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Which smartphone display is better? Customize your smartphone display right now Which phone has the best display

The display is the most important component of a smartphone. Obviously, when choosing a device, the buyer is often guided by this parameter. In our review today, we will try to select the top 10 smartphones of 2017, which will feature both hi-end devices and mid-budget models.

In our review we will present two parameters that clearly characterize the display matrix. The first is solar clarity, which measures how clearly the image is visible in bright sunlight. The bigger it is, the better. The second is color deviation, which shows how far colors are from ideal color rendering. A lower value corresponds to better color rendering. The remaining parameters speak for themselves. Let us clarify that the smartphones are located in random order.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Sun Clarity: 4.15
Color deviation: 3.1
Diagonal: 6.3 inches
Resolution: 1440p+
Brightness: 647
Contrast: infinite

Firstly, this is the largest screen on the top smartphone market, which is very comfortable to work with. The smartphone also has excellent performance in direct sunlight and color accuracy, which is typical for Super AMOLED matrices. The S Pen stylus is unique and allows you to write and sketch. Its convenience is appreciated by many users. The smartphone can also be connected to a DeX station, which allows you to work with it like a regular desktop PC, which will appeal to some travelers. Of course, you also need a monitor, but it can easily be replaced by a TV in a hotel. The Always On option is another nice feature of the smartphone: with it you can view notifications without touching the device.

Apple iPhone X

Sun Clarity: 5.01
Color deviation: 1.9
Diagonal: 5.8 inches
Resolution: 1125p+
Brightness: 679
Contrast: infinite

OnePlus 5T

Sun Clarity: 4.79
Color deviation: 2.3
Diagonal: 6.0 inches
Resolution: 1080p+
Brightness: 437
Contrast: infinite

OnePlus captivated its customers with a reasonable price and excellent specifications. With OnePlus 5T, the company decided to move away from the standard 5.5-inch screen and enlarged it, stretching it at the same time: the aspect ratio is now 18:9. The smartphone has become taller, but it has not increased in width. Despite its accessibility, the screen on this device is quite good. Its visibility in the sun is better than the Galaxy Note 8 and the same as the Galaxy S8. The screen is not as bright, but the low degree of light reflection does the job. OnePlus has also added support for DCI-P3, and now the color rendering of the smartphone is comparable to that of top-end devices from Samsung. It should be noted that the smartphone has a resolution of 1080p+, but despite this, there are no problems with sharpness.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro

Sun Clarity: 3.99
Color deviation: 1.4
Diagonal: 5.5 inches
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 539
Contrast: infinite

U Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro has a very good screen. The smartphone is our favorite in its price range. Its Super AMOLED matrix has excellent color reproduction - one of the best among all smartphones, not just on this list. Visibility in the sun is also one of the best. The J7 Pro is a regional model, but there is an alternative: the Galaxy J7 has similar visibility in the sun and slightly worse color reproduction.

Motorola Moto Z2 Force

Sun Clarity: 3.88
Color deviation: 3.8
Diagonal: 5.5 inches
Resolution: 1440p
Brightness: 559
Contrast: infinite

Most smartphones use screen protectors strained glass, but Motorola decided to use all the advantages of plastic - it will not crack if you drop your smartphone. Of course, the display is more susceptible to scratches, but this can easily be solved by installing the cheapest protective film or glass. The smartphone is also protected from splashes of water. You shouldn't submerge it, but it will withstand most water incidents (Motorola is known for being conservative with its ratings).

Razer Phone

Sun Clarity: 2.328
Color deviation: 2.0
Diagonal: 5.7 inches
Resolution: 1440p
Brightness: 300
Contrast: 1195:1

There is a popular genre of reaction games - any game in which success or failure depends on how quickly you react. These are mainly third-person shooters and fighting games, which are the most popular games at the moment. Most avid gamers will tell you that a 60Hz screen doesn't suit their needs. The Razer Phone has a unique 120Hz screen (unique if you don't take into account the iPad Pro tablet). The screen also supports a wide color gamut. Streaming mobile games on Twitch is gaining popularity, so this smartphone will be useful for those who cannot imagine their life without mobile gaming and broadcasting games online.

