OLED vs TFT

[Guest Zeldazog]

Hi Everyone

New to forum - so apologies if this has already been answered, I read through another thread about the SF screens, but couldn't find an answer - well, it contradicts what I have.

I got a SF about 2 weeks before Xmas from Orange retail store. Started reading on this forum about how great OLED was, thought my screen was amazing, so it must be on of them. Saw a build number that indicated which it was, mine ends B08, so assumed it was TFT.

Had it just over five weeks and it started playing up, so they sent me replacement handset only, no back or battery. Plugged this in, started it up, first thing noticed was the green android seemed much stronger colour, as did the Orange logo - almost red compared to other phone. However, this one still not working properly, so think it's battery, this time they send me new phone and battery.

Got this today, started it up, it's the same super-bright, almost red orange. This one's good though, it works! But I am curious, so start reading about the two screens, have been lurking since I had the phone so I knew about this forum anyway.

Build number on handset number three ends in B08, so I figure must be TFT. However, I have just performed a turn it on in the dark, and it's quite obvious that phone number one is TFT, I could see the whole screen on start up, framed in the case, even thought it was dark in the room. Not as bright as that Nexus on the video that's around.

Phone number three however, started up in the dark, on my black trousers, and literally the only thing I can see is the logo, can't see where the screen ends and the casing starts (or my trousers).

That MUST be OLED right? Even though it's build B08?

Okay, so, next question - original phone appears to be working fine, and obviously is set up how I like it, has got all my android downloads on it, etc.

New phone is OLED which I read is better, especially for battery life.

I've read on this forum and another elsewhere, posts saying TFT more power hungry because of back light, OLED more power hungry when displaying white (?) - and also comments about sensitivity - but is it better or worse?

The last thread I could find discussing it seemed to die early December - have a few more of you got TFTs now, still agree OLED better?

Is it worth me keeping my ever so slightly scratched (But I work in an art studio, whatever I have is going to get wrecked soon enough, hence the cheapest Android was my option!) - everything set up original, or should I grab the apparently hard to come by OLED (They sent me two altogether, sadly I will have to send two handsets back ;)

Sorry, I am probably rambling now. Very new to Android, loving it, to scared to de-Orange just yet, but liking what it can do, and whichever screen I think it looks seriously good.

[Guest Matty-p]

Hi Everyone

New to forum - so apologies if this has already been answered, I read through another thread about the SF screens, but couldn't find an answer - well, it contradicts what I have.

I got a SF about 2 weeks before Xmas from Orange retail store. Started reading on this forum about how great OLED was, thought my screen was amazing, so it must be on of them. Saw a build number that indicated which it was, mine ends B08, so assumed it was TFT.

Had it just over five weeks and it started playing up, so they sent me replacement handset only, no back or battery. Plugged this in, started it up, first thing noticed was the green android seemed much stronger colour, as did the Orange logo - almost red compared to other phone. However, this one still not working properly, so think it's battery, this time they send me new phone and battery.

Got this today, started it up, it's the same super-bright, almost red orange. This one's good though, it works! But I am curious, so start reading about the two screens, have been lurking since I had the phone so I knew about this forum anyway.

Build number on handset number three ends in B08, so I figure must be TFT. However, I have just performed a turn it on in the dark, and it's quite obvious that phone number one is TFT, I could see the whole screen on start up, framed in the case, even thought it was dark in the room. Not as bright as that Nexus on the video that's around.

Phone number three however, started up in the dark, on my black trousers, and literally the only thing I can see is the logo, can't see where the screen ends and the casing starts (or my trousers).

That MUST be OLED right? Even though it's build B08?

Okay, so, next question - original phone appears to be working fine, and obviously is set up how I like it, has got all my android downloads on it, etc.

New phone is OLED which I read is better, especially for battery life.

I've read on this forum and another elsewhere, posts saying TFT more power hungry because of back light, OLED more power hungry when displaying white (?) - and also comments about sensitivity - but is it better or worse?

The last thread I could find discussing it seemed to die early December - have a few more of you got TFTs now, still agree OLED better?

Is it worth me keeping my ever so slightly scratched (But I work in an art studio, whatever I have is going to get wrecked soon enough, hence the cheapest Android was my option!) - everything set up original, or should I grab the apparently hard to come by OLED (They sent me two altogether, sadly I will have to send two handsets back ;)

Sorry, I am probably rambling now. Very new to Android, loving it, to scared to de-Orange just yet, but liking what it can do, and whichever screen I think it looks seriously good.

personaly oled ftw

[Guest]

I must admit I never actually saw an OLED Blade. But since I need clean and crispy text more than funky colors, I'm one happy camper with my TFT Blade.

If I got you right, you have both an OLED and a TFT Blade available right now. Why don't you just test both and see for yourself? Read the same text in the same realistic size for a while, watch the same video, try to read the screen in sunlight, do whatever you usually do with your phone. Then decide on your own.

[Guest Zeldazog]

Thanks for your suggestion Prometheus - I was going to do that, although I don't have days and days to test out it's power usage and I am keeping the screen protector on the new one just in case I do keep it - so it's difficult to compare sensitivity.

Other than that, yes the OLED is brighter, seems too bright, but I'd get used to it I am sure. That said, I was more than happy with my original TFT hadn't considered it to be a problem with colours, or brightness outside in sunlight, etc (not that we've had much of that anyway).

Hence why I was asking about power consumption and sensitivity.

But it would seem the decision is out of my hands. Put new battery in old (TFT) phone, to check a few things, half an hour later it was very very hot, and it had just been sitting on the table next to me, not even being used - and wasn't plugged in. Clearly there is problem with that handset, perhaps that fried my first battery, so it seems I have no choice anyway now!

Still, it shows that the build number doesn't necessarily mean you have TFT - B05 might mean you have OLED, but B08 must mean you can have either.

[Guest Azurren]

I second OLED ftw! ;)

IMO its the next advancement of technology, may still have some disadvantages although I haven't noticed.

I think when it comes down to it if you compaire the two screens side by side, well oled is a clear winner!

(Never did rely on the build numbers, your eyes are better and easier ;))

[Guest Phoenix Silver]

i never saw an oled so can't say

but what is the life of an oled screen and a tft screen ?

[Guest isambard]

i prefer TFT as it is crisper and has higher effective resolution.

i actually find the TFT screen too bright and have it set to minimum brightness so find it strange that people want it brighter still!

[Guest]

I am keeping the screen protector on the new one just in case I do keep it - so it's difficult to compare sensitivity.

The display panel and the touch layer are two things. Different panel doesn't necessarily mean different touch layer. I don't know whether ZTE gets the whole unit from its suppliers. If yes, touch layer might be different. If not, they probably glue the same touch layer onto OLED and TFT screens.

I was more than happy with my original TFT hadn't considered it to be a problem with colours, or brightness outside in sunlight

I thought OLEDs were supposed to be less readable in direct sunlight than TFTs.

Still, it shows that the build number doesn't necessarily mean you have TFT - B05 might mean you have OLED, but B08 must mean you can have either.

There's other ways to tell them apart. Cf. Engineering Mode and glass information.

I think when it comes down to it if you compaire the two screens side by side, well oled is a clear winner!

Well, that would depend on your criteria by which you weigh the pros and cons of both technologies.

[Guest Azurren]

Well, that would depend on your criteria by which you weigh the pros and cons of both technologies.

I'm not getting technical, just which one looks best (Colour, black levels, brightness)

The TFT backlight is strong, but turn the OLED brightness up and the colours burn into your eyes! Now that is to bright.

Also about text sharpness.. The screen resolution is the same on both models and comparing it to the two TFT phones I currently have (Spica and Pulse) with lower screen resolutions the text is just as clear ;)

Comparing it to a retina display and I still can't see a difference unless I get out a magnifying glass / my mates glasses ;)

Edited February 2, 2011 by Azurren

[Guest Zeldazog]

There's other ways to tell them apart. Cf. Engineering Mode and glass information.

I have no idea what this means.

The only thing I could find so far was the NoLED software (and I don't want to download software to a phone that I might be returning) and that one build number meant it was OLED and the other meant it was TFT, and that mine goes against that

Edited February 2, 2011 by Zeldazog

[Guest Zeldazog]

I thought OLEDs were supposed to be less readable in direct sunlight than TFTs.

