**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.

1、 The main types of mobile phone screens

At present, the mainstream mobile phone screens are mainly divided into two categories: LCD (liquid crystal screen) and OLED (organic light-emitting diode screen), and OLED screens have derived various technical solutions such as AMOLED, LTPO, Micro LED, etc.

1. LCD screen: classic and durable, with realistic colors

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), also known as liquid crystal display screen, works by providing light source through the backlight layer, and then controlling the degree of light passing through through the rotation of liquid crystal molecules to display different colors.

Features:

✅ Natural color: Due to the native color of LCD screens, it is suitable for users who like realistic display effects.

✅ Good eye protection effect: LCD screens do not experience the common "flicker" problem of OLED screens, making them more eye friendly.

✅ Long lifespan: LCD screens are not prone to burn-in (there will be no residual images after long-term use).

❌ Low contrast: Due to the dependence of LCD on backlight, it cannot display pure black, and black often appears grayish.

❌ High power consumption: The backlight layer is always on, even if the black part is displayed, it is still consuming power.

❌ Difficult to make very thin: LCD screens have a large thickness, which is not conducive to ultra-thin phone design.

Common LCD screen types:

IPS LCD: With a large viewing angle and excellent color performance, it is commonly used in mid-range models.

TFT LCD: outdated technology with light colors and high energy consumption, has gradually been phased out.

Suitable for:

✅ People who use mobile phones for a long time (less flicker, better eye protection)

✅ Users who prefer natural colors (avoid oversaturated colors)

✅ Users with limited budget (LCD screen costs are relatively low)

Representative models: iPhone 11, iPhone SE 3, Redmi Note 12



2. OLED screen: vibrant colors, high contrast

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens are composed of self luminous pixels, each of which can emit light independently without the need for a backlight layer, thus achieving pure black display and high contrast.

Features:

✅ Colorful: OLED screens have a wider color gamut and more vibrant display effects.

✅ High contrast: It can present true black and display more vividly.

✅ Lower energy consumption: OLED screens can turn off pixels when displaying black areas, reducing power consumption (but higher power consumption when displaying white).

✅ The screen can be made thinner and more flexible, which is beneficial for foldable and curved screen designs.

❌ Easy screen burn-in: Long term fixed display of a certain screen may cause ghosting (such as navigation bar, status bar).

❌ Strobe issue: OLED screens typically use PWM dimming, which may cause eye fatigue at low brightness.

❌ High cost: High quality OLED screens are expensive and are usually used for mid to high end models.

Common OLED screen technologies:

AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED): commonly found in brands such as Samsung and Apple, with more vibrant colors.

LTPO AMOLED: Supports variable refresh rates (such as 1Hz-120Hz) to improve smoothness while reducing power consumption, commonly seen in flagship models.

Micro LED: At the forefront of technology, it has the advantages of OLED and solves the problem of screen burn-in, but currently it is expensive and has not been widely commercialized.

Suitable for:

✅ Users who pursue high contrast and bright colors (like the "transparency" of the screen)

✅ Users who enjoy gaming and high refresh rate experience (OLED screen response speed is fast)

✅ Users who hope their phones are thinner and lighter (with a more streamlined OLED structure)

Representative models: iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Pro



3、 Refresh rate: an important factor affecting smoothness

In addition to screen type, refresh rate is also a key indicator that affects the screen experience of mobile phones.

60Hz (standard refresh rate): The most basic refresh rate, with stable but not smooth images.

90Hz/120Hz (high refresh rate): smoother operation, suitable for sliding social media, playing games and other scenarios.

144Hz and above: commonly found in gaming phones, the ultra-high refresh rate brings a more ultimate smooth experience.

LTPO variable refresh rate (1Hz-120Hz): The refresh rate can be dynamically adjusted according to the usage scenario, which is energy-saving and smooth. It is standard on flagship models.

Suitable for people with high screen refresh rate:

✅ I enjoy playing games (faster response time, reduced ghosting)

✅ Regularly browse social media (smoother scrolling, better visual experience)

✅ Pursuing power saving and smoothness (LTPO technology is the best choice)

4、 Eye protection mode: reduces screen damage to the eyes

Staring at the screen for a long time can easily cause eye fatigue, blue light damage, and other problems. The following techniques can alleviate them to a certain extent:

DC dimming (reducing low-frequency flicker): More eye friendly than PWM dimming, but may affect color accuracy.

Low blue light mode: reduces high-energy blue light radiation and lowers the risk of eye damage.

• Paper like eye protection mode (such as Honor like natural light screen): simulates the reading effect of paper and is suitable for long-term reading.

If your eyes are sensitive, it is recommended to choose a phone that supports DC dimming or eye protection mode.

