OLED vs AMOLED vs POLED: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a display technology that uses organic compounds to emit light when an electric current passes through them. It offers deep black levels, high contrast ratios, wide viewing angles, and fast response times.
2. AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is an OLED display incorporating active matrix technology with thin-film transistors (TFTs) for more efficient pixel control. It provides vibrant colors, high contrast ratios, and wide viewing angles, and it can be flexible or foldable.
3. POLED (Plastic Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a specific type of OLED display that uses plastic substrates instead of glass, making it thinner, lighter, and more flexible. POLED displays offer unique form factors but may have slightly lower brightness and color accuracy than glass-based OLEDs.

What is OLED?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. It is a display technology in electronic devices such as televisions, smartphones, and smartwatches.

Unlike traditional LCD screens that require a backlight, OLED displays generate light. They consist of thin layers of organic materials that emit light when an electric current is applied. OLED displays produce deeper blacks and more vibrant colors than LCDs, as each pixel can be turned on or off independently.

What is AMOLED?

AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. It is an OLED display technology commonly used in smartphones and other portable devices.

AMOLED displays work using a thin film transistor (TFT) array, allowing individual pixels to be controlled independently. Each pixel can be turned on or off as needed, resulting in deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios than traditional LCDs.

What is POLED?

POLED stands for Polymer Organic Light Emitting Diode. It is an OLED display technology that uses a polymer material as the emitter instead of the traditional small molecule organic material.

POLED technology offers several advantages over traditional OLED displays. For one, POLED displays can be manufactured using a simpler process, which results in lower manufacturing costs. Additionally, POLED displays are thinner and lighter than traditional OLED displays, making them ideal for use in portable devices.

Difference Between OLED, AMOLED, and POLED

1. OLED and AMOLED displays use small molecule organic materials as the emitter, while POLED displays use polymer material. This can result in differences in color accuracy, lifespan, and manufacturing costs.
2. POLED displays can be manufactured using a simpler process than OLED and AMOLED displays, resulting in lower manufacturing costs.
3. AMOLED displays are more power-efficient than OLED displays, as they can turn off individual pixels to conserve energy. However, POLED displays tend to have lower efficiency and brightness than OLED and AMOLED displays.
4. OLED and AMOLED displays offer superior image quality, with deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios than LCDs. POLED displays can offer improved color accuracy and lifespan compared to traditional OLED displays, but they may have lower brightness and efficiency.
5. OLED and AMOLED displays have been used for years and have a well-established industry ecosystem. On the other hand, POLED displays are a newer technology, and there is not as much industry experience with them. This can impact factors such as availability, price, and reliability.

Comparison Between OLED, AMOLED, and POLED

Parameters of Comparison	OLED	AMOLED	POLED
Contrast Ratio	AMOLED displays are more power-efficient than OLED displays, which can turn off individual pixels.	AMOLED displays offer a higher contrast ratio compared to traditional OLED displays.	POLED displays are a newer technology, and there is not as much industry experience.
Power Consumption	OLED displays have been used for many years and have a well-established industry ecosystem.	OLED displays consume less power than LCDs, but more than AMOLED displays.	POLED displays have lower efficiency and brightness than OLED and AMOLED displays.
Manufacturing Cost	OLED displays can be expensive to manufacture due to the complex process involved.	AMOLED displays are cheaper to manufacture compared to traditional OLED displays.	OLED displays consume less power than LCDs but more than AMOLED displays.
Industry Experience	AMOLED displays have been used for several years and are commonly used in high-end smartphones.	POLED displays can offer an improved lifespan compared to traditional OLED displays, as the polymer material is more stable.	Due to better color stability, AMOLED displays can have longer lifespans than OLED displays.
Lifespan	Due to better color stability, AMOLED displays can have longer lifespans than OLED displays.	POLED displays can offer improved color accuracy but have lower brightness and contrast ratios than OLED and AMOLED displays.	POLED displays can offer an improved lifespan than traditional OLED displays, as the polymer material is more stable.

References

1. https://sid.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/sdtp.12171
2. https://sid.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2168-0159.2014.tb00042.x

Last Updated : 14 October, 2023