Everyone knows that a screen is composed of individual pixels, and what we call "1920 × 1080" actually refers to the number of vertical and horizontal pixels. The essential difference between OLED and LCD lies in their display principles. OLED can be simply understood as composed of countless red, green, and blue light bulbs that can emit light on their own, and macro display can be controlled by controlling the brightness and brightness of each bulb. And there will be a backlight panel on the back of the LCD, which displays different colors by passing through "filter paper" of different colors. ''



The working principle of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is to use liquid crystal molecules to change their alignment direction under the action of an electric field, thereby controlling the passage of light and achieving image display. LCD screens require a backlight source to illuminate the liquid crystal layer, and display is achieved by modulating the backlight source through the liquid crystal layer.



OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is a self luminous display technology where each pixel can independently emit light without the need for a backlight source. When current passes through organic materials, light is emitted, and the brightness is adjusted by controlling the magnitude of the current.



Simply put, LCD is like a transparent piece of paper that requires sunlight or light to see the handwriting, while OLED is like a luminous panel that can emit light on its own.



What are the advantages and disadvantages of LCD and OLED screens compared?



The advantages of LCD are very obvious. Firstly, it does not have color cast like OLED. Secondly, LCD generally has full DC dimming or high-frequency PWM dimming. Therefore, another recognized advantage of LCD is that it is very eye friendly. In addition, LCD screens have a longer lifespan, even if it takes four to five years, it is difficult for the screen to burn out even if it turns yellow. LCD screens are more durable. ''

OLED screens have strong adaptability to new technologies, but they also have some drawbacks, such as easy burn-in, color cast, and relatively short lifespan. The burn-in phenomenon of OLED screens refers to the possibility of permanent pixel damage when a static image is displayed for a long time, resulting in residual images on the screen. And LCD screens do not have this characteristics of LCD OLED display principle: The backlight illuminates the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal layer modulates the light to emit light independently. Each pixel can emit light independently. Advantages include eye protection, long lifespan, low screen burn-in, low cost, high contrast, fast response speed, and bright colors. Disadvantages include low contrast, slow response speed, uneven color, easy screen burn-in, color cast, and relatively short lifespan. Applications include televisions, computers, mobile phones, smart watches, VR devices, etc



From the table, we can see that LCD and OLED each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and there is no distinction between good and bad.





Is OLED or LCD better for mobile phone screens?



In fact, both types of screens have their own advantages and disadvantages. Although it cannot be directly measured by good or bad, what is certain is that due to the current development of smartphones towards full screen displays and the popularity of under screen fingerprints

From a technical perspective, OLED screens are the better choice because they are lightweight, have good display effects, and save power, all of which are means to enhance the user experience. From the user's perspective. ''



We also know that LCD technology has been developing for a long time and is more mature in terms of technology. Even with lower cost control, it can still display more natural and accurate color effects. ''



There is no standard answer to this question, and it needs to be judged based on individual usage needs and preferences.

If you are a user who pursues eye protection and durability, you can choose an LCD screen. LCD screens have better eye protection effects, longer lifespan, and are less prone to screen burn-in.



If you pursue the ultimate display effect, you can choose OLED screen. OLED screens have higher contrast, faster response speed, and brighter colors, which can bring a more immersive visual experience.





What are the future development trends of LCD and OLED screens?



In fact, there are significant differences between LCD and OLED in terms of display principles, energy consumption, and forms. OLED is relatively better as its light-emitting principle is more advanced. ''



With the continuous development of technology, both LCD and OLED screens are constantly advancing. The cost of LCD screens is decreasing, and there are also improvements in image quality and response speed. The lifespan of OLED screens is also constantly extending, and the problem of screen burn-in is gradually being solved.



In the future, LCD and OLED screens may be integrated and developed in more fields, such as Mini LED backlight technology and quantum dot technology, which will bring better picture quality and richer color performance.

**1. OLED screen**



OLED screen, also known as organic light-emitting diode screen, is a self luminous screen that does not require a backlight source. OLED screens have advantages such as self illumination, high contrast, and vivid colors, and can also be made very thin, making them very popular in mobile phone design. However, OLED screens also have some drawbacks, such as relatively short lifespan and susceptibility to screen burn-in.