Comparison of LCD screen and OLED screen principles

First determine the type of fault

Fixed position color stripes/lines with broken inner screen, loose or aged wiring, lightly press screen edges for testing, backup data for repair

Full screen flashing/jumping stripe display driver failure, motherboard issue. Restart the phone to restore factory settings

Touch failure+striped touch screen damage or cable breakage, immediately stop using to avoid further damage

Possible self-study steps (at your own risk)

1. Eliminate software issues

Force restart of phone:

Huawei/Honor: Press and hold the power button for more than 10 seconds.

Xiaomi/Redmi: Power button+volume up button for 10 seconds.

IPhone: Quickly press Volume+, Volume -, and then long press the power button until the Apple logo appears.

Restore factory settings (data will be cleared):
Enter the system recovery mode (with different combinations of buttons for each brand) and select 'Clear Data'.



2. Check physical connections (for users with strong hands-on abilities only)

Disassemble the machine and re plug and unplug the ribbon cable (requires a screwdriver and pry bar):

After shutting down, remove the back cover (search for the corresponding disassembly video for the model).

Find the screen ribbon cable (usually located at the top of the motherboard), disconnect it, and then re fasten it.
⚠️ Risk: Improper operation may damage other components!

3. Temporary relief of display issues

Lightly press the edge of the screen: If the stripes change with pressing, it may be due to poor contact of the ribbon cable. You can try pressing the edge of the screen lightly for 12 hours (non permanent repair) with a book.

Do not attempt ineffective/dangerous operations

Heat the screen with a hair dryer (which may exacerbate delamination).

Freezing mobile phones (condensation water can corrode circuits).

Using the 'Screen Repair App' (purely false advertising, hardware issues cannot be fixed by software).

Ultimate solution official repair:

After sales replacement of screen assemblies for brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple (priced at 300-1500 yuan, but with guaranteed quality).

Prioritize booking through official websites (such as Huawei services, Apple support).

Third party repair: Choose a store with good reputation and require the use of original or high imitation screens (lower price but higher risk).

Use a phone case and tempered glass film.

Avoid putting your phone under pressure (such as sitting in a pocket), high temperatures, or humid environments.

Regularly backup data to prevent sudden screen failure and data loss.

If the screen stripes are accompanied by touch failure or worsening diffusion, please stop using them immediately and send them for repair to avoid damaging the motherboard!

Price reference for mobile phone screensUpon entering a mobile phone repair shop, you will discover that the prices for screen replacements vary widely across different brands and models. Taking Apple phones as an example, here is a simple price reference for you:iPhone 13 seriesPrice of the outer screen: approximately 500~700 yuanPrice of the inner screen: approximately between 600 and 1300 yuanScreen assembly price: approximately around 1600~1900 yuaniPhone 14 seriesPrice of outer screen: approximately 700~900 yuanPrice of the inner screen: approximately 900~1700 yuanScreen assembly price: approximately around 1700~2300 yuaniPhone 15 seriesPrice of the outer screen: approximately around 1100 yuanPrice of the inner screen: approximately between 1200 and 2200 yuanScreen assembly price: approximately around 1700~2400 yuaniPhone 16 seriesScreen assembly price: approximately around 1700~2400 yuan
Why is it so expensive to replace a phone screen?The reason why mobile phone screens are expensive lies primarily in their complex composition. A complete mobile phone screen typically consists of an outer screen (touch screen), an inner screen (display screen), and an adhesive layer in between.When a mobile phone screen is shattered, it could be due to a cracked outer screen or simultaneous damage to both the outer and inner screens. Therefore, during the repair process, it is often necessary to replace both parts simultaneously. This not only increases the complexity of the repair but also raises the repair cost.Moreover, with the continuous development of mobile phone technology, the composition and structure of mobile phone screens are also constantly being updated and upgraded. The emergence of these new technologies may also lead to an increase in the cost of repairing mobile phone screens.In addition, apart from the cost of the phone screen itself, the technical cost of replacing a phone screen is also significant. This is because the connection between the screen and the motherboard has become increasingly precise, and even the slightest mistake can damage other components.Therefore, the cost of repairing a screen is high due to the nature of the phone screen itself and the technical difficulty of the repair process.
How to find a repair service for screen replacement of a mobile phone?There are generally three ways to repair or replace a broken mobile phone screen:Firstly, one may choose official maintenance, which is transparent in price and guaranteed in quality, but often comes at a high cost;Secondly, through third-party repair platforms, the prices are relatively cheaper.Lastly, if you have all the necessary tools, you can also try purchasing a screen and replacing it yourself.It is important to note that one must possess relevant replacement experience and knowledge reserves, otherwise it is easy to end up making a mess of the replacement process.Of course, if you want an experienced technician to replace the screen of your phone, you can always turn to Geek Repair.Whether it's a broken outer screen, damaged inner screen, or a need to replace the entire screen assembly, we offer on-site repair services. You can easily solve your phone screen issues without leaving your home.