Understanding Tech Jargon: Smartphone Display Edition

A few months ago, I went on a little rant about the importance of clear and understandable Tech reviews without all the Jargon for consumers, I was hoping to simplify tech jargon, but I’m not sure if I was successful. Hence, Understanding Tech Jargon.

Jargons are just special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand

Understanding Tech Jargon: Smartphone Displays

In this new series, I will explain the most common tech jargon in a clear and concise way. I will also provide examples of how these terms are used in real life. in this first article, we will delve into terms used in the smartphone display industry.

Smartphone displays have come a long way in recent years, with new technologies and features emerging all the time. This can make it difficult to keep up with all the latest jargon, but it’s important to understand what these terms mean so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a new smartphone.

Here is a glossary of some of the most common tech jargon used to describe smartphone displays:

Resolution: The resolution of a display refers to the number of pixels it has. The higher the resolution, the sharper and more detailed the image will be. Most modern smartphones have a display resolution of at least 1080 x 1920 pixels, which is considered to be high definition (HD). However, some smartphones have even higher resolutions, such as 2K (1440 x 2560 pixels) or 4K (2160 x 3840 pixels).
Pixel density: Pixel density refers to the number of pixels per inch (PPI) of a display. The higher the pixel density, the smaller the individual pixels will be and the sharper the image will appear. A pixel density of 300 PPI is generally considered to be the “retina” display threshold, where the human eye can no longer distinguish between individual pixels.
Refresh rate: Measured in Hertz (Hz), the refresh rate of a display refers to the number of times per second that the display refreshes the image. A higher refresh rate results in a smoother and more fluid image, which is especially important for gaming and watching videos.
Display type: There are two main types of smartphone displays: LCD and OLED.
- LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): LCD displays are the most common type of smartphone display. They are relatively inexpensive to produce and offer good image quality. However, LCD displays can be less energy-efficient than OLED displays and may not have as wide viewing angles. They are found on cheaper budget devices.
  - IPS LCD (In-Plane Switching LCD): IPS LCD displays are a type of LCD display that offers wider viewing angles and better color reproduction than traditional LCD displays.
- OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode): OLED displays are more expensive to produce than LCD displays, but they offer a number of advantages, such as better image quality, wider viewing angles, and better energy efficiency. OLED displays also have a faster response time than LCD displays, which makes them better suited for gaming and watching videos. There are a few types of OLED displays. It is important to note that different smartphone manufacturers have branded their OLED screens.
  - AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED): AMOLED displays are a type of OLED display that uses a thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane to control the individual pixels. This results in faster response times and lower power consumption than traditional OLED displays.
  - Super AMOLED: Super AMOLED is a term specific to Samsung devices and is often used in the branding for Samsung-branded smartphones and tablets. The term stands for Super Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. They are an advanced version of AMOLED that integrates touch sensors and the actual screen in a single layer.
  - Retina Display: Retina Display is essentially Apple’s marketing speak for a display that uses OLED technology. The “Super Retina XDR display” is Apple’s second attempt at an OLED display, with improved contrast ratio, brightness, and support for high dynamic range (HDR)
Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO): LTPO, is a type of backplane technology used in OLED displays that allows for a dynamic refresh rate, reducing power consumption and improving battery life. These displays can refresh from 1Hz to 120Hz.
Viewing angles: The viewing angles of a display refer to the angle at which you can still see a clear image on the display. OLED displays typically have wider viewing angles than LCD displays, which means that you can still see a clear image even if you are not looking directly at the display.
Contrast ratio: The contrast ratio of a display refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest colors that the display can produce. A higher contrast ratio means that the display will have more vibrant and realistic colors.
Bezels: The term bezel refers to the outside frame around the phone screen.
Screen-to-Body Ratio: This is the ratio of the screen area to the total front area of a device. Devices with high screen-to-body ratios have slim bezels.
Nits and Brightness: In terms of smartphone displays, brightness is usually measured in nits. A nit is a unit that represents the intensity of visible light. A higher nit rating means a brighter display. Displays for mobile devices are usually measured in nits and range from around 300 nits on budget phones to up to 2400 nits on flagships like the Google Pixel 8 Pro
Aspect Ratio: This is the ratio of the width to the height of the screen. Common aspect ratios include 16:9, 18:9, and 19.5:9.
Color Gamut: The range of colors that a device can display. The wider the color gamut, the more vibrant and varied the screen can appear.
Gorilla Glass: A brand of chemically strengthened glass developed by Corning Inc., resistant to scratches and damage, commonly used in smartphones.
Ceramic Shield: Ceramic Shield is also made by Corning. It’s created by embedding ceramic nanocrystals into the glass through a high-temperature crystallization process. According to Jerry Rig Everything, it is actually less scratch-resistant than normal gorilla glass.