Difference Between AMOLED and Super AMOLED

AMOLED vs Super AMOLED

If you want to experience the future of display technology, then these six letters would probably show you the way- A.M.O.L.E.D. It stands for Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode and also popularly goes by the name Active-matrix OLED. Foreign-sounding it may be, but we usually see or even use it with our mobile phones, next generation televisions and other hand-held electronic devices. Without it, we would have been stuck with bulky and heavy devices running on archaic technologies such as cathode ray tubes or CRT. Furthermore, the thrill doesn’t stop with this breakthrough which is AMOLED. In just a matter of a few years, leading mobile electronics developers were able to come up with a more powerful technology which would be the Super AMOLED. As its name suggests, it’s a more efficient version of its predecessor. Although the question now would be how fine the differentiating line between AMOLED and Super AMOLED really is.

We answer that by first further defining AMOLED. To make the task simpler, we’ll divide it into two components- active-matrix (AM) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED). OLED would be the base technology which uses a specialized thin film display tool. Fundamentally, an AMOLED screen is composed of 4 layers, namely the substrate, the thin film transistor (TFT) array, organic active layers, and the topmost, cathode layer. It is powered by organic compounds which then results in the electroluminescent constituent. Its organic active layers would best explain the ‘AM’ part in AMOLED. These are made up of pixels that produce light once electrical energy is transferred or integrated to the TFT array. The TFT layer acts a set of switches to modulate pixel flow and population. On a less technical note, the AMOLED’s design is tailored for electronics with limited battery life. Some examples are mobile phones, hand-held multimedia players, and mini televisions. AMOLED eats up very little power while providing optimum display. Power consumption varies depending on the brightness and color settings of a display. Generally, the darker the display, the less energy it uses. Compared to other display technologies, AMOLED provides higher perceived luminance, better contrast ratio, wider viewing angle, wider range of color gamut or true colors, faster response especially with dynamic pictures or videos. Some electronic brands which have employed this technology are Nokia, HTC, Dell, Samsung, and Google Nexus. In spite of its revolutionary efficiency feature, the AMOLED has some downsides. Most popular of which would be its fuzzy display quality in direct sunlight. Nevertheless, such limitation will not remain unresolved for long. Thanks to its successor, the Super AMOLED.

Super AMOLED outdoes its predecessor and other technologies in the same generation by integrating the touch-sensor component to the screen rather than being installed separately above it. Comparing it to AMOLED, its screen is essentially brighter and its power consumption is lower both by 20%. It also addresses the formers’ sunlight reflection downside by lowering it to 80%. In effect, it produces brighter and more vivid display regardless of external light intensity. Moreover, it promises wider viewing angle, superb outdoor readability and zero motion blurs with video or dynamic displays.

Summary:
1. AMOLED and Super AMOLED are display technologies used for mobile electronic devices and televisions.
2. AMOLED stands for active-matrix organic light-emitting diode. It consists of a set of thin film layers of electroluminescent power-producing organic compounds and a pixel-modulating matrix. Super AMOLED is a more advanced version. It integrates touch-sensors and the actual screen in a single layer.
3. AMOLED consumes less power, provides more vivid picture quality, and renders faster motion response as compared to other display technologies such as LCD. However, Super AMOLED is even better at this with 20% brighter screen, 20% lower power consumption and 80% less sunlight reflection.
4. Both AMOLED and Super AMOLED are now used by leading electronics manufacturers such as HTC, Nokia, Samsung, and Dell.

Sharing is caring!