagship. In addition to improved characteristics, when compared with TN, IPS have received a large number of varieties. However, you don’t need to understand everything – the smartphone market is dominated by two types: AH-IPS and PLS. Their creators are two largest companies South Korea and the whole world: LG and Samsung, respectively. What's the difference? It's practically non-existent. The two types of matrices are like twin brothers, so you can choose a smartphone with any of them without fear. Identity has even become the basis for litigation between companies.

IPS boasts wider viewing angles than TN, good color reproduction and high pixel density, which provides a gorgeous picture. But the power consumption is approximately the same - in any case, LEDs are used for illumination. Since there are quite a few types of IPS matrices, they also differ in their characteristics. This difference can be seen even by eye. Cheaper IPS may be too faded, or, on the contrary, have an oversaturated color. What makes choosing a smartphone screen more difficult is 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

Even more modern type, which today is common, as a rule, among smartphones upper class. AMOLED are represented by organic light-emitting diodes, which do not require external illumination, as is the case with IPS or TN - they glow themselves. Already at this moment one can highlight their first advantage - smaller sizes. Next – AMOLED is presented with more saturated colors. Black looks especially good, during which the LED simply goes out. AMOLED displays have higher contrast, boast wider viewing angles and lower power consumption (there are some nuances). It's just a fairy tale, isn't it? But before choosing a smartphone with AMOLED screen, you should know about its disadvantages.

The most important disadvantage is considered to be a shorter service life compared to IPS. After a certain period of time (as a rule, changes in color are observed after three years), on average after 6-10 years, the pixels begin to “burn out.” Moreover, bright colors are especially susceptible to fading, so users often use dark themes design in order to extend service life. In addition, the brightness of the colors on the screen has a significant impact on power consumption. If displayed bright picture in light colors, AMOLED consumes more power than IPS. Finally, matrices based on organic light-emitting diodes are more expensive to produce.

Be that as it may, this does not negate the technology and quality of AMOLED. Sores in the form of “burning out pixels” are gradually cured, and subtypes of matrices appear that become better. For example, Super AMOLED. This variety appeared seven years ago, bringing a lot of improvements. Power consumption has been reduced and brightness increased. In addition, the air gap between the touchscreen 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 technologically advanced matrices that are actively developing. If until recently they were used mainly in Samsung smartphones, then 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 you should not only consider the type of matrix when choosing a smartphone screen. There are a whole bunch of other features that affect the final picture quality and user experience. 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. There was an air gap between them, the thickness of which depended directly on the manufacturer. Naturally, the thinner the layer, the better. Companies regularly reduced the air layer, 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 matrix are connected together. Despite the significant improvement in quality, there is an obvious drawback. If the OGG screen is damaged, it will have to be completely replaced, while in displays with an air layer, only the glass takes the hit.

Be that as it may, more and more manufacturers are choosing OGS screens. And we advise you to give preference to this technology. Believe me, there is no need to worry about complex repairs for 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 (also had Galaxy Note, but only one edge was bent). The South Korean manufacturer will continue to develop the idea in subsequent smartphones, but other companies did not share the idea too much. The company bends the right and left side devices - the screen seems to float to the ends. This is done not only for the sake of spectacular appearance, but also for user convenience. They are brought here additional features, notifications may also be displayed here. A fascinating feature, but not for everyone.

Samsung was the most successful in implementing a curved display, so if you are interested in such a design, we recommend considering the solutions of the South Korean brand.

An even more recent trend is screens without frames. The progenitor is the Sharp company, 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 plans to release similar gadgets. Today, the market is rapidly filling up, with the newest models costing less than $100.

To date, there are several variations of the screen without frames: elongated displays, which have reduced frames at the top and bottom; familiar displays without frames on three sides (except for the bottom). The first type includes the Samsung Galaxy S8 and a couple 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 their low cost gives everyone the opportunity to try out modern technology.

Famous Apple company introduced in iPhone 6S new technology at the time of release - 3D Touch. With it, the screen began to respond not only to touches, but also to the force of pressing. Technology began to be used, as a rule, to perform some quick actions. Also, 3D Touch made it possible to work with text, draw with greater 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 and was also announced in.

Type of touch screens

Not a particularly important criterion when choosing a smartphone screen, but, nevertheless, let’s dwell on it a little. There are several types of touch screens: matrix (very, very rare), resistive and capacitive. Until recently, resistive screens were widespread everywhere, but today they are presented only in very rare and cheap smartphones. This type is different in that it responds to any touch: with a finger, a pen, or even control another phone. It only supports one touch and does not always work accurately. In general, an outdated type.

Capacitive screens are significantly superior to their predecessors. They already support more than one simultaneous touch, have better sensitivity, and work much more accurately. However, their production is more expensive.

Whatever one may say, the vast majority of companies have abandoned resistive screens in smartphones. And this is for the better. In addition, the cost of capacitive ones 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 a large number of simultaneous touches:

• Scaling and zooming. One of the first features that appeared on the iPhone, the first smartphone to support two simultaneous touches. So, you can reduce or enlarge images by pinching or spreading your fingers on the screen.
• Gesture control. Multiple fingers make it possible to use different gestures.
• Game controls. Majority modern games require the use of several fingers simultaneously.

You shouldn't chase support for 10 simultaneous touches if you don't play on a smartphone. For the vast majority of users, 5 touches are enough, and even less demanding users will not experience discomfort with 2.

Significant parameters when choosing a smartphone screen go hand in hand. The display diagonal 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. Please note: The diagonal is measured from corner to corner of the screen, without affecting the frame.

What screen diagonal should I choose? You will have to answer this question yourself. The modern smartphone market offers the most different diagonals, starting from about 3.5-4 inches, ending at 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 the diagonal - personally hold the smartphone in your hands. If you are comfortable using one hand, then the diagonal is “yours.”

It is also impossible to recommend specific numbers because each person has a different hand size and finger length. For one, 6 inches is comfortable to use, for others, even 5 inches is too much. It is also worth considering that smartphones with the same diagonal can be different sizes All in all. A simple example: a 5.5-inch is comparable to a 5-inch model with regular frames. Therefore, when choosing a smartphone screen, it is advisable to also take into account the thickness of the frames.

Be that as it may, there is a trend towards increasing screen diagonals. If in 2011 the vast majority of users were limited to 4 inches, then in 2014 the largest percentage belonged to 5 inches; today solutions with 5.5 inches are capturing the market.

With resolution the situation is simpler.

Resolution reflects the number of pixels per unit area. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the picture. Again, the same resolution looks different on two different diagonals. Here it is worth mentioning the pixel density per inch, which is denoted by the abbreviation PPI. The same rule applies here as in the case of resolution: the higher the density, the better. True, experts do not agree on the exact figure: some claim that a comfortable value starts at 350 PPI, others cite larger numbers, and still others – smaller ones. It is worth remembering that human vision is very individual: someone will not see a pixel even at 300 PPI, while another will find something to complain about even at 500 PPI.

• with a diagonal of up to 4-4.5 inches, most smartphones receive a resolution of 840x480 pixels (approximately 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

The latest Samsung smartphones and a number of models from other companies have a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, which provides high pixel density and clear images. The recent flagship from Sony was presented with a 4K screen resolution, which at 5.5 inches guarantees a record 801 PPI.

Screen coating

Until recently, the screens of mobile devices were covered with ordinary plastic, which quickly scratched, distorted color reproduction, and did not have a very tactile feel. It was replaced by glass, which doesn’t care about keys lying in your pocket. Nowadays there is not a single type of glass on the market that differs in strength and, accordingly, in price. 2.5D glass with curved 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 grease-repellent coating (oleophobic layer), which ensures good finger glide and also prevents stains. To determine the presence of an oleophobic layer, just place a drop of water on the screen. The better the drop retains its shape (does not spread), the better the quality of the layer.

Naturally, the quality of the oleophobic layer and glass affect the cost of the smartphone. You are unlikely to find a budget model that can boast the same durable glass as the flagship solution. Today the most popular manufacturer 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 and 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. IN model range LG has solutions with a small screen that displays notifications. Recently, Meizu also launched a similar smartphone with an additional screen with its flagship.

The second screen is a rather unique feature that not everyone needs. Nevertheless, such smartphones find their user, and more than one.

Conclusion

Well, it seems like we talked about all the intricacies of choosing a smartphone screen. The material turned out to be quite extensive, we hope everyone will find answers to their questions. You shouldn’t chase the most expensive screen, but saving too much is also contraindicated - we’re looking for the one 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 that will be dull when pressed is much lower; manufacturers have significantly raised the quality bar. Even third-tier companies use quite high-quality matrices in their ultra-budget smartphones. Well, all we can do is wish you good luck in your choice.

By the way, the line of articles about the criteria for the right choice does not end. We have already talked about it, check it out. Materials on choosing a processor and cameras will appear soon, so subscribe to notifications and the VKontakte group.

In the year 2007, when buying another mobile phone, we evaluated its design, rarely paying attention to functionality and what’s more, the screen is color, not too small, and that’s great. Today, mobile devices can hardly be distinguished from each other, but the most important characteristic for many remains the screen and not only its diagonal size, but also matrix type. Let's see what's behind the terms TFT, TN, IPS, PLS, and how to choose a smartphone screen with the required characteristics.

Types of matrices

Currently, modern mobile devices use three technologies for producing matrices based on:

• liquid crystal display (LCD): TN+film And IPS;
• on organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) – AMOLED.

Let's start with TFT(thin-film transistor), which is a thin-film transistor used to control the operation of each subpixel. This technology used in all of the above types of screens, including AMOLED, so comparing TFT and IPS is not always correct. The vast majority of TFT matrices use amorphous silicon, but TFTs on polycrystalline silicon (LTPS-TFTs) have also begun to appear, the advantage of which is reduced power consumption and higher pixel density (more than 500 ppi).

TN+film (TN)– the simplest and cheapest matrix used in mobile devices with small viewing angles, low contrast and low color accuracy. This type of matrix is ​​installed in the cheapest smartphones.

IPS (or SFT)– the most common type of matrix in modern mobile gadgets, which has wide viewing angles (up to 180 degrees), realistic color reproduction and provides the ability to create displays with a high pixel density. This type of matrices has several types, let’s consider the most popular ones:

• AH-IPS– from LG;
• PLS- from Samsung.

It makes no sense to talk about advantages relative to each other, since the matrices are identical in properties and characteristics. You can distinguish a cheap IPS matrix by eye by its characteristic properties:

• fading of the picture when the screen is tilted;
• low color accuracy: an image with oversaturated or very dull colors.

Standing apart from LCD are matrices created on the basis of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). In mobile devices, a variety is used OLED technology- matrix AMOLED, featuring the deepest blacks, low power consumption and extremely rich colors. By the way, the life of AMOLED is limited, but modern organic LEDs are designed for at least three years of continuous operation.

Conclusion

The highest quality and brightest image on at the moment provide AMOLED matrices, but if you are looking at a non-Samsung smartphone, I recommend an IPS screen. Mobile devices with a TN+film matrix are simply outdated technologically. I recommend not buying a smartphone with an AMOLED screen that has a pixel density of less than 300 ppi; this is due to the problem of subpixel patterns in this type of matrix.

Perspective matrix type

– the most promising displays based on quantum dot technology. A quantum dot is a microscopic piece of semiconductor in which important role quantum effects play. QLED matrices in the future will have better color rendering, contrast, higher brightness and low power consumption.