I have no idea - it was you who brought up using the unit in sunlight ;) ;) :D

[Guest joff01]

I'm in the same boat - sent my TFT back as it had a fault, the replacement is (I suspect) OLED as the colours are much more vibrant.

;)

[Guest gmc007]

I have no idea what this means.

The only thing I could find so far was the NoLED software (and I don't want to download software to a phone that I might be returning) and that one build number meant it was OLED and the other meant it was TFT, and that mine goes against that

dial this *983*24474636# if its a samsung screen its OLED if its not its TFT

[Guest Rotmann]

i prefer TFT as it is crisper and has higher effective resolution.

i actually find the TFT screen too bright and have it set to minimum brightness so find it strange that people want it brighter still!

+1, I have an OLED and my wife a LCD, hard decision, I see them on the both level. The text is much sharper and the colors more natural on the TFT but the OLED has the better blacks and vibrating colors. On the battery life IMHO there is no noticeable difference

I'm not getting technical, just which one looks best (Colour, black levels, brightness)

The TFT backlight is strong, but turn the OLED brightness up and the colours burn into your eyes! Now that is to bright.

Also about text sharpness.. The screen resolution is the same on both models and comparing it to the two TFT phones I currently have (Spica and Pulse) with lower screen resolutions the text is just as clear ;)

Comparing it to a retina display and I still can't see a difference unless I get out a magnifying glass / my mates glasses ;)

The total effective addressable spatial resolution of the OLED will only be 392x653 due to the pentile matrix and the LCD has 480x800. Look.. That's why the text is much sharper on the LCD.

[Guest Azurren]

+1, I have an OLED and my wife a LCD, hard decision, I see them on the both level. The text is much sharper and the colors more natural on the TFT but the OLED has the better blacks and vibrating colors. On the battery life IMHO there is no noticeable difference

The total effective addressable spatial resolution of the OLED will only be 392x653 due to the pentile matrix and the LCD has 480x800. Look.. That's why the text is much sharper on the LCD.

Question:

Thanks Paul, it seems it has the PenTile Matrix as well, any impressions on reading black text on white background, is it blurry?

From someone who has used almost every device: <3

Not at all, I find it very clear, but then I find the screen on the N1 awesome too.

That is a SERIOUSLY magnified shot, I don't really see any issue here...

P

If you can really tell without a magnifying glass your must have veeeeeeeeery good eyesight.. It is a wonder you could even watch older TVs ;)

I'm still arguing visually here. I know there are technical limitation but it will only bother you if looking at your device with a magnifying glass.

But then again I don't have the both devices to compare with :D Picture plox ;)

Edited February 2, 2011 by Azurren

[Guest Kthulhu]

I got both at home. I with no doubt, the OLED screen is superior in color display, black deep...the android menus looks much more better because black is black. Battery, touchscreen response, etc.. are the same. I just have a TFT because my wife wanted a white phone.

[Guest SqueakyG]

I've never seen an OLED SanFran. Mine is TFT, and to be honest I'm quite disappointed with the quality. While it is very bright in a luminary kind of way - strong backlight - the colours are quite murky and so it doesn't feel very vivid.

Also it has a noticeable blue tint. It's not the problem you get if you install a ROM intended for OLED... it's just the cold blueness that TFT is sometimes cursed with. Cold blue whites. I put it next to my iPod Touch and the difference was night and day: white looks downright blue on the SanFran.

Edit to add pic, with comparison cutout circles. I must admit it looks worse in this picture than it really is, but the degree of difference is represented.

However, I'm glad I have TFT rather than OLED, because I don't like the meshy effect of OLED. I like sharp clean straight pixels. If only it wasn't so cold blue and murky.

Edited February 2, 2011 by SqueakyG

[Guest Rotmann]

Question:

From someone who has used almost every device: <3

If you can really tell without a magnifying glass your must have veeeeeeeeery good eyesight.. It is a wonder you could even watch older TVs ;)

I'm still arguing visually here. I know there are technical limitation but it will only bother you if looking at your device with a magnifying glass.