Meizu Pro 7 Plus

Sun Clarity: 4.15
Color deviation: 4.2
Diagonal: 5.7 inches
Resolution: 1440p
Brightness: 453
Contrast: infinite

We want to include something strange in our list, because our hero is equipped with a second screen. We're talking about the second screen on the back that comes with Meizu Pro 7Plus. This small AMOLED screen is under double rear camera can be used to take selfies with the main camera. Many smartphones have a good selfie camera, but none of them compares in quality to the main dual 12-megapixel camera of this device. This display can also be used as a notification screen, a display for music control buttons and a step counter.

AND interesting features, hidden from prying eyes.

Why are they hidden? Firstly, so that an inexperienced user does not break anything, and secondly, they are needed in especially rare cases and are not used regularly. Today we will talk about the engineering menu - a section for programmers, testers, geeks, experienced users and those who want to get into the very “heart” of gadget settings.

What is an engineering menu?

We are talking about a special program or system section that developers usually use at the final stage of configuring the software platform of a mobile device. With its help they contribute last changes into the operation of the device, check the functioning of various sensors and perform testing of system components. Also, the hidden functionality of the service menu is used to obtain a large amount of system information, conduct various tests (about 25 pieces) and configure any Android parameters - various sensors, mobile networks, equipment, etc.

The engineering, service or system menu is available on smartphones and tablets running on a MediaTek processor. On the Qualcomm chipset it is either reduced or absent altogether.

Attention! This section is intended for experienced users who bear full responsibility for the consequences. Careless actions can cause harm file system and bring their smartphone out of order.

How to enter the engineering menu?

To enter the engineering menu, you need to enter a special command in the dialing application: *#*#3646633#*#*. On some versions the code *#*#4636#*#* or *#15963#* may work.

If the code engineering menu on Android did not work, or there is no dialing application on the phone (relevant for tablets that do not support calls), the MobileUncle Tools or MTK Engineering applications, which can be downloaded for free via Google Play, will help.

After entering the command or launching the application, the desired section will open. It may close immediately - you need to have “Developer Mode” activated on your smartphone. To do this, go to the gadget settings, find the kernel version there and quickly click on it 5-10 times in a row.

Engineering menu functions

The engineering menu is divided into several categories, each of which will be discussed separately.

Telephony. Here are all the settings related to mobile communications. For example, you can activate or disable certain BandModes (frequencies for 2G/3G/4G operation), check the operation of SIM cards, and even disable mobile data transfer in the background.
Connectivity: Configure Bluetooth, Radio, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi CTIA settings. For example, in the radio settings you can specify the radio wave, antenna type (you need to use headphones) and sound format (mono or stereo). The radio will play straight from this section.
Hardware Testing. In this section, you can configure the operation of various components of the device, in simple words, hardware: sound levels of headphones and speakers, adjusting microphone sensitivity, various camera parameters (photo aspect ratio, adjusting ISO, HDR, focusing and much more), operation of the touchscreen, sensors (calibration right there) and so on. This category is very large and global; you need to understand each section separately and have serious knowledge and skills.
Location. In this category, you can configure GPS operation, see how many satellites the gadget has picked up, and simply conduct testing.
Log and Debugging. Here, logs (logs) of the battery are kept (percentage of charge, voltage, operating time, temperature) and other functions little known to the average user.
Others. Contains two functions also unknown to the average user.

Engineering menu settings

The engineering menu opens up enormous possibilities for customizing the phone; we will consider the most interesting ones in detail.

SAR Test - determining the level of harmful radiation from a smartphone or tablet.
Connections - testing available types wireless connection: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WLAN CTIA and FM receiver.

Audio - adjusts the sound in the speakers, microphone and headphones. About how to increase the Android volume through the engineering menu.

Camera - configure various camera settings.