The working principle of OLED screens is to utilize the characteristic of organic materials emitting light under the action of current. When current passes through organic materials, the materials emit light, thereby achieving image display. Each pixel of an OLED screen emits light independently, allowing for high contrast and high saturation color display. Meanwhile, OLED screens also have the advantages of fast response speed and low power consumption, making them very suitable for displaying dynamic images and videos.

The advantages of OLED screens also include:

-Thin and light: OLED screens do not require a backlight and can be made very thin, making them very suitable for portable devices such as smartphones.

-High contrast: OLED screens have a very high contrast ratio, reaching 100000:1 or more, allowing them to display very deep black and bright colors.

-Wide viewing angle: OLED screens have a very wide viewing angle, reaching over 180 degrees, so the color and contrast of the image will not change when viewed from different angles.

The drawbacks of OLED screens include:

-Relatively short lifespan: The organic materials of OLED screens have a relatively short lifespan and are prone to screen burn-in, which means that when the same image is displayed for a long time, traces will be left on the screen.

-High cost: The production cost of OLED screens is relatively high, so the price is also relatively expensive.

-Insufficient brightness: OLED screens have relatively low brightness, which may make it difficult to see the screen content clearly in sunlight.



**2. LCD screen**



LCD screen, also known as liquid crystal display screen, is a type of screen that requires a backlight source. LCD screens have the advantages of low cost, high brightness, long lifespan, and also have good performance in color reproduction and contrast. However, LCD screens also have some drawbacks, such as relatively slow response speed and smaller viewing angles.

The working principle of LCD screens is to control the transmittance of light by utilizing the orientation changes of liquid crystal molecules under the action of an electric field. When an electric field acts on liquid crystal molecules, they undergo orientation changes, thereby altering the transmittance of light and achieving image display. The backlight source of LCD screens usually uses LED or CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp), which can provide uniform brightness distribution.

The advantages of LCD screens include:

-Low cost: The production cost of LCD screens is relatively low, so the price is also relatively cheap.

-High brightness: LCD screens have relatively high brightness, and the screen content can be seen clearly in sunlight.

-Long lifespan: LCD screens have a relatively long lifespan and are less prone to screen burn-in.

The disadvantages of LCD screens include:

-Relatively slow response speed: LCD screens have a relatively slow response speed and may experience ghosting when displaying dynamic images.

-Small viewing angle: LCD screens have a relatively small viewing angle, and when viewed from different angles, the color and contrast of the image will change.

-Relatively low contrast: LCD screens have relatively low contrast and cannot display very deep black and bright colors.



**3. AMOLED screen**



AMOLED screen, also known as active matrix organic light-emitting diode screen, is a self luminous screen similar to OLED screen. AMOLED screens have the advantages of fast response speed, high contrast, vivid colors, and can also be made very thin, making them very popular in mobile phone design. However, AMOLED screens also have some drawbacks, such as relatively short lifespan and susceptibility to screen burn-in.

The working principle of AMOLED screens is to utilize the characteristic of organic materials emitting light under the action of current. When current passes through organic materials, the materials emit light, thereby achieving image display. Each pixel of an AMOLED screen emits light independently, allowing for high contrast and high saturation color display. Meanwhile, AMOLED screens also have the advantages of fast response speed and low power consumption, making them very suitable for displaying dynamic images and videos.

The advantages of AMOLED screens include:

-Fast response speed: AMOLED screens have a very fast response speed, reaching microsecond level, making them very smooth when displaying dynamic images.

-High contrast: AMOLED screens have a very high contrast ratio, reaching 100000:1 or more, allowing them to display very deep black and vibrant colors.

-Wide viewing angle: AMOLED screens have a very wide viewing angle, reaching over 180 degrees, so the color and contrast of the image will not change when viewed from different angles.

-Thin and light: AMOLED screens can be made very thin, making them very suitable for portable devices such as smartphones.

The drawbacks of AMOLED screens include:

-Relatively short lifespan: The organic materials of AMOLED screens have a relatively short lifespan and are prone to screen burn-in, which means that when the same image is displayed for a long time, traces will be left on the screen.

-High cost: The production cost of AMOLED screens is relatively high, so the price is also relatively expensive.

-Insufficient brightness: The brightness of AMOLED screens is relatively low, and it may be difficult to see the screen content clearly in sunlight.



**4. TFT screen**



TFT screen, also known as thin-film transistor screen, is a type of screen that requires a backlight source. TFT screens have the advantages of fast response speed, high brightness, high contrast, and also have good performance in terms of viewing angle. However, TFT screens also have some drawbacks, such as inaccurate color reproduction and smaller viewing angles.

The working principle of TFT screen is to use thin film transistors (TFT) to control the brightness of each pixel. TFT is a semiconductor device that can control the brightness of pixels by changing the current. When current passes through TFT, TFT controls the brightness of pixels, thereby achieving image display. The backlight source of TFT screens usually uses LED or CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp), which can provide uniform brightness distribution.

The advantages of TFT screens include:

-Fast response speed: TFT screens have a very fast response speed, reaching the millisecond level, making them very smooth when displaying dynamic images.

-High brightness: The TFT screen has relatively high brightness, and the screen content can also be seen clearly in sunlight.

-High contrast: TFT screens have relatively high contrast and can display very deep black and bright colors.

-Wide viewing angle: TFT screens have a relatively wide viewing angle, reaching over 160 degrees, so the color and contrast of the image will not change when viewed from different angles.

The disadvantages of TFT screens include:

-Color reproduction is not accurate enough: The color reproduction of TFT screens is not accurate enough, which may result in color cast.

-High power consumption: TFT screens have relatively high power consumption, which can affect the battery life of the phone.

-High cost: The production cost of TFT screens is relatively high, so the price is also relatively expensive.

The difference between the two



1. Thickness: LCD screens are thick and hard, and cannot be bent; OLED screens can be bent, making them softer and thinner. From a structural perspective, AMOLED thickness can be nearly 30% thinner than LCD.





2. Price: Due to the mature technology of LCD, LCD is cheaper in terms of price.



3. Service life: LCD screens use inorganic materials, while OLED screens use organic materials. OLED screens have a shorter service life than LCD screens.



4. Color expression: LCD emits light through backlight refraction, so when displaying black, there may be light leakage and whitening around the screen, making black more similar to gray. OLED can express colors through self emission, resulting in a more vivid and full display effect, but there is a risk of screen burn-in.

(Representation of Black)



5. Energy consumption: The luminous principle of LCD is that the color filter film will cause a decrease in light efficiency. Some analyses suggest that the utilization rate of LCD for backlight brightness will not exceed 15%, and 85% of energy is wasted. Therefore, OLED is more energy-efficient than LCD.



LCD is never a slave



OLED screens are often referred to as "blind screens" due to the issue of screen flicker. When adjusting screen brightness, OLED screens use PWM dimming, which is commonly understood as turning on and off every second to control brightness. The brightness is adjusted by the proportion of screen on/off time within the interval.



As long as I light up and turn off quickly enough, my brain cannot feel that I am rapidly switching between light and light states. For some people who are sensitive to screen flicker, PWM dimming is particularly unfriendly to their eyes at low brightness, especially at night, which is why some people may feel obvious eye pain and soreness when using their phones at night.



However, many manufacturers later introduced DC modulation to solve the problem of screen flicker, but with it came the problems of screen burn-in and uneven brightness.



LCD enthusiasts are shouting: LCD will never be enslaved, because of the fatal problem of OLED screen flicker.

(Screen flicker display under camera, image sourced from the internet)



future trends



Although OLED has screen flicker issues, in daily use, the human eye cannot clearly perceive it. Only those who are very sensitive to screen flicker will truly feel discomfort.



OLED with greater power than excess has more advantages, such as better contrast, better black performance, wider color gamut, lighter, thinner, bendable, and so on. That's why mainstream flagship phones now choose OLED screens.

In the future, the development trend of mobile phones will also move towards full screen, curved/foldable screens, and under screen fingerprint and under screen cameras, and the position of OLED will not be shaken. LCD screens will be more commonly used in mid to low end smartphones due to their low cost and mature technology.



