Apple’s iPhone models utilize two main display technologies – LCD and OLED. Understanding the differences between these screen types can help you choose the right iPhone for your needs.
LCD Technology In-Depth
To understand the strengths and weaknesses of LCD screens, it helps to dig deeper into how they work. LCD stands for liquid crystal display. The key components of an LCD include:
- Backlight – A bright white LED light source shines through the entire display.
- Polarizing filter – Only allows light waves oriented in one plane to pass through.
- Glass substrate – Transparent panel with electrodes to control pixels.
- Liquid crystals – Twisted nematic liquid crystals untwist when voltage applied.
- Color filters – Red, green and blue filters add color to each pixel.
The liquid crystals in an LCD exist between two polarized glass filter layers. Normally, the liquid crystals are twisted, rotating the polarization of light passing through them. So when light from the backlight enters, it gets twisted by the liquid crystals allowing it to pass through the front polarized filter.
When voltage is applied to a pixel, the liquid crystals untwist and align to the electric field. In this state the crystals do not affect the polarization of the backlight. So the polarized front filter blocks the light, making that pixel appear darker. Carefully varying the voltage applied allows different brightnesses from full brightness down to black.
Advantages of LCD Displays
Some of the key strengths of LCD screens include:
- High brightness – Large backlights with strong LED lights allow LCDs to produce very bright whites up to 600-800 nits.
- Energy efficient for white – Requires less battery power compared to OLED when displaying lighter content.
- Affordable – The components and manufacturing process for LCDs are relatively inexpensive.
- Reliable – Mature technology that avoids issues like OLED burn-in.
These advantages make LCD a great choice for users who want extremely bright screens for good outdoor visibility. The lower power draw for white content also benefits battery life for tasks like web browsing or reading. And the technology remains cost-effective to produce.
Disadvantages of LCD
While LCD is still widely used, it does come with some disadvantages including:
- No true blacks – The backlight always bleeds through somewhat, making blacks appear gray.
- Narrow viewing angles – Colors can shift when viewed from an angle on cheaper twisted nematic LCDs.
- Thicker displays – The required backlight adds thickness compared to OLED.
- Slower response times – Can cause motion blur in fast-moving video.
These downsides mean LCD displays can suffer from more washed out, lower-contrast images. But modern high-end LCDs have improved by using bonds like IPS to widen viewing angles. And response times continue getting faster.
LCD Displays
LCD (liquid crystal display) screens were the standard for iPhone models up until 2017’s iPhone X release. LCDs work by shining a backlight through a layer of liquid crystals and color filters. Pixels can be turned on and off to allow varying amounts of light to pass through, creating the screen image.
Benefits of LCD:
- Brighter screens – LCDs have a strong dedicated backlight, allowing for very bright display output.
- Affordable – Simple LCD technology makes manufacturing more cost-effective.
- Energy efficient – Requires less battery power compared to OLED.
Drawbacks of LCD:
- Thicker displays – Layers like the backlight add bulk compared to OLED.
- Washed out blacks – The ever-present backlight can’t be fully blocked, resulting in blacks appearing grayish.
- Lower contrast – Due to less dark black levels, contrast ratio is reduced.
- Viewing angles – Color and brightness can shift at wide viewing angles with standard LCDs.
LCD iPhones
Here are the iPhone models that use LCD technology:
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone SE 2nd Gen
- iPhone SE 3rd Gen
OLED Screen Technology Fundamentals
OLED stands for organic light emitting diode. Rather than relying on a backlight, OLED pixels directly emit their own colored light. Some key components in an OLED display include:
- Substrate – Clear material such as plastic or glass.
- Anode – Positively charged electrode.
- Organic layers – Electroluminescent organic semiconductor films.
- Cathode – Negatively charged electrode.
These layers are extremely thin, with the organic films only 100-200 nanometers thick. When voltage is applied between the electrodes, the anode injects positive charges called holes into the organic layers while the cathode injects electrons. When these charges recombine in the emission layer, photons are released as visible light.
By adjusting the voltage for each OLED pixel, brightness can be varied. Turning off a pixel cuts supply to that OLED diode so no light is emitted, creating true blacks.
Benefits of OLED
Here are some of the most notable benefits of OLED display technology:
- Perfect blacks – Pixels can be completely disabled for infinite contrast ratio.
- Thin and lightweight – No bulky backlight allows very slender displays.
- Wide viewing angles – Colors and brightness stay consistent at steep angles.
- Fast response time – Under 0.01ms for eliminating motion blur.
- Vibrant colors – OLED’s wide color gamut enables very saturated reds and greens.
With these advantages, OLED screens can achieve stunning image quality. Dark room viewing reveals OLED’s full potential, with the contrast creating a dazzling, almost 3D-like effect.
OLED Disadvantages
While offering the best looking smartphone displays, OLED technology still has a few downsides such as:
- Expensive – Smaller manufacturing scale keeps costs higher than LCD production.
- Lower maximum brightness – Difficult to achieve very high brightness compared to LCD.
- Screen burn-in – Can suffer permanent image retention with static content.
- Efficiency drops at high brightness – Consumes more power than LCD at full white screens.
Phone makers continue working to minimize these drawbacks. Brightness and efficiency keep improving, while features like pixel shifting help reduce burn-in risk on newer OLED models.