Turning on the current camera - the operating current of the camera is displayed (in our tablet it is 2 mA).
CPU load test ( central processor) - checking the stability of its operation, identifying errors in the operation of the processor-memory channel, testing the cooling system and power supply of the processor.
Device Manager - activate automatic SMS registration, manage configuration parameters.
Disable detection - adjust the signal frequency.
Display - Sets the pulse width modulation indicator cycle, which affects the perceived brightness of the screen by quickly turning the backlight on/off; backlight adjustment; controller behind the vertical and horizontal lines of the display.

Wake mode - its activation will not allow the device to “go” into sleep mode.
IO - management of data input/output operations.
Memory - detailed information about the RAM module.
To a certain extent - detailed information about the battery (the strange name of the section is most likely explained by errors in automatic translation titles in the application, but there is no option to switch to English).
SD card test - the name of the tab speaks for itself.
Touch screen - checking the sensitivity and response of the display when pressed, as well as setting its additional settings.
USB - testing the operation of the USB port.

UART/USB switch - switching between two data transfer modes.
Sensor - calibration (adjusting clarity and sensitivity) of the touch screen. Standard methods.
Location - testing the GPS performance and determining the exact location.
Battery log - detailed information about the battery and the ability to activate the recording of battery consumption information.

MTKLogger - collection of system logs (MobileLog, ModemLog and NetworkLog).
Temperature sensor - shows the battery and processor.
Font parameter - change the font size.

When installing the application, some features may not be available without .

Xiaomi engineering menu

Despite the fact that our test Redmi 2 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, it also has the functionality that interests us. To enter it, you need to tap on the “Kernel version” item several times in a row.

The menu is represented by five items:

Automatic Test. Automatic test of all device parameters.
Single Item Test. Each of the 25 tests is taken separately. We will talk about this in detail below.
Test Report. Report on completed texts and their results.
SW add HW version. Information about the smartphone version, IMEI and other numbers.
Device View. Smartphone hardware data.

Of course, the most interesting point is the Single Item Test, where you can take a huge number of tests.

Let's make a reservation right away that there was no way to configure anything in the device we tested - only a functionality test. At the end of each procedure, you need to note its status: successful (success) or not (failed).

Key - functionality of physical buttons. Interestingly, it was not possible to complete it successfully, since when checking the power button, the smartphone turns off.
Backlight - display brightness.

TouchPanel. The touch screen test includes two procedures: “Crossed calibration” and “Touch panel calibration”. The first one checks so-called “swipes”, the second one checks single taps on the screen. An easy way to calibrate your display.

TFlash. Testing a memory card with two results: either everything is fine, or the card is damaged.
Bluetooth. Searches for available devices.
SIM Card. Test for the presence of SIM cards.

Vibration. The gadget vibrates - everything is ok.
RTC (Real Time Clock) - operation of the built-in clock.
Speaker. Testing the conversational speaker. We didn’t understand how to get through it. We will be grateful if you can tell us in the comments.
Receiver. Translated as receiver, receiver, but music plays during testing.
Headset. Testing the 3.5mm jack to detect headphones, play sounds, and support headset control buttons.

LED. Notification indicator, everything is obvious here.
FM (radio). Click Search, and if you hear noise in the headphones, then everything is working properly.
Camera. Everything is obvious: a test of the main and front optics, as well as the flash.
Battery. An informative section with information about the correct operation of the USB cable (charging), the condition of the battery, its charge level and temperature. Similar data can be obtained more.

Wi-Fi. Detection of nearby access points. There are no settings.

Torch (flashlight): shines/does not shine.
The loopback test includes a test of the spoken microphone. First, click Recording, then Playing.
LCD. Screen colors.
GPS. Detection of available satellites.
Gyro (gyroscope). Three parameters - X, Y, Z - change depending on the position of the device in space.
G-sensor (Accelerometer). Rotate the gadget in all planes and turn it over. The three parameters should be ok.
Proximity Sensor. It is usually located near the speaker and is designed to dim the gadget screen during a conversation, thereby eliminating accidental clicks.
Optical and Magnetic Sensor (optical and magnetic sensors) - points we don’t understand, share your knowledge in the comments.

