AU Optronics has taken the wrapping off the world’s highest resolution, 5.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen. How high is the pixel count? It’s 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, or 1440p, which is widely expected to be the next big thing in smartphone screens.
It’s not the first of its type we’ve seen. Both LG Display and Japan Display have shown early prototype versions of 1440p screens, but this is the first time an AMOLED panel with such a high resolution has been produced. Many of you will already be aware of the benefits AMOLED brings, such as a sharper image and brighter colors, but it also takes less energy to power, helping the battery inside your phone last longer.
AU Optronics says the super thin panel measures just 0.57mm thick, which is less than half the thickness of Japan Display’s 5.4-inch, 1440p screen announced last year. The large size and impressive resolution returns a very high pixel density of 513ppi, and the panel uses In-cell touch technology for the best possible sensitivity. The company has also introduced a non-AMOLED, 6-inch screen with a 1440p resolution.
Interestingly, the press release also states AU Optronics is looking at making screens for smartwatches, and confirms it has a 1.6-inch AMOLED screen in development. We’ve recently seen how good an AMOLED screen can look on a wrist-worn device, thanks to the beautiful Samsung Gear Fit. Samsung also used a 1.6-inch AMOLED screen on the original Galaxy Gear.
AU Optronics, like LG Display and Japan Display, usually operates behind the scenes, and is unlikely to be a name many recognize. However, it is a former Apple supplier, and has also collaborated with Sony on some of its OLED televisions. So-called Quad HD screens are expected to be quite a hit later this year, following the announcement of hardware such as the Oppo Find 7, and we could be introduced to the first mainstream Quad HD phone – potentially the LG G3 – next month, if the rumors are correct.
Sadly, AU Optronics doesn’t mention whether the new AMOLED screen will find its way on to a smartphone any time soon.