So, whether to choose LCD screen or OLED screen, Haoge has summarized their respective advantages and disadvantages for everyone. If you are particularly sensitive to screen flicker, it is recommended to choose LCD. In addition, choosing OLED screen can bring a better visual experience.

The performance of the Chinese market is particularly outstanding. Starting from 2023, the Chinese market will surpass other markets and become the world's largest foldable screen mobile phone market. IDC predicts that in the next five years, the proportion of the Chinese market in the global foldable screen mobile phone market will remain stable at over 40%.

Specifically, in the first half of this year, the shipment volume of foldable screen smartphones in the Chinese market reached 4.98 million units, a year-on-year increase of 12.6%. Among them, Huawei's performance is particularly prominent, occupying 75% of the Chinese market share with a record high of 3.74 million units.

Specifically, in the first quarter of 2025, Huawei shipped 2.84 million units, accounting for approximately 76.6% of the market share; Following closely behind are brands such as Honor and OPPO, but far behind Huawei. Although there was a slight decline in the second quarter, Huawei still maintained its dominant position with a market share of 72.6%.

IDC pointed out that Chinese manufacturers are generally leading the global popularization of foldable screen technology by relying on mature local supply chains, high user acceptance, and precise market strategies. Huawei not only successfully boosted sales, but also promoted the localization of materials and core components in the industrial chain, further enhancing China's independent and controllable capabilities in this field.

Of course, the most significant feeling for consumers is that the current foldable screen prices are becoming increasingly affordable. In fact, this is also the result of the continuous expansion of the market and the continuous decline of supply chain costs. And more affordable prices can further drive market growth, thereby driving down the prices of foldable phones and gradually replacing conventional phones. So the question is, have you used a foldable phone yet?

The rise of full lamination technology
The structure of a screen can be roughly divided into three parts: protective glass, touch screen, and display screen, which are arranged in sequence. To ensure the perfect presentation of the screen, it is usually necessary to perform two bonding operations: one between the protective glass and the touch screen, and the other between the display screen and the touch screen. And the film we are familiar with in daily life is actually the bonding process between the protective glass and the protective film. Although it may seem simple, it also requires exquisite bonding technology.

Screen bonding technology, according to its bonding method, is mainly divided into two categories: full bonding and frame bonding. Frame adhesive, also known as mouth glue bonding, refers to the simple fixation of the four sides of the touch screen and display screen through double-sided tape. This is the bonding method currently used by many display screens, which has the advantages of simple process and low cost. However, due to the presence of an air layer between the display screen and the touch screen, the refraction of light can affect the display effect, which is the main drawback of frame pasting technology.

Full lamination technology uses water-based adhesive or optical adhesive to completely stick the panel and touch screen together without any gaps. Compared to frame stickers, it provides a better display effect. The common full screen solutions in the market mainly come from OGS solutions from touch screen manufacturers, as well as On Cell and In Cell technology solutions led by panel manufacturers. The advantage of full lamination technology is that it eliminates the air layer between the screens, reduces the reflection between the display panel and glass, makes the screen more transparent, and thus improves the display effect of the screen. IMacs using full lamination technology can reduce reflection issues by up to 75%. In addition, full lamination technology can effectively prevent screen dust from entering and enhance the strength of the touch module. More importantly, it can significantly reduce the interference of display panel noise on touch signals.

Although full lamination technology has many advantages, its yield rate is relatively low, mainly due to the possible surface glass and panel loss during the lamination process. Therefore, controlling the defoaming and bonding yield has become the key to reducing costs.

In terms of full lamination technology, there are three main screen technologies: InCell, On Cell, and OGS. If frame pasting technology is used in the production process of mobile phone screens, it will seriously affect the display effect. And full lamination technology can significantly improve the yield rate, thereby reducing costs.



Different screen bonding technologies
In order to reduce the number of bonding cycles and improve the yield rate, several new development directions have emerged. Touch screen manufacturers mainly promote OGS/TOL solutions, while panel manufacturers are more inclined towards On Cell and In Cell technology solutions. These solutions can reduce the number of bonding times, save costs, and achieve the goal of lightweight.