After passing all tests, you can go to the Test Report section. As you can see, our “animal” is in excellent shape and has passed all the tests, which is very pleasing.

conclusions

Above we have listed the main sections of the engineering menu available on the tested devices. Now let’s summarize what features the user receives during installation:

Formatting, restoring to factory settings.
Testing the operation of individual elements of a smartphone or tablet, such as sensors, touch screen sensitivity and calibration accuracy.
Detailed information about the device and its parts. For example, you can track battery consumption since the last charge and view statistics on the programs used.
Energy optimization. Alternatively, unnecessary frequency ranges are turned off. In Russia, the standard indicators for working in 2G and 3G networks are 900 and 1800 MHz, while in the USA they are 850 and 1900 MHz.

Smartphone display technologies do not stand still; they are constantly being improved. Today there are 3 main types of matrices: TN, IPS, AMOLED. There are often debates about the advantages and disadvantages of IPS and AMOLED matrices and their comparison. But TN screens have not been in fashion for a long time. This is an old development that is now practically not used in new phones. Well, if it is used, it is only in very cheap state employees.

Comparison of TN matrix and IPS

TN matrices were the first to appear in smartphones, so they are the most primitive. The main advantage of this technology is its low cost. The cost of a TN display is 50% lower compared to the cost of other technologies. Such matrices have a number of disadvantages: small viewing angles (no more than 60 degrees. If more, the picture begins to distort), poor color rendition, low contrast. The logic of manufacturers to abandon this technology is clear - there are a lot of shortcomings, and all of them are serious. However, there is one advantage: response time. In TN matrices the response time is only 1 ms, although in IPS screens the response time is usually 5-8 ms. But this is just one plus that cannot be weighed against all the minuses. After all, even 5-8 ms is enough to display dynamic scenes and in 95% of cases the user will not notice the difference between response times of 1 and 5 ms. In the photo below the difference is clearly visible. Note the color distortion at angles on the TN matrix.

Unlike TN, IPS matrices show high contrast and have huge viewing angles (sometimes even maximum). This type is the most common, and they are sometimes referred to as SFT matrices. There are many modifications of these matrices, so when listing the pros and cons, you need to keep in mind a specific type. Therefore, below, to list the advantages, we will mean the most modern and expensive IPS matrix, and to list the disadvantages, the cheapest.

Pros:

Maximum viewing angles.
High energy efficiency (low energy consumption).
Accurate color reproduction and high brightness.
Possibility to use a high resolution, which will give a higher pixel density per inch (dpi).
Good behavior in the sun.

Minuses:

Higher price compared to TN.
Distortion of colors when the display is tilted too far (however, viewing angles are not always maximum on some types).
Oversaturation of color and insufficient saturation.

Today, most phones have IPS matrices. Gadgets with TN displays are used only in the corporate sector. If a company wants to save money, then it can order monitors or, for example, cheaper phones for its employees. They may have TN matrices, but no one buys such devices for themselves.

Amoled and SuperAmoled screens

Most often, Samsung smartphones use SuperAMOLED matrices. This company owns this technology, and many other developers are trying to buy it or borrow it.

The main feature of AMOLED matrices is the depth of black color. If you put an AMOLED display and an IPS side by side, then the black color on the IPS will seem light compared to the AMOLED. The very first such matrices had implausible color reproduction and could not boast of color depth. Often there was so-called acidity or excessive brightness on the screen.

But developers at Samsung have corrected these shortcomings in SuperAMOLED screens. These have specific advantages:

Low power consumption;
Better picture compared to the same IPS matrices.

Flaws:

Higher cost;
The need to calibrate (set) the display;
Rarely can the lifespan of diodes vary.

AMOLED and SuperAMOLED matrices are installed on the top flagships due to the best picture quality. Second place is occupied by IPS screens, although it is often impossible to distinguish between an AMOLED and an IPS matrix in terms of picture quality. But in this case, it is important to compare subtypes, and not technologies as a whole. Therefore, you need to be on guard when choosing a phone: often advertising posters indicate the technology, and not a specific matrix subtype, and the technology does not play a key role in the final quality of the picture on the display. BUT! If TN+film technology is indicated, then in this case it is worth saying “no” to such a phone.

