Super AMOLED: introduction and market status - Page 17

There are rumors that Samsung is set to release a new Galaxy S II variant (code named Celox) with LTE. The interesting bit is that it is said that this phone will sport Samsung's new Super AMOLED HD display rather than the Super AMOLED Plus used in regular S II phones - and that Super AMOLED HD will use PenTile matrix again.

Galaxy S II

So if Samsung goes back to PenTile, this might explain the resolution increase, although it will still be unrealistic to expect an HD (1280x800) resolution on a 4" display - even with PenTile, as Samsung will not be able to move beyond 200ppi using their current FMM technology. In any case, it seems rather unlikely for Samsung to go back to this technology after telling us that normal matrix is better in Super AMOLED Plus displays...

Samsung's Galaxy S Plus (a Galaxy S variant) is now available unlocked for $539.99. The S Plus offers a faster 1.4Ghz processor and Android v2.3. The display is the same as on the Galaxy S - 4" WVGA Super-AMOLED.

There are reports that Samsung plans to introduce new 7" AMOLED displays later this year. According to these reports Samsung's new AMOLED displays will feature 1024x768 - and be used by Samsung Electronics in new Tablets, released towards the end of 2011.

A 7-inch Super AMOLED prototype

But in the same article they say that Samsung aims to introduce Full-HD tablets as well. Perhaps the new 7" panels will offer 720P HD resolution (1280×720)? This makes sense as the pixel density for such a display is about 180ppi - which is achievable in Super AMOLED Plus displays. In fact this may be the Super AMOLED HD display we keep hearing about lately...

Earlier today we learned that LG Display decided to stop investing in small and medium sized OLEDs. Now we hear that LG Display's CEO commented that Samsung is misleading the market - because OLED displays are not suitable for smartphones and tablets - "OLED displays are not suitable in terms of picture quality, response time, energy consumption and contrast ratios".

Samsung Super-AMOLED display

That is a very strange comments by LG - as we know that people love OLED displays. In fact recent reviews of Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus displays were raving - Engadget for example says that the Super AMOLED Plus is spectacular, and is on-par with Apple's Retina display. If the recent reports about Samsung's Super AMOLED HD displays are true - then this display will beat an IPS-LCD display hands down.

There are reports that Samsung is working on a new device called the Galaxy Q that will bridge the gap between the smartphone and the small tablet. It will have a Super AMOLED Plus 5.3" display. The Q will come in two versions: 3G and LTE, and will launch in September during the IFA 2011 exhibition in Germany.

A 7-inch Super AMOLED prototype

Achieving an HD (720p) display on a 5.3" screen requires around 270 ppi - which means that Samsung will not be able to offer that resolution using their current technology (which limits AMOLEDs to around 200 ppi). So this is probably not the rumored Super AMOLED HD display.

Update: Engadget says that Samsung will not confirm the rumor - saying that the information on these tweets came from an external source...

A few weeks we reported that there are rumors regarding a new Super AMOLED HD display coming from Samsung - featuring 720p (1280x720) resolution. It was rumored that this display will first appear in Google's upcoming Nexus 3 phone, and today we hear that Samsung Mobile Romania twitted about the upcoming Nexus S - and confirmed the Super AMOLED HD display.

Having such a display on a mobile phone seems highly unlikely. Samsung currently can't make such a high PPI AMOLED (unless they move to LITI, but this isn't expected anytime soon). Perhaps the Nexus 3 will actually be a tablet and not a phone? Or perhaps Samsung will surprise us all with a remarkable new AMOLED technology...

Reports start to emerge about an upcoming Google phone that will be the first one to use their Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS. Interestingly, these report say that the display will be a "Super AMOLED HD" (that's the first time we heard that description). Some say that this large display will support 720p HD video (1280x720). This is a very high resolution for a mobile phone - perhaps there is some mix-up between this device and a new tablet from Google?

Google Nexus S

If Google are indeed working on a new phone or tablet device, surely more details will emerge, and we'll keep you updated on that mysterious Super AMOLED HD display!

Cnet posted an interesting story comparing the Galaxy S II Super AMOLED Plus display and the Galaxy S Super AMOLED. They say that viewing them normally, they can't really tell them apart (beside the fact that the Galaxy S II's display is larger - 4.3" vs 4"). On both screens, text was clear and colors in images were extremely rich.

SAP (left) vs SA (right)

Looking closely, you see a slight difference - because of the PenTile technology of the Super AMOLED (which Samsung no longer uses in the Super AMOLED Plus display). Interestingly, when Engadget reviewed the S II, they said that the Super AMOLED Plus is "nothing short of spectacular" and that it may be the best mobile display on the market.

During Samsung Electronic's conference call, the company said they will not release an AMOLED tablet in 2011. Samsung already unveiled 7" Super AMOLED prototypes in November 2010 and we had hopes they'll begin making those displays soon. It seems we'll have to wait till 2012 for an AMOLED tablet...

Engadget posted a very positive review of the Samsung Galaxy II, saying that this is the best Android smartphone, and it might well be the best smartphone today. Regarding the 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus displays, they say that the screen is nothing short of spectacular. Great contrast and colors and supreme viewing angles.

"We'd even go so far as to say it's better than the iPhone 4's screen, purely because, at 4.3 inches, it gives us so much more room to work with. It's almost impossible to split the two up in terms of quality of output, they're both top notch.". Engadget says that the original Super AMOLED displays exhibited slightly grainier images due to the PenTile matrix, but the new Plus displays (which use a real-stripe matrix) has great resolution and detail. The new display also has got rid of the oversaturated colors. The only down side of the screen is the auto-brightness feature (but that has nothing to do with the OLED...).