OLED Displays
OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays work very differently from LCDs. Each pixel contains light emitting organic compounds that glow when current is passed through them. This allows each pixel to be controlled individually and turned off completely.
Benefits of OLED:
- Perfect blacks – Pixels can be turned completely off, creating infinite contrast ratio.
- Thinner displays – No backlight layer required makes OLED very thin.
- Better viewing angles – Colors and brightness remain consistent at wide angles.
- Power saving – Black pixels use no power, so dark screens conserve battery.
- Vibrant colors – OLED pixels can display wider color gamut with very saturated reds and greens.
Drawbacks of OLED:
- Expensive – Manufacturing process for OLED is costly.
- Lower brightness – Although improving, maximum brightness lags behind LCD.
- Screen burn-in – Static images can burn into OLED screens after long periods.
- Lower efficiency at high brightness – Requires more power than LCD when displaying white screens.
OLED iPhones
Here are the iPhone models that utilize OLED display technology:
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
Comparing LCD and OLED iPhones
With both LCD and OLED options available, which iPhone display type is right for you? Here’s a comparison of some key differences:
| Feature | LCD iPhone | OLED iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Screen quality | Good colors and resolution, but blacks appear grayish. | Excellent contrast and true blacks provide striking image. |
| Viewing angles | Colors shift at wide angles on cheaper LCDs. | Consistent brightness and colors when viewed off-angle. |
| Thickness | LCD requires backlight layer, making it thicker. | Very thin display since OLED pixels produce their own light. |
| Maximum brightness | Can get extremely bright, up to 625 nits. | Good brightness up to 1200 nits, but can’t match LCD. |
| Battery life | LCD consumes less battery for white screens. | OLED uses less energy for dark screens. |
| Price | Less expensive LCD models start under $400. | Premium $1000+ price for OLED screen and features. |
Neither LCD or OLED can be called definitively “better” – each has advantages that will suit different users’ needs:
- LCD – If you want the brightest possible display or maximum battery efficiency showing white apps, choose an LCD iPhone. LCD is also better for people worried about OLED screen burn-in.
- OLED – For an extremely sharp picture with the best contrast, deep blacks and vivid colors, OLED is unmatched. OLED also saves battery life with darker screen content.
iPhone Display Feature Comparison
Beyond just the LCD vs. OLED screen type, different iPhone models include additional display features and enhancements:
| LCD iPhone Models | OLED iPhone Models | |
|---|---|---|
| True Tone | iPhone 8, iPhone XR and later | iPhone X, iPhone XS and later |
| P3 Wide Color | iPhone 8, iPhone XR and later | All OLED iPhones |
| HDR Display | iPhone 8, iPhone XR and later | All OLED iPhones |
| ProMotion 120Hz | None | iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro |
| Fingerprint Resistant | None | iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max |
Understanding these specs will help you select an iPhone with the display capabilities that are most important for your needs.
True Tone
True Tone adjusts display white balance to match ambient lighting color temperature. This provides a more natural viewing experience in different environments.
Wide Color (P3)
Support for the wider P3 color gamut enables iPhones to display more vivid, saturated reds and greens for images and HDR video.
HDR
High dynamic range expands contrast ratio and color for compatible content. Blacks get blacker and highlights brighter.
ProMotion
Selected iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models feature ProMotion 120Hz refresh rates. This enables smoother, more fluid scrolling and animations.
Fingerprint Resistant
The newest iPhone 14 Pro models adopt a fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating to help the display stay looking cleaner.
Advanced Display Technologies
Beyond the LCD vs. OLED choice, Apple has integrated additional display enhancements into its iPhone screens:
Retina HD
“Retina HD” refers to the 326 pixels per inch (ppi) density on models like the iPhone 8 and XR. This extremely high pixel concentration results in smoother fonts and sharp images indistinguishable from printed material at normal viewing distance.
Super Retina HD
iPhone X and later OLED models are branded as “Super Retina HD”. In addition to the standard 326ppi Retina resolution, these displays offer a 1000000:1 contrast ratio and HDR support for bolder colors and brighter highlights.
ProMotion
Selected iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models feature Apple’s ProMotion display technology. ProMotion enables a faster 120Hz screen refresh rate for smoother animations and scrolling. The refresh rate can also drop down to 10Hz to conserve power when displaying static content.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 14 Pro introduced the unique “Dynamic Island” cutout housing the front camera and Face ID sensors. Dynamic Island expands and morphs into different widgets and alerts, transforming the notch into a new way to multitask.
OLED vs. LCD: Which Should You Choose?
So which iPhone display type is better for you?
For most users, OLED is the best option if budget allows it. The downsides like lower brightness and efficiency rarely outweigh the jaw-dropping contrast and colors OLED delivers.
However, LCD remains a great choice for buyers who:
- Want maximum brightness for outdoor visibility
- Use their phone extensively at peak whites for tasks like web browsing
- Prefer color accuracy over vibrant but saturated OLED colors
- Watch varied content, minimizing risk of OLED burn-in
- Have budget constraints where cheaper LCD models are necessary
Professional photographers and videographers may favor LCD for critical color accuracy needs. Some gamers may also still prefer LCD displays.
But most average users simply want a stunning screen to watch videos and scroll apps on. For these buyers, OLED’s visual pop provides an experience LCD has a hard time matching.