Innovation

Removing the OGS air gap

Every year engineers introduce image enhancement technologies. Some of them are forgotten and not used, and some make a splash. OGS technology is just that.

Typically, a phone screen consists of protective glass, the matrix itself, and an air gap between them. OGS allows you to get rid of the extra layer - the air gap - and make the matrix part of the protective glass. As a result, the image appears to be on the surface of the glass, rather than hidden underneath it. The effect of improving display quality is obvious. Over the past couple of years, OGS technology has been unofficially considered the standard for any more or less normal phones. Not only expensive flagships are equipped with OGS screens, but also budget phones and even some very cheap models.

Screen glass bending

The next interesting experiment, which later became an innovation, is 2.5D glass (that is, almost 3D). Thanks to the curves of the screen at the edges, the picture becomes more voluminous. If you remember, the first Samsung smartphone Galaxy Edge made a splash - it was the first (or not?) to have a display with 2.5D glass, and it looked amazing. There is even an additional touch panel on the side for quick access to some programs.

HTC was trying to do something different. The company created the Sensation smartphone with a curved display. In this way it was protected from scratches, although it was not possible to achieve any greater benefit. Nowadays, such screens cannot be found due to their already strong and scratch-resistant properties. protective glass Gorilla Glass.

HTC didn't stop there. The LG G Flex smartphone was created, which not only had a curved screen, but also the body itself. This was the “trick” of the device, which also did not gain popularity.

Stretchable or flexible screen from Samsung

As of mid-2017, this technology is not yet used in any phone available on the market. However, Samsung in videos and at its presentations demonstrates AMOLED screens that can stretch and then return to their original position.

Photo of the flexible display fromSamsung:

The company also presented a demo video where you can clearly see the screen curving by 12 mm (as the company itself states).

It is quite possible that Samsung will soon make a very unusual revolutionary screen that will amaze the whole world. This will be a revolution in terms of display design. It's hard to even imagine how far the company will go with this technology. However, perhaps other manufacturers (Apple, for example) are also developing flexible displays, but so far there have been no such demonstrations from them.

The best smartphones with AMOLED matrices

Considering that SuperAMOLED technology was developed by Samsung, it is mainly used in models from this manufacturer. And in general, Samsung is leading the way in developing improved screens for mobile phones and televisions. We already understood this.

Today, the best display of all existing smartphones is the SuperAMOLED screen in the Samsung S8. This is even confirmed in the DisplayMate report. For those who don’t know, Display Mate is a popular resource that analyzes screens inside and out. Many experts use their test results in their work.

To define the screen in S8, we even had to introduce a new term - Infinity Display. It received this name due to its unusual elongated shape. Unlike its previous screens, Infinity Display has been seriously improved.

Here is a short list of benefits:

Brightness up to 1000 nits. Even in bright sunshine, the content will be highly readable.
A separate chip for implementing Always On Display technology. The already economical battery now consumes even less battery power.
Picture enhancement function. In Infinity Display, content without an HDR component gains it.
Brightness and color settings are automatically adjusted based on users' preferences.
Now there is not one, but two lighting sensors, which more accurately allows you to automatically adjust the brightness.

Even compared to the Galaxy S7 Edge, which had a “reference” screen, the S8's display looks better (on it, whites are truly white, while on the S7 Edge they go warmer).

But besides the Galaxy S8, there are other smartphones with screens based on SuperAMOLED technology. These are, of course, mostly models from the Korean company Samsung. But there are also others:

Meizu Pro 6;
OnePlus 3T;
ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL – 3rd place in the TOP of Asusu phones (located).
Alcatel IDOL 4S 6070K;
Motorola Moto Z Play and others.

But it is worth noting that although the hardware (that is, the display itself) plays a key role, software is also important, as well as secondary software technologies, improving picture quality. SuperAMOLED displays are famous primarily for their ability to widely adjust temperature and color settings, and if there are no such settings, then the point of using these matrices is slightly lost.

Before the mass distribution of smartphones, when buying phones, we evaluated them mainly by design and only occasionally paid attention to functionality. Times have changed: now all smartphones have approximately the same capabilities, and when looking only at the front panel, one gadget can hardly be distinguished from another. The technical characteristics of devices have come to the fore, and the most important among them for many is the screen. We will tell you what lies behind the terms TFT, TN, IPS, PLS, and help you choose a smartphone with the desired screen characteristics.

Types of matrices

Modern smartphones mainly use three matrix production technologies: two are based on liquid crystals - TN+film and IPS, and the third - AMOLED - based on organic light-emitting diodes. But before we begin, it’s worth talking about the acronym TFT, which is the source of many misconceptions. TFT (thin-film transistor) are thin-film transistors that are used to control the operation of each subpixel of modern screens. TFT technology is used in all of the above types of screens, including AMOLED, therefore, if somewhere they talk about comparing TFT and IPS, then this is a fundamentally incorrect formulation of the question.

Most TFTs use amorphous silicon, but recently polycrystalline silicon TFTs (LTPS-TFTs) have been introduced into production. The main advantages of the new technology are reduction in power consumption and transistor sizes, which allows achieving high pixel densities (more than 500 ppi). One of the first smartphones with an IPS display and LTPS-TFT matrix was OnePlus One.

OnePlus One smartphone

Now that we have dealt with TFT, let's move directly to the types of matrices. Despite the wide variety of LCD varieties, they all have the same basic operating principle: the current applied to the liquid crystal molecules sets the polarization angle of the light (it affects the brightness of the subpixel). The polarized light then passes through the filter and is colored to match the color of the corresponding subpixel. The first to appear in smartphones were the simplest and cheapest TN+film matrices, the name of which is often abbreviated to TN. They have small viewing angles (no more than 60 degrees when deviating from the vertical), and even with slight tilts the image on screens with such matrices is inverted. Other disadvantages of TN matrices include low contrast and low color accuracy. Today, such screens are used only in the cheapest smartphones, and the vast majority of new gadgets already have more advanced displays.

The most common technology in mobile gadgets now is IPS technology, sometimes referred to as SFT. IPS matrices appeared 20 years ago and since then have been produced in various modifications, the number of which is approaching two dozen. However, it is worth highlighting among them those that are the most technologically advanced and are actively used at the moment: AH-IPS from LG and PLS from Samsung, which are very similar in their properties, which was even the reason for litigation between manufacturers . Modern modifications of IPS have wide viewing angles that are close to 180 degrees, realistic color reproduction and provide the ability to create displays with high pixel density. Unfortunately, gadget manufacturers almost never report the exact type of IPS matrix, although when using a smartphone, the differences will be visible to the naked eye. Cheaper IPS matrices are characterized by fading of the image when the screen is tilted, as well as low color accuracy: the image can be either too “acidic” or, on the contrary, “faded”.

As for energy consumption, in liquid crystal displays it is mostly determined by the power of the backlight elements (in smartphones LEDs are used for these purposes), so the consumption of TN+film and IPS matrices can be considered approximately the same at the same brightness level.

Matrixes created on the basis of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) are completely different from LCDs. In them, the light source is the subpixels themselves, which are subminiature organic light-emitting diodes. Since there is no need for external backlighting, such screens can be made thinner than LCD ones. Smartphones use a type of OLED technology - AMOLED, which uses an active TFT matrix to control subpixels. This is what allows AMOLED to display colors, whereas regular OLED panels can only be monochrome. AMOLED matrices provide the deepest blacks, since to “display” them you only need to turn off the LEDs completely. Compared to LCDs, such matrices have lower power consumption, especially when using dark themes, in which the black areas of the screen do not consume energy at all. Another characteristic feature of AMOLED is that colors are too saturated. At the dawn of their appearance, such matrices really had implausible color rendering, and although such “childhood sores” are long in the past, most smartphones with such screens still have a built-in saturation adjustment, which allows the image on AMOLED to be closer in perception to IPS screens.