In Cell technology is an innovative technique that embeds touch panel functionality into liquid crystal pixels. By embedding touch sensor functionality inside the display screen, the original three-layer structure (protective glass touch screen+display screen) has been optimized to two layers (protective glass+display screen with touch function), making the screen thinner and lighter. However, the research and development threshold for this technology is relatively high, mainly led by panel manufacturers.

Screen imaging principle
In the past, mobile phones had complex functions and rich details, but now, smartphones seem to be simplified into a single screen. We rely on this screen to operate and obtain information. The mobile phone screen displays colorful images through a combination of red, green, and blue pixels. With the development of technology, mobile phones are no longer limited to call functions, and the importance of screens has also become prominent. Whether watching videos, browsing pictures, or playing games, the screen carries the core content. Therefore, when choosing a smartphone, the screen often becomes an indispensable consideration for us.

However, are we really deep enough in our understanding of screens? When choosing a phone, we often only focus on screen size and resolution, but can these two really comprehensively measure the quality of the screen? In complex screen technology, which letter combinations truly reveal the material and panel technology of the screen? In fact, our misunderstanding of screens may be deeper than we imagine.

Unveiling the Technology and Principles of Mobile Screen

To present the text and images in our eyes, mobile phone screens rely on the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Each pixel on the screen contains a complete RGB sub-pixel arrangement, and colors are recorded and expressed through RGB values. The RGB components of each pixel are within the intensity range of 0-255. It is through the different proportions of red, green, and blue that we can see a rich and colorful world.

Pixel, the color wizard of mobile phone screens

The colorful colors in our eyes are the clever combination of the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) on the screen. Each pixel contains a complete RGB sub-pixel arrangement, which creates a myriad of colors through different combinations of RGB values. Within the brightness range of 0-255, the proportional changes of the RGB three colors constitute the rich and colorful world in our eyes.



The comparison between 441ppi and 326ppi shows that the display effect of 441ppi on the left is more delicate and smooth.



After upgrading to 2K resolution, the screen's delicacy has reached a level that is difficult for the naked eye to distinguish. We have witnessed the continuous increase in screen resolution, which signifies that with the continuous advancement of technology, screens of the same size can now accommodate more pixels. By using PPI (pixel density) as an indicator, we can understand the number of pixels contained in each inch of the screen.

In the early days of the 1080p era of smartphones, we compared the screens of HTC Butterfly and iPhone 5, the world's first 1080p models. After capturing and zooming in on the screen with a macro lens, we found that the 441ppi HTC Butterfly surpassed the 326ppi iPhone 5 in terms of delicacy. This means that visually, the graininess on the screen is significantly reduced, and the overall display effect is more delicate and smooth. Nowadays, as mobile phone screens enter the 2K era, this level of delicacy has reached new heights, although it is still uncertain whether the naked eye can detect this change.

However, to comprehensively evaluate the quality of a mobile phone screen, relying solely on screen size and resolution is far from enough. These visible red, green, and blue small bright spots, also known as pixels, are undoubtedly the foundation, but they are only a part of screen display technology. The screen material and display technology also have a profound impact on the final visual effect.

LCD and OLED technology
In the current smartphone market, mainstream screen technologies can be divided into two categories: LCD and OLED.



LCD screens rely on backlighting during display, and light needs to pass through two layers of glass, a substrate, and various optical films, alignment films, color filters, and other components to produce polarization, which inevitably results in a loss of brightness and color. TFT, also known as thin-film transistor technology, is a key technology in LCD screens. It improves image quality by depositing a thin film as a channel area on a glass substrate.

In the TFT-LCD structure, the upper glass substrate is closely adjacent to the color filter, while the lower glass substrate is embedded with transistors. When current passes through a transistor, an electric field change is generated, causing liquid crystal molecules to deflect, thereby changing the polarization of light. Polarizers determine the brightness and darkness of pixels based on this polarity change. At the same time, the color filter attached to the upper layer of glass forms what we call RGB tri color pixels, which together constitute the colors and images displayed on the screen.



Subsequently, we will explore the types or panel technologies of LCD panels. LCD panels can be divided into two categories: simple matrix drive and active matrix drive. Among them, simple matrix driving mainly includes TN and STN technologies, while active matrix driving covers technologies such as TN, IPS, VA, and OCB. In the current smartphone market, TN and IPS technologies are more common, while VA technology is more commonly used in TV products.

