Understanding AMOLED Screens: How They Work and Why They’re Better than LCDs

4 min readDec 25, 2022

AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens are a popular choice for device manufacturers due to their many advantages over traditional LCD. In this article, we explore how AMOLED screens work, the benefits they offer, and the different types of AMOLED technologies available. Learn why AMOLED screens are considered superior to LCDs…

Introduction

AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens are a type of display technology commonly used in smartphones, tablets, and televisions. They offer several advantages over traditional LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens, making them a popular choice for device manufacturers. In this article, we will explore how AMOLED screens work and why they are considered superior to LCDs, as well as discussing the different types of AMOLED technologies available.

· Introduction
· Table of Contents
· How AMOLED Screens Work?
· Advantages of AMOLED Screens
∘ 1. Higher Contrast Ratio:
∘ 2. Faster Refresh Rate:
∘ 3. Lower Power Consumption:
∘ 4. Thinner and Lighter:
· Types of AMOLED Technologies
∘ 1. Pen Tile:
∘ 2. Super AMOLED:
∘ 3. Amoled Plus:
∘ 4. Flexible AMOLED:
· Conclusion

How AMOLED Screens Work?

AMOLED screens work by using organic compounds that emit light when an electric current is applied. These organic molecules are sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, with the cathode at the bottom and the anode at the top. When a current is applied, electrons flow from the cathode to the anode, passing through the organic layer and causing the molecules to emit light.

The AMOLED display is divided into pixels, each containing three sub-pixels: one red, one green, and one blue. By adjusting the current applied to each sub-pixel, the AMOLED screen can create a wide range of colors.

Advantages of AMOLED Screens

There are several key advantages to using AMOLED displays over LCDs:

1. Higher Contrast Ratio:

AMOLED screens have a much higher contrast ratio than LCDs, as they are capable of producing true blacks by turning off individual pixels. This means that AMOLED screens have deeper, more vibrant colors and better overall image quality.

2. Faster Refresh Rate:

AMOLED screens have a faster refresh rate than LCDs, meaning that they can display new images more quickly. This makes them ideal for fast-paced content such as action movies or video games.

3. Lower Power Consumption:

Because AMOLED screens only use power when displaying content, they tend to have lower power consumption than LCDs, which use a backlight to illuminate the entire screen. This makes AMOLED screens a good choice for devices that need to conserve battery life.

4. Thinner and Lighter:

AMOLED screens are generally thinner and lighter than LCDs, as they do not require a backlight. This makes them a popular choice for devices such as smartphones and tablets, where size and weight are important considerations.

Types of AMOLED Technologies

There are several different types of AMOLED technologies available, including:

1. Pen Tile:

This is a type of AMOLED technology that uses a different pixel structure than traditional AMOLEDs. It has a lower pixel density, which can result in lower image quality compared to other AMOLED technologies.

2. Super AMOLED:

This is a type of AMOLED technology that integrates the touchscreen layer directly into the display, resulting in a thinner and more responsive screen. The term ‘Super AMOLED’ was made by our lovely company Samsung. (Samsung is not “OUR” company, it’s just a phrase to say. I know some foolish people would try to trouble me.)

3. Amoled Plus:

Thus, I question the existence of this technology because online it’s very hard to find this one!! This is a type of AMOLED technology that uses a traditional pixel structure and includes an additional white sub-pixel, which allows for improved image quality and more accurate color reproduction.

4. Flexible AMOLED:

This is a type of AMOLED technology that uses flexible materials, allowing the display to be bent or curved. This technology is still in the early stages of development and is not widely available in consumer devices.

Conclusion

AMOLED screens offer a number of advantages over traditional LCD displays, including higher contrast ratios, faster refresh rates, lower power consumption, and a thinner, lighter design. These features make AMOLED screens a popular choice for device manufacturers, and they are commonly found in smartphones, tablets, and televisions. There are also several different types of AMOLED technologies which we discussed above.

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