Another limitation of AMOLED screens used to be the uneven lifespan of LEDs of different colors. After a couple of years of using the smartphone, this could lead to subpixel burnout and residual images of some interface elements, primarily in the notification panel. But, as in the case of color rendering, this problem is a thing of the past, and modern organic LEDs are designed for at least three years of continuous operation.

Let's summarize briefly. The highest quality and brightest images at the moment are provided by AMOLED matrices: even Apple, according to rumors, will use such displays in one of the next iPhones. But it’s worth considering that Samsung, as the main manufacturer of such panels, keeps all the latest developments for itself, and sells “last year’s” matrices to other manufacturers. Therefore, when choosing a non-Samsung smartphone, you should look towards high-quality IPS screens. But under no circumstances should you choose gadgets with TN+film displays - today this technology is already considered outdated.

The perception of the image on the screen can be influenced not only by the matrix technology, but also by the pattern of subpixels. However, with LCDs everything is quite simple: each RGB pixel in them consists of three elongated subpixels, which, depending on the modification of the technology, can be shaped like a rectangle or a “tick”.

Everything is more interesting in AMOLED screens. Since in such matrices the light sources are the subpixels themselves, and the human eye is more sensitive to pure green light than to pure red or blue, using the same pattern in AMOLED as in IPS would degrade color reproduction and make the picture unrealistic. An attempt to solve this problem was the first version of PenTile technology, which used two types of pixels: RG (red-green) and BG (blue-green), consisting of two subpixels of corresponding colors. Moreover, if the red and blue subpixels had a shape close to squares, then the green ones looked more like highly elongated rectangles. The disadvantages of this design were the “dirty” white color, jagged edges at the junction of different colors, and at low ppi - a clearly visible grid of subpixels, appearing due to too much distance between them. In addition, the resolution indicated in the characteristics of such devices was “dishonest”: if the IPS HD matrix has 2,764,800 subpixels, then the AMOLED HD matrix has only 1,843,200, which led to a difference in the clarity of IPS and AMOLED matrices visible to the naked eye. seemingly the same pixel density. The last flagship smartphone with such an AMOLED matrix was the Samsung Galaxy S III.

In the Galaxy Note II smartpad, the South Korean company made an attempt to abandon PenTile: the device’s screen had full-fledged RBG pixels, albeit with an unusual arrangement of subpixels. However, for unclear reasons, Samsung subsequently abandoned such a design - perhaps the manufacturer was faced with the problem of further increasing ppi.

In its modern screens, Samsung has returned to RG-BG pixels using a new type of pattern called Diamond PenTile. The new technology made it possible to make the white color more natural, and as for jagged edges (for example, individual red subpixels were clearly visible around a white object on a black background), this problem was solved even more simply - by increasing the ppi to such an extent that the irregularities were no longer noticeable . Diamond PenTile is used in all Samsung flagships starting with the Galaxy S4 model.

At the end of this section, it is worth mentioning one more pattern of AMOLED matrices - PenTile RGBW, which is obtained by adding a fourth, white, subpixel to the three main subpixels. Before the advent of Diamond PenTile, such a pattern was the only recipe for pure white color, but it never became widespread - one of the last mobile gadgets with PenTile RGBW was the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 tablet. Now AMOLED matrices with RGBW pixels are used in TVs, since they do not require a high ppi. To be fair, we also mention that RGBW pixels can also be used in LCDs, but we are not aware of examples of the use of such matrices in smartphones.

Unlike AMOLED, high-quality IPS matrices have never experienced quality problems associated with subpixel patterns. However, Diamond PenTile technology, coupled with high pixel density, has allowed AMOLED to catch up and overtake IPS. Therefore, if you choose gadgets pickily, you should not buy a smartphone with an AMOLED screen that has a pixel density of less than 300 ppi. At a higher density, no defects will be noticeable.

Design features

The variety of displays on modern mobile gadgets does not end with imaging technologies alone. One of the first things that manufacturers took on was the air gap between the projected capacitive sensor and the display itself. This is how OGS technology was born, combining the sensor and matrix into one glass package in the form of a sandwich. This gave a significant leap in image quality: the maximum brightness and viewing angles increased, and color rendition was improved. Of course, the thickness of the entire package has also been reduced, allowing for thinner smartphones. Alas, the technology also has disadvantages: now, if you break the glass, it is almost impossible to change it separately from the display. But the quality advantages turned out to be more important, and now non-OGS screens can only be found in the cheapest devices.