Today, smartphones are so similar to each other in appearance and technical characteristics that manufacturers have to compete in other areas. Some offer top-end cameras, others offer body protection, and others offer better screens that will blow your mind. Let's talk about popular technologies for manufacturing mobile displays: LCD, IGZO LCD, MLCD+, OLED and SuperAMOLED.

The average user of a mobile device does not look at the display except when using the smartphone for conversations. The rest of the time his eyes are glued to the picture on the screen. In 2018, it’s not enough just high resolution(although some manufacturers have succeeded here too) – it is necessary to make the color rendition as realistic as possible. What technologies are used for this?

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display, also known as LCD, or liquid crystal display (LCD), is familiar to us not only from smartphones, but also from other electronics - TVs and laptops. The technology is based on liquid cyanophenyl crystals, which change their position under the influence of electric current. Following this, the polarization also changes, that is, these particles act as filters that transmit a certain color spectrum.

LCD displays are used in inexpensive smartphones, but not all manufacturers use this technology. For example, Qualcomm reported that they cannot combine scanners with LCD displays, since this requires expensive OLED matrices.

Advantages: good focusing and image clarity, minimum errors in beam convergence, minimum geometry violations, low weight.

Flaws: low brightness and contrast parameters, small margin of mechanical strength.

IGZO LCD

The most interesting thing about this technology is how its abbreviation stands for. Indium gallium zinc oxide translated means “Oxide of indium, gallium and zinc.” These substances became the basis for semiconductor material, which is used as a channel for thin-film transistors. The debut of IGZO technology took place in 2012 with the help of Sharp, which demonstrated the first panels based on IGZO LCD at an exhibition in Berlin. They do not require constant updating when demonstrating stationary objects, so they save battery energy, and this is important for modern smartphones!

The IGZO LCD matrix is ​​thinner and more transparent than IPS and LCD counterparts, does not require additional backlighting and produces high-definition images. These are consequences of the fact that the transistors themselves have become smaller, and the electrons in them move faster.

If the first smartphones with IGZO LCD displays were produced only by Sharp, then later other manufacturers became interested in them. For example, this was done by the manufacturer Meizu, which, with a short break, released two smartphones with similar matrices: M2 Note and M6 Note.

Advantages: top resolution, energy efficiency, fast sensor response, maximum viewing angles, high values brightness and contrast.

Flaws: price.

IPS

First commercial IPS matrices(in-plane switching ) appeared in 1996 thanks to the joint efforts of Hitachi and NEC. By the way, the second one uses the abbreviation SFT – Super Fine TFT – to denote this technology. Unlike LCD technology, IPS uses a different principle of arrangement of liquid crystal molecules. The latter are in the same plane and rotate synchronously under the influence of electric current.

The first IPS displays had big time response and high power consumption, but the technology has developed rapidly, and modern products already free of these shortcomings.

Advantages: clarity and naturalness of color rendering, wide viewing angles (up to 178 degrees), high brightness and contrast values, good detail of small objects, energy efficiency, affordable cost.

Flaws: Slow response to touches on the screen.

Super AMOLED

This is the brainchild of the Korean company Samsung, which is sensitive to the image quality on its smartphones. It’s interesting that this manufacturer installs Super AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) matrices not only on flagship devices, but also on budget models. The company first began using displays of this type in 2009, and the first commercial smartphones with them were Samsung Wave and Samsung Galaxy S – went on sale in 2010. The technology is based on organic light-emitting diodes, which are used as light-emitting elements. They are controlled by an active matrix of thin-film transistors.

The flagship Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, announced in 2018, received frameless SuperAMOLED displays with QHD+ resolution. Compared to the previous generation matrices, the brightness level has increased by 13%, which is now 1000 nits.

In smartphones Samsung matrix This type fits tightly to the screen itself, so there is no air gap between them. This primarily affects the compact design - it is thinner than display units made using other technologies.

Super AMOLED matrices are considered one of the most economical, since when the screen brightness is reduced, their power consumption is proportionally reduced. The color range they reproduce is 32% greater than that of LCD matrices. However, with intensive work at maximum brightness, the service life of the display quickly decreases - take this into account if you are buying a smartphone for 3-4 years.

