Advantages and disadvantages of AMOLED display : Key benefits & drawbacks

AMOLED display screens are renowned for their vibrant colors, deep blacks, and energy efficiency. Found in a range of devices, from smartphones to televisions, AMOLED screens provide an immersive visual experience. However, they also come with certain trade-offs. In this page, we will explore the key advantages and disadvantages of AMOLED display screen technology.

Introduction : We have seen conventional LED based LCD screens in which LEDs are used to back light front facing LCD panel. In this LCD screen, colors are generated and/or light is dimmed to control the picture on the screen. In this screen, the viewers see based on relative brightness of LEDs as well as LCD's light influencing qualities.

OLEDs (Organic LEDs) are improvement to conventional LED based display where as AMOLED is improvement to basic OLED technology. OLEDs generate light by application of current to different kind of semi-conductive material known as organic compounds. This enables pixel to pixel illumination and color control.

What is AMOLED display screen ?

Introduction:
AMOLED is the short form of Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. This technology adds TFT (Thin Film Transistor) layer to provide greater control over the light emitted by OLEDs. AMOLED display screen emits colors directly from the organic diodes. Hence it does not require polarizing filters, crystals or any LED backlights as required in LCD display screens. This helps in saving power and slimming of the display screen size to considerable extent.

Structure of AMOLED display

AMOLED consists of four layers viz. anode layer, organic middle layer, cathode layer and Substrate layer. Let us understand these layers.
• Anode layer : It is called layer of positive pole. It creates electron hole in order to dump electrons when electrified.
• Organic layer : It is made of polymers or organic molecules. Here each pixel is activated directly. This layer is stimulated by the circuit which delivers voltage to both cathode and anode materials. The pixels in AMOLED gets turned ON and OFF about three times faster than speed of traditional motion picture film.
• Cathode layer : Based on OLED type, this layer is either opaque or transparent in nature. It serves to inject electrons when electrified.
• Substrate layer : It is also called bottom layer. It serves as base for OLED display screen. It is made of plastic, glass or foil. It contains circuitry.

Key Specifications

When selecting an AMOLED display, several key specifications should be considered to ensure optimal performance and suitability for your application as mentioned below. By evaluating these specifications, you can select an AMOLED display that meets your needs.
• Resolution: The pixel resolution determines the display's clarity and detail. Common resolutions include Full HD (1920x1080), Quad HD (2560x1440), and 4K (3840x2160). Higher resolutions provide sharper images, especially in larger displays.
• Brightness: Measured in nits, brightness affects visibility in various lighting conditions. A higher brightness level enhances outdoor usability. Typical brightness levels for AMOLED displays range from 300 to 1000 nits.
• Contrast Ratio: This specification indicates the difference between the darkest black and the brightest white. AMOLED displays typically feature high contrast ratios, often exceeding 100,000:1, allowing for deep blacks and vibrant colors.
• Color Gamut: The range of colors the display can reproduce is crucial for image accuracy and vibrancy. Look for displays that cover a significant percentage of color spaces like sRGB, Adobe RGB, or DCI-P3.
• Refresh Rate: This refers to how many times the display updates per second, measured in hertz (Hz). Higher refresh rates (e.g., 60Hz, 120Hz, or 240Hz) provide smoother motion for gaming and video playback.
• Response Time: The speed at which a pixel can change from one color to another, usually measured in milliseconds (ms). Faster response times (typically 1-5 ms) reduce motion blur and improve overall image quality.
• Viewing Angles: AMOLED displays generally offer wide viewing angles (often up to 180 degrees) without significant color or brightness distortion, making them suitable for shared viewing experiences.
• Power Consumption: Energy efficiency is crucial, especially for portable devices.
• Lifespan and Burn-In Resistance: Consider the display's longevity and susceptibility to burn-in, especially for applications requiring static images.
• Screen Size and Aspect Ratio: Choose a screen size and aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9, 18:9) that fits the intended use case, whether for mobile devices, TVs or monitors.

Advantages of AMOLED display screen

Following points describe some of the AMOLED display benefits :
1. It offers more colors and true color re-production due to direct pixel to pixel illumination control. Moreover it offers greater contrast ratios.
2. It consumes less power especially while displaying dark screens.
3. AMOLED display screens are lighter and thinner than ordinary display screens.
4. It offers wider viewing angles which is about 170 degrees.
5. It offers super flexibility.
6. These screens are brighter than LED screens.
7. It is easy to produce and can be made in big sizes for example, laptop and PC monitor screens.
8. It resists instant pressure and it is brakeless when it falls from certain height.

Disadvantages of AMOLED display screen

Following are the drawbacks of AMOLED display screen:
1. It is higher in cost due to expensive manufacturing process.
2. It offers short lifespan than LED-LCD screens.
3. Due to direct pixel by pixel illumination some OLEDs are used for more duration and hence their performance degrades faster over time. This results into "burn-in effect" in which very brighter screen elements never disappear completely. To alleviate this issue, AMOLED manufacturers are introducing "Auto-Dim" feature for parts of the screen in which long duration brightness are detected.
4. It gets easily damaged by water.

Conclusion

AMOLED display benefits such as stunning visuals and energy efficiency, make them popular in display technology. However, potential downsides, such as screen burn-in and higher production costs, should be considered. Considering both the advantages and disadvantages can help you decide if an AMOLED screen is the right choice for your needs.

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