Experiments with glass shapes have also become popular recently. And they started not recently, but at least in 2011: HTC Sensation had a concave glass in the center, which, according to the manufacturer, was supposed to protect the screen from scratches. But not qualitatively new level Such glasses came out with the advent of “2.5D screens” with glass curved at the edges, which creates the feeling of an “infinite” screen and makes the edges of smartphones smoother. He actively uses such glasses in his gadgets. Apple company, and lately they have become more and more popular.

A logical step in the same direction was the bending of not only the glass, but also the display itself, which became possible when using polymer substrates instead of glass. Here the palm, of course, belongs to Samsung with its Galaxy smartphone Note Edge, in which one of the side edges of the screen was curved.

Another method was proposed by LG, which managed to bend not only the display, but also the entire smartphone along its short side. However, the LG G Flex and its successor did not gain popularity, after which the manufacturer abandoned further production of such devices.

Also, some companies are trying to improve human interaction with the screen by working on its touch part. For example, some devices are equipped with highly sensitive sensors that allow you to operate them even with gloves, while other screens receive an inductive substrate to support styluses. The first technology is actively used by Samsung and Microsoft (formerly Nokia), and the second by Samsung, Microsoft and Apple.

The future of screens

Don’t think that modern displays in smartphones have reached the highest point of their development: technology still has room to grow. One of the most promising are quantum dot displays (QLEDs). A quantum dot is a microscopic piece of semiconductor in which quantum effects begin to play a significant role. A simplified radiation process looks like this: exposure to a weak electric current causes the electrons of the quantum dots to change energy, emitting light. The frequency of the emitted light depends on the size and material of the dots, making it possible to achieve almost any color in the visible range. Scientists promise that QLED matrices will have better color rendition, contrast, more high brightness and low power consumption. Quantum dot screen technology is partially used in Sony TV screens, and LG and Philips have prototypes, but there is no talk of mass use of such displays in TVs or smartphones yet.

It is also highly likely that in the near future we will see not just curved, but also completely flexible displays in smartphones. Moreover, prototypes of such AMOLED matrices almost ready for mass production have existed for a couple of years. The limitation is the electronics of the smartphone, which cannot yet be made flexible. On the other side, large companies may change the very concept of a smartphone by releasing something like the gadget shown in the photo below - we can only wait, because the development of technology is happening right before our eyes.

Regardless of the features of using a smartphone - be it endlessly updating feeds social networks, playing mobile games or reading books - the user is constantly looking at his screen. That is why it is extremely important that the picture on the device’s display is pleasing to the eye. In this case, we are talking not only about the brightness level, but also about other important parameters. Today we will look at applications that allow you to customize them. What programs are included in this list? Let's find out.

Perhaps each of us uses a smartphone before bed, right? This could be setting an alarm or texting with a loved one. Be that as it may, contact with gadgets is extremely undesirable. The fact is that thanks to artificial light, I am sure that it is day outside and it is too early to sleep.

Can this be fixed? Yes, and you don’t have to throw away your favorite smartphone to do this. It is much easier to try the SunFilter application, which can change the temperature of the image on the display.

Another auto brightness

Quite a strange name, isn't it? Despite this, the application is unlikely to be difficult to understand. Its purpose is to increase user control above the automatic brightness level.

According to our colleagues from phonearena, brightness range in this application much wider than that in the function built into the smartphone. Thanks to this, you can not only extend the operating time of the device, but also make using the smartphone more comfortable in poor lighting conditions.

It's hard to underestimate the usefulness of IntelliScreen. With its help, you can prevent the display from dimming in a particular application.

In addition, the application can turn on the display every time you take the device out of your pocket. Convenient, isn't it?

The operating principle of Twilight is somewhat similar to SunFilter. The program forces the screen to adapt to the time of day, protects the user from the blue spectrum and uses a nice red filter.