Advantages: energy efficiency, thin screen, maximum viewing angles, rich realistic colors, decent behavior under straight lines sun rays, high contrast and brightness of the image, response time - about 0.01 ms.

Flaws: fragility, rapid pixel burnout, predominance of violet and blue tints at low brightness values.

Along with Super AMOLED, Samsung uses Super AMOLED Plus matrices. They have less image grain and better color rendition. The company managed to achieve this thanks to Real-Stripe technology.

MLCD+

The second name of this technology is M+ LCD. Such displays differ from LCD solutions in the white pixel added by LG. She first did this in 2015 with her new line of TVs. Later, information appeared about the release of the LG G7 ThinQ smartphone with a screen made using a similar technology.

White color complements the three previously used subpixels: red, green and blue. By changing the transparency of the white subpixel, you can achieve more combinations of shades. This brings the quality of such an image as close as possible to that obtained using a Super AMOLED matrix.

In the summer of 2018, Apple announced that it plans to use MLCD+ displays in new iPhone smartphones.

Advantages: energy efficiency, high contrast, thin thickness.

Flaws: grainy, low reliability.

OLED

Organic light-emitting diode, also known as OLED (organic light-emitting diode) is a technology that is based on the use of organic polymers with a multilayer structure. They emit their own light when an electric current passes, while LED LCDs use external illumination for the subpixels. For the same reason, OLED panels are more compact than LCD.

OLED displays retain natural color rendition of images from any viewing angle and, most importantly, do not require additional backlighting. Matrices of this type are considered less harmful to the eyes, since they use selective backlighting. The LEDs turn on only in the area where it is needed.

Advantages: fast response, high contrast, natural color rendering.

Flaws: high cost, short service life of some phosphors (predominantly blue).

OLED matrices are often used in smart watches and fitness bracelets. Most often these are monochrome panels with good contrast and economical use of energy. In many ways, this is what allows fashionable gadgets to work without recharging from several days to a couple of weeks.

What technologies are gaining popularity?

It's unlikely that you've heard of Micro-LED (aka ILED) technology, but it has every chance of becoming popular in a few years. Unlike OLED, Micro-LED is based on an inorganic light-emitting diode. It is expected that smartphone manufacturers will be interested in the technology due to its advantages: high brightness and contrast values, minimal response time, compact size, the ability to increase image density to 1500 ppi and low power consumption. Micro-LED panels are currently difficult to produce, but the process is expected to become cheaper in the future.

Quantum Dots technology (aka QD-LED and QLED) borrows something from liquid crystal displays, but in its case we are dealing with even smaller crystals with a glowing effect. Matrices of this type are distinguished by natural color reproduction, which Sony has already used in practice when it released a QD-LED TV in 2013. Mass production continues to be hampered by labor intensity and high production costs.

How else do mobile gadget displays differ?

In screen modules of recent years, not only technology is important, but also image clarity. While some manufacturers boldly install matrices with Full HD (1920 x 1080) and Full HD+ (2160 x 1080) resolutions on smartphones in the mid-price segment, others attract buyers with 2K and even 4K displays - with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and 3840 x 2160, respectively. The PPI parameter – the number of dots per inch – speaks even more eloquently about image clarity. The more there are, the less grainy the picture will be. Although already in Full HD resolution on a 5.5-inch diagonal you will hardly be able to see individual pixels.

Many new products go on sale with 2.5D displays. This designation has nothing to do with “under-three-dimensionality”. This is the marketing name for the shaped edge around the perimeter of the screen that makes the edges smoother. In this design, the device looks more premium, but adds worries to the owner. Now it will be difficult for him to find quality glass, and protective properties conventional film, which is recommended by manufacturers, raises serious doubts.

Apple was the first to use 2.5D glass in smartphone screens.

