Data sheets for televisions and smartphones are often very obscure, especially with regard to screen technologies. What is behind the names Amoled, TFT LCD or IPS? Here are our explanations.
Whether choosing a smartphone, a television or a computer monitor, the quality of the screen is one of the most important criteria. Knowing the different technologies is the best way to make a selection according to your needs and your budget.
Amoled screen technology
The Amoled screen (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) or “active matrix Oled »Uses the technical principle ofLCD screen at the level of individual pixel control but eliminating the backlight. Crystals liquids are replaced by light emitting diodes organic produce their own light under the effect of a Electric power. This type of screen is characterized by the intensity of its colors, the depth of its blacks (because the pixels are then off) and the high level of contrast.
In addition, the absence of backlighting reduces the consumption ofenergy compared to a LCD screen and makes it possible to manufacture slabs with a fineness of less than 5 millimeters. As the response time is very short (less than 0.1 milliseconds), Amoled tiles do not produce afterglow and offer ideal fluidity for video games.
So much for the advantages, but there are also significant drawbacks. Amoled screens are much more expensive to produce because moisture must be avoided during the manufacturing process. In addition, their duration life is still largely perfectible (approximately 40,000 hours) compared to the LCD, in particular because of the degradation of the blue sub-pixels.
What is the difference between a TFT and IPS LCD screen?
An LCD screen consists of cells filled with liquid crystals which are illuminated by a backlight while filters are responsible for defining the colors. Each pixel on a screen is made up of three red, green, and blue sub-pixels. There are two categories of LCD screen:
- TFT or thin film transistor;
- IPS or in-place switching.
TFT technology is widely used in computer screens, televisions and mobile terminals. It is based on a matrix of thin film transistors and a electrode indium tin oxide which provides voltage control at individual pixel level, which helps improve response time and image stability. We speak of an “active” matrix screen.
IPS technology is an evolution of TFT which was introduced by the Japanese firm Hitachi in 1996. It uses liquid crystals whose orientation varies to block or allow light from the backlight to pass through. This process makes it possible to improve the viewing angle compared to a TFT screen but also to reduce energy consumption. In addition, IPS LCD screens offer brighter whites and more vivid colors than TFTs.
A screen indicating only LCD uses TFT technology while an IPS screen will mention this technology in its description.
In the end, if the Amoled technology is superior to the LCD, its still prohibitive cost is, for the moment, the main obstacle to its expansion. Some smartphone models and tablets high end use Amoled screens. As for televisions, apart from LG, few manufacturers are firmly committed to the Oled market. LCD technology still has a bright future ahead of it.
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