But then again I don't have the both devices to compare with :D Picture plox ;)

If you look at zoomed out sites (love to zoom out at max to read little letters and to get as much text as possible on the screen) you see the difference. Paul did not see it because the n1 was OLED too. Read that article and see what I mean.

[Guest Blueangel180]

Yeah even on stock devices the blue tint is very noticeable on whites

any firmware upgrades for this?or do we have to live with it? ;)

[Guest tttonyyy]

I've seen both and OLED is definitely nicer for viewing angle and depth of blacks. But I have to say I prefer TFT for small text, which the pentile OLED doesn't do quite so well (looks a bit blurry). In the future we'll see full RGB OLED and then LCD doesn't have any advantage whatsoever ;)

[Guest mark2410]

ive had both in my hands and at the time i prefered the cleaner and far more natural colours on the tft. since then i bought a Streak (that went back) and i played with it far more thatt i did with the LCD Blade (bought for a friend in the US) and i really began to dislike the lack of black on it. the black menues were all grey and it really began to annoy me after a while.

so while i agree oled look overly colour saturated and wrong it works on something like a phone. id loath it on a tv or monitor but for looking at phones it works

[Guest SUBZEROUK]

Hi Everyone

New to forum - so apologies if this has already been answered, I read through another thread about the SF screens, but couldn't find an answer - well, it contradicts what I have.

I got a SF about 2 weeks before Xmas from Orange retail store. Started reading on this forum about how great OLED was, thought my screen was amazing, so it must be on of them. Saw a build number that indicated which it was, mine ends B08, so assumed it was TFT.

Had it just over five weeks and it started playing up, so they sent me replacement handset only, no back or battery. Plugged this in, started it up, first thing noticed was the green android seemed much stronger colour, as did the Orange logo - almost red compared to other phone. However, this one still not working properly, so think it's battery, this time they send me new phone and battery.

Got this today, started it up, it's the same super-bright, almost red orange. This one's good though, it works! But I am curious, so start reading about the two screens, have been lurking since I had the phone so I knew about this forum anyway.

Build number on handset number three ends in B08, so I figure must be TFT. However, I have just performed a turn it on in the dark, and it's quite obvious that phone number one is TFT, I could see the whole screen on start up, framed in the case, even thought it was dark in the room. Not as bright as that Nexus on the video that's around.

Phone number three however, started up in the dark, on my black trousers, and literally the only thing I can see is the logo, can't see where the screen ends and the casing starts (or my trousers).

That MUST be OLED right? Even though it's build B08?

Okay, so, next question - original phone appears to be working fine, and obviously is set up how I like it, has got all my android downloads on it, etc.

New phone is OLED which I read is better, especially for battery life.

I've read on this forum and another elsewhere, posts saying TFT more power hungry because of back light, OLED more power hungry when displaying white (?) - and also comments about sensitivity - but is it better or worse?

The last thread I could find discussing it seemed to die early December - have a few more of you got TFTs now, still agree OLED better?

Is it worth me keeping my ever so slightly scratched (But I work in an art studio, whatever I have is going to get wrecked soon enough, hence the cheapest Android was my option!) - everything set up original, or should I grab the apparently hard to come by OLED (They sent me two altogether, sadly I will have to send two handsets back :mellow:

Sorry, I am probably rambling now. Very new to Android, loving it, to scared to de-Orange just yet, but liking what it can do, and whichever screen I think it looks serio

[Guest SUBZEROUK]

i have a tft san fran this is my 2nd handset the first one i had broke but the display was fine.It was a glass truly now i have a glass lead display its dim and the colours are really bright the green android man is bright lime green.And the display is really dark is it faulty should i take it back and get another one ?.Also the black text is really black and the blue writing on google is dark blue.My other san fran had no colour issues whats so ever the yellows look lime green :mellow:

[Guest Roph]

Odd about the blue tint on the TFT, mine's a brilliant white. Is your LCD LEAD or TRULY?

I prefer a TFT to a Pentile OLED, as the dumb subpixel arrangement destroys the point and sharpness. However, if you ever get a chance to look at the screen on a Samsung Galaxy S II, you'll immediately fall in love. Super AMOLED Plus screens use standard RGB layouts, same as an LCD. And it's bloody gorgeous.