An even more advanced option is 3D glass. It can be curved in the most unpredictable way - for example, in the center (in a horizontal or vertical plane) or along the edges. The most striking examples of smartphones with 3D screens are LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Edge.

In the near future, we expect to see smartphones with flexible folding OLED displays from Samsung, completely bezel-less displays, and ones that occupy the entire front surface of the device. Will they become popular soon? We'll see in 2-3 years.

The fifth lesson of our first step training course we decided to devote to one of the most important parts of a smartphone, which requires the closest attention - the screen. It is through the display that we gain access to all functions mobile gadget: calls, dialing SMS, accessing the Internet, viewing photos and videos, and so on.

But do you know what display resolution is, how IPS differs from AMOLED and how to choose one for yourself optimal diagonal? In our article, we will analyze in detail what a smartphone screen is and what display parameters you should pay attention to when buying a new smartphone.

The screen of a modern mobile device is a kind of “sandwich”: a combination of layers, each of which performs a specific function:

• Touchscreen or touchpad
• Matrix
• Light source

The touchscreen is located directly under the user's fingers. For a long time There were two types of touch panels on the mobile phone market: resistive and capacitive. The former responded to the force of pressing, the latter - to a change in the electrical impulse upon touch. Considering that a strong press could easily damage the fragile touchscreen, resistive screens became less and less popular, and now smartphones with this type of touch panel are practically not produced.

At the same time, capacitive touchscreens can withstand about 200 million clicks. True, the most noticeable drawback of this type is that the smartphone cannot be used with gloves, since the fabric does not transmit electrical impulses.

Some manufacturers decide this problem, equipping its top flagships with 3D touch displays. Such screens respond to both pressing and changes in capacity.

The display matrix changes the amount of light passing through each pixel from the source to the touchscreen, in other words, it adjusts the transparency of the pixels. IN in this case, the final image quality is significantly influenced by the presence or absence of an air gap between the sensor and the matrix.

If there is a layer, the light sequentially passes through three media: matrix glass, air, touchscreen glass. Accordingly, each medium has its own index of refraction and reflection of light. Therefore, smartphones with an air gap cannot always boast of a rich and bright picture.

Nowadays, smartphones are increasingly equipped with screens in which the sensor is glued to the matrix (OGS - one glass solution). In this case, light from the source is refracted and reflected from only one external medium, therefore, the image quality becomes higher.

OGS screens have one significant drawback. If you drop a phone with such a screen, there is a high probability that the touch panel will be damaged along with the matrix, which significantly complicates further repairs. Whereas on a screen with an air gap, as a rule, only the touchscreen breaks, which can be replaced even at home.

The last layer of the screen is a complex lamp, which is the light source for the liquid crystals. On the other hand, LED screens, which do not require a light source, since they glow themselves, are becoming increasingly popular every year.

Types of smartphone screens

By 2017, two main types of screens had emerged: LCD or LCD, and OLED. As mentioned above, the former are based on liquid crystals, the latter on LEDs. In turn, LCD displays are divided into three main groups:

TN is the simplest and accessible technology production of LCD screens. Such displays are characterized by instant response and low cost. On the other hand, TN screens do not have the greatest viewing angles (about 120-130 degrees). As a rule, such displays are installed in affordable budget smartphones.

For example, a 4.5-inch TN display is equipped with perhaps the most affordable smartphone from British Fly company– Nimbus 14, which can be purchased for only 3,290 rubles. This gadget will be an excellent solution if you need a smartphone entry level for the simplest tasks: checking email, working with simple applications, communicating in chats and instant messengers.

One of the most common types of screens is IPS. Such displays are distinguished by high-quality color reproduction (especially if there is no air gap between the sensor and the matrix), as well as wide viewing angles of up to 178 degrees. A few years ago IPS was quite an expensive technology, but now this type can be found everywhere even in budget devices.