TN screen, also known as Twisted Nematic (twisted nematic liquid crystal) screen, has been widely used since the emergence of liquid crystal technology and once dominated the field of electronic devices. However, nowadays many users mistakenly confuse TN screens with TFT screens, which is actually a misunderstanding of the two concepts. However, due to the mature production technology and affordable price of TN screens, they are still favored by some low-cost mobile phone brands. In addition, the high aperture ratio of TN screens makes them more energy-efficient compared to other technologies at the same brightness, and the response speed of 8-15ms is also quite fast. Therefore, although TN screens have shortcomings such as narrow viewing angles and color distortion, these advantages still make them occupy a place in the smartphone market.



IPS screen, also known as In Plane Switching (transverse electric field effect display technology), has significantly improved the color difference and narrow field of view problems of TN screens in poor viewing angles since its introduction in 1996 with its wide viewing angle technology. The electrodes of IPS liquid crystal are located in the same plane as the liquid crystal, thus achieving a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees up, down, left, and right. This breakthrough effectively overcomes the inherent defects of TN screens. However, IPS screens are not flawless. Despite its excellent viewing angle, it consumes relatively high power and has a slightly insufficient response speed, so it is necessary to weigh its pros and cons when using it.

Subsequently, in 1998, Hitachi launched an upgraded version of S-IPS (Super IPS), which not only inherited the original technological advantages of IPS, but also further optimized the response speed. In 1999, LG Philips joined the IPS camp as a joint venture, and after the bankruptcy of the joint venture in 2006, the IPS business was mainly taken over by LG Display and has continued to develop ever since.

Now, let's turn to OLED technology. OLED， The abbreviation for Organic Light Emitting Diode is different from TFT-LCD in that it has self luminescence and does not require backlight support. OLED technology has many advantages such as wide viewing angle, high contrast, low energy consumption, high reaction speed, full-color and simple process.



According to different driving methods, OLEDs can be divided into passive OLEDs (PMOLEDs) and active OLEDs (AMOLEDs). PMOLED and AMOLED are two different types. If OLED is compared to an upgraded version of LCD, then PMOLED is more similar to STN LCD, which has gradually withdrawn from the market. PMOLED performs poorly in displaying dynamic images and has a relatively slow response speed. Despite its power-saving features, it is limited in size. For smartphone users who pursue large screens and high-definition effects, PMOLED's 5-inch low resolution display is clearly not attractive enough to meet their needs. In addition, expanding the size of PMOLED will lead to an increase in pixel brightness and operating current, thereby shortening its lifespan.

Therefore, the vast majority of OLED screens we come into contact with today are AMOLED screens. AMOLED， Active matrix organic light-emitting diode, meaning active matrix organic light-emitting diode or active matrix organic light-emitting diode. The term 'AM' represents the pixel addressing technology behind it. This technology enables AMOLED to achieve low energy consumption and wide viewing angle display while maintaining high resolution and fast response, becoming one of the mainstream display technologies today. Not only smartphones, but also Samsung and LG's TV products use AMOLED screens, further proving their broad application prospects.

The core of AMOLED technology lies in its OLED matrix molecules, which can emit and store or integrate light into TFTs after electrical excitation. By precisely controlling the direction of current flowing to each pixel, AMOLED achieves high resolution and fast response. Each pixel is equipped with at least two TFTs to ensure stable control of continuous current. TFT backplane technology is crucial for AMOLED, and currently this technology has adopted two solutions: polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon.

The significant advantages of AMOLED include its self luminescence, wide viewing angle display, high contrast, and fast response time. In addition, compared to PMOLED, AMOLED also has a higher refresh rate, significantly reducing energy consumption. However, under direct sunlight, the reading effect of AMOLED may be affected to some extent. To improve this issue, Samsung has launched Super AMOLED technology, which enhances the display effect under strong light by reducing the screen spacing.

With the advancement of technology, Super AMOLED technology, as an upgraded version of MOLED, has the core improvement of reducing the screen spacing, which significantly improves the display effect in strong light environments. This technological innovation has significantly improved the outdoor reading experience of Super AMOLED, bringing consumers a more comfortable visual enjoyment.