LCD stands for Liquid-crystal display, which is a flat, thin-film display, commonly known as a liquid crystal display.
Each pixel of a liquid crystal display (LCD) consists of a layer of liquid crystal molecules suspended between two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing filters on either side with perpendicular polarization directions. LCD technology changes brightness based on voltage, and the color displayed by each sub-pixel depends on a color filtering process. Since liquid crystals themselves do not possess color, they can only generate various colors using the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, rather than as sub-pixels.
This leads to an interesting phenomenon: because LCD screens rely on backlights for their light source, they cannot display true black. Even so, LCD screens still have advantages in display quality. They use a three-color standard arrangement, which reduces eye strain. At the same resolution, they also offer higher image clarity.
OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, also known as organic electroluminescent display.
The basic structure of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) consists of a thin, transparent, semiconductor-grade indium tin oxide (ITO) layer connected to a positive electrode, and a metal cathode, forming a sandwich-like structure. The entire structure includes a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and an electron transport layer. When electricity is supplied to the appropriate location, holes from the positive electrode and electrons from the cathode combine in the light-emitting layer, generating photons. Depending on the material properties, this produces the three primary colors: red, green, and blue, forming the basic colors.
Simply put, OLED screens are self-emissive, projecting red, green, and blue light directly from organic light-emitting semiconductors, unlike LCD screens which require a backlight. Therefore, OLED screens offer higher visibility and brightness, and eliminate viewing angle issues. Furthermore, because OLED screens have lower driving voltages and higher energy efficiency, coupled with faster response times, lighter weight, thinner profile, and simpler construction, their applications are becoming increasingly diverse.
Returning to the original question, are OLED screens really better than LCD screens?
While both are indeed better in terms of size and power consumption, LCD's advantage lies in its display capabilities. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different applications. However, we see them primarily in mobile phones, and within the mobile phone industry, the future trend is towards thinner, lighter, and foldable devices.