Among the new products of the Fly brand, one of the most notable smartphones with an IPS display is the model, which is now available for only 8,990 rubles. The 5.2-inch IPS display with pleasantly rounded edges is made using Full Lamination technology - the air gap between the touchscreen and the matrix is ​​removed, resulting in a realistic, rich and contrasting picture.

By the way, this smartphone managed to solve the problem of increased vulnerability of such an airless connection. The Fly Selfie 1 screen is protected by durable Panda Glass, which is resistant to minor bumps and falls.

PLS technology was developed by Samsung. Essentially, this is the same IPS, only modified to reduce the cost of production. True, this technology never gained much popularity.

OLED

OLED displays are divided into three main types:

• AMOLED
• SuperAMOLED
• FOLED

OLED technology is based on miniature LEDs that emit light themselves. Thanks to the lack external source light, LED displays in smartphones come out thin, correspondingly reducing the dimensions of the gadget itself. Also, the advantages of LEDs include low power consumption, high contrast and fast response.

On the other hand, one should take into account the unpleasant disadvantages of this technology:

• OLED displays are more expensive to produce
• Over time, the LEDs begin to fade, causing the image to become distorted.
• In bright light, OLED displays overexpose more than LCD displays.

The operation of AMOLED displays is based on an active matrix of thin-film transistors. Such screens are distinguished by deep black color, since during the image formation process some of the LEDs are turned off, which also reduces the load on the battery.

SuperAMOLED displays remove the air layer to improve image brightness and clarity. And FOLED displays are now increasingly called the screens of the future. This technology makes it possible to create flexible screens based on organic light-emitting diodes.

Smartphone screen sizes. Permission

This parameter directly determines the purpose for which the smartphone is purchased. Conventionally, all smartphones can be divided into two large groups based on screen size:

1. Up to 5.2 inches
2. 5 to 7 inches

A screen of up to 5.5 inches allows you to make your smartphone compact and lightweight. This gadget can be conveniently controlled with one hand, even while moving. Often small smartphones bought as a first mobile phone for a child - holding, for example, a 4-inch smartphone in a child’s hand is much more convenient than a large, “adult” gadget.

If the diagonal of a smartphone screen reaches 6-7 inches, such a gadget is called a phablet, or tablet phone. The large screen is especially convenient for watching videos, processing and viewing photos, playing games with rich graphics, creating and editing text files and much more.

When choosing a smartphone by size, it is important to pay special attention to the screen resolution, which is determined by the number of pixels per unit area. So, if you have a smartphone big screen, but low resolution, the image will be fuzzy and grainy. In smartphones, screen resolution is indicated by the dpi parameter - the number of dots per inch.

Today, there are 4 most common display resolutions:

• 320x480 pixels (HVGA) is rare, but found in the cheapest smartphones. The picture on such a screen comes out quite grainy.
• 480x800, 480x854 (WVGA) – the image looks good on small screens with a diagonal of up to 4 inches.
• 854 x 480 (FWVGA) – quite comfortable quality on displays up to 4.5 inches.
• 720x1280 (HD) – smartphones with this resolution are perhaps the most common. HD resolution screen provides high level details, even if the display diagonal is 5.5 inches.
• 1080x1920 (FullHD) – this resolution provides the most high quality images, which is especially noticeable on smartphones with 5-inch screens.

A striking example of the latter is the Fly Cirrus 13 model. Powerful, impressive and affordable for only 8,490 rubles, the smartphone is equipped with a bright and contrasting 5-inch IPS display with FullHD resolution, which also has no air gap between the layers. So the user is able to experience every detail of the image. To avoid damaging the vulnerable connection between the matrix and the touchscreen, the Fly Cirrus 13 screen is protected by impact-resistant Dragontrail glass, which is 6 times stronger than the popular Gorilla Glass.

Now you know what types of smartphone screens there are, and what you should pay attention to when choosing new gadget. Next time we will tell you everything about mobile device processors. You will learn why you should not confuse the terms “processor” and “chipset”, how a 4-core processor can “put on the shoulder” an 8-core one, and also what it affects RAM processor.