Skip to main content

Mobile AMOLED displays just got cheaper than LCD

amoled cheaper lcd lcdvsamoled
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Flagship phones have been adopting AMOLED panels in favor of LCD for a while now. Top phone manufacturers are opting for the improved battery hours and flexibility in features such as Samsung’s Always-On Display, which shows battery life and date around the clock without too much of an impact on battery life. The display technology is used in most modern phones, laptops, smartwatches, and televisions. Increased demand means lower prices, and it appears we might have reached a breaking point in the battle between AMOLED and LCD displays. A recent report by IHS Technology says that production costs for LTPS LCD and AMOLED displays for 5-inch full HD devices reached $14.60 and $14.30 respectively during the first quarter. This is the first time AMOLED has been cheaper than LCD.

Samsung Electronics has been a driving force in this development as they dominate the Android market. Aside from last year’s smartwatch, Apple hasn’t been as enthusiastic in its adoption of the technology. Its biggest Android rival on the other hand, developed its very own Super AMOLED and has been supplying other gadget manufacturers with the display panels.

Recommended Videos

IHS Technology says that prices for AMOLED went down starting December 2015 and has predicted a similar price trajectory for the next few months. Once the technology has been adopted widely enough, you could start seeing the displays in lower budget phones. But we wouldn’t bet any money on lower prices for flagship devices, as the displays aren’t what keep those prices up in the first place.

LCD pixels vs. AMOLED pixels
LCD pixels vs. AMOLED pixels Image used with permission by copyright holder

The report says that prices are likely to keep going down as Samsung is ramping up the game with new production facilities. If Samsung manages to keep up the demand for AMOLED displays, which seems likely if the price keeps going down, then the numbers keep falling. Consider it a positive loop.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Of course, there’s no guarantee that AMOLED will keep its position forever. If Apple decides to keep going for LCD displays, it will likely also limit how far down the AMOLED display prices reach.

Dan Isacsson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Being a gamer since the age of three, Dan took an interest in mobile gaming back in 2009. Since then he's been digging ever…
OnePlus may launch a compact flagship smartphone
Close-up of the OnePlus logo on the OnePlus 13R.

OnePlus may be planning to release another entry into its OnePlus 13 range, and it may be substantially different to other mainstream smartphones. It’s potentially going to be called the OnePlus 13 Mini, and as the name suggests, it’ll be smaller than the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R already available. Is interest in the "compact flagship smartphone" about to see (another) resurgence?

The latest about the unreleased phone concerns the camera, which will apparently feature two 50-megapixel sensors, arranged in a vertical “bar” module on the back of the phone. The main 50MP camera is likely to be joined by a 50MP telephoto for a 2x optical zoom. This comes from the Digital Chat Station Weibo account, a well-known source of information on unreleased mobile devices.

Read more
I tested the Galaxy S25 Plus and OnePlus 13 cameras, this one wins
The Galaxy S25 Plus in Navy vs the OnePlus 13 in Blue

Despite smartphones like the Oppo Find X8 Pro, Apple iPhone 16 Pro, and Galaxy S25 Ultra costing more, the $1,000 price point has still proven to be the ultimate fighting challenge of the smartphone industry.

While some companies offer smartphones above this price, these are dubbed as ultra-premium flagship smartphones, and the flagship smartphone market is determined by the best that a company can offer at, or lower than, the magical $1,000 price point.

Read more
Android 16 to feature major health updates, starting with Fitbit
A demonstration of the new running features for the Google Pixel Watch 3 in the Fitbit app.

Android 15 was launched a few months ago, and discussion is already turning to Android 16, which is currently in the testing phase. According to a report from Android Authority, the upcoming update is set to enhance Google’s Health Connect app by adding support for new medical records.

This addition could improve how users interact with their health data. Google’s Fitbit platform is anticipated to benefit from this enhancement first, allowing users to input fitness data and access and manage medical records more seamlessly. As Fitbit integrates with Health Connect for data input and retrieval, this new feature may further enhance the app’s utility for users tracking fitness and health information in one location.

Read more