Skip to main content

This 6-inch 4K AMOLED smartphone screen will make you love virtual reality

Google Cardboard VR
Nick Mokey/Digital Trends
Like it or not, manufacturers will continue to push the boundaries of every smartphone spec, even if consumers think it’s unnecessary. Take the display for instance. Most people are happy with 1080p resolutions (1920 x 1080 pixels), but Quad HD 2K (2560 x 1440 pixel) screens are becoming more prevalent. This brings us to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels), which is starting to gain traction with televisions, so it’s inevitable that manufacturers will utilize 4K screens in smartphones soon.

We have already seen 4K mobile displays showcased, such as Sharp’s 5.5-inch IGZO LCD screen, but we have good news for those of you that like even bigger smartphones. Everdisplay, a company in China, showed off a 6-inch 4K display with a whopping 734 pixel-per-inch density. What’s even more impressive is that it’s the first 4K screen that is AMOLED. Before it was unveiled, the highest density AMOLED screen was the Quad HD 2K 5.1-inch panel on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

Everdisplay_6_inch_4K_Mobile_Display_01
Everdisplay

This begs the question of why you would possibly need a 4K panel on your smartphone. The emergence of virtual reality (VR) is the major driving force. A 1080p or even a 2K screen might be fine for everyday use, but pop that phone into Google Cardboard or a Samsung Gear VR headset, and it becomes quite pixelated, since the resolution is split across two eyes. It’s called the screen door effect. For example, a 1080p screen becomes 960 x 1080 pixels in a VR unit. This might seem like enough, but don’t forget that the display appears much larger in a VR headset, thereby diluting the quality of the image.

Most people who try VR for the first time say how cool it is, but they almost always notice that the picture needs improvement. A 4K screen will play a big part in improving the experience by giving a 1920 x 2160 pixel resolution per eye.

Unfortunately the downside to all of this is battery life, which continues to be a struggle for most smartphones. Manufacturers have utilized larger batteries to mask the issue, but they can’t go much bigger on flagships, since the goal is to keep them as thin as possible. Companies will need to come up with an answer, though, because the display technology won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Samsung recently received a grant from the Korean government to develop 11K mobile displays within 5 years.

Everdisplay might not be a household name, but the company has been manufacturing 720p AMOLED panels since 2014, and is developing 5.5-inch and 6-inch displays for mobile devices, 1.4-inch circular displays for wearables, and an 8-incher for automobiles.  All screens in development are AMOLED.

It’s not clear when this 4K display will show up on a smartphone, but it could arrive as early as next year, since it appears ready for mass production.

Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
Can you stream Netflix in 4K with 5G?
can you get netflix in 4k with 5g phone

Now that 5G network coverage is spreading across the U.S. at a rapid rate, it's time to start talking about potential 5G use cases that will make it worthwhile for the average consumer. So we're digging into 5G technology and asking one of the most important questions: Can you stream Netflix in 4K with 5G?

In theory, the answer to that question is yes. In practice, we probably aren't quite there yet. 5G is faster than 4G in some areas of the U.S., offering higher download speeds and a more consistent connection. However, it's unlikely that you'd be able to stream Netflix in 4K with 5G right now. But that doesn't mean it won't be possible in the future.
 Limits on streaming quality
The fact that 5G isn't powerful enough to handle 4K streaming just yet isn't the only hurdle here. Some major 5G carriers compress and limit streaming video quality on some plans, making it currently impossible to get anything beyond 1080p on your mobile device. So if 4K streaming is something you really want, just make sure you understand the limits of your phone plan before you hop on the 5G bandwagon.

Read more
LG’s UltraFine OLED Pro monitor looks like the ultimate 4K display for creatives
LG's UltraFine Pro brings OLED screens to Apple creative pros.

[LG at CES2021] LG UltraFine OLED Pro - The Master of Visual Tech

At the Consumer Electronics Show, LG is announcing its first 4K OLED monitor catered for creative professionals. Part of its top-end lineup of monitors, the new LG UltraFine OLED Pro sports a punching 8 million pixels, as well as a stunning 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Read more
The best 4K TV for PS5 is heavily discounted this Prime Day
lg cx oled tv deal best buy black friday prime day sale 2020 4k

Prime Day has finally arrived, after months of waiting, and with it comes a ton of terrific deals on everything from headphones to kitchen equipment. But some of the best Prime Day deals to be had are on big-ticket electronics items, like Prime Day 4K TV deals. Although there are 4K TV deals to be had all year round, this week will see some exceptional bargains which likely have the best prices for 2020. This LG CX OLED 4K TV, for example, is $200 off its original price, bringing the price down to $1,600. However, if this deal isn't convincing enough, head over to the best Black Friday deals for incredibly affordable options.

The 55-inch OLED 4K TV has stunning picture quality which is buoyed by solid HDR performance, making it great for those looking for a medium-size TV for watching movies or playing games. In our review of the LG CX we even went as far as to call it the best TV you can buy in 2020. The TV itself is super slim and sleek, fitting into any home, and the picture quality is aided by a simple setup wizard that lets you tweak the settings and A.I. functions to your preferences. This step is important as what makes this OLED TV stand out from its competitors is LG's processing, which helps a good screen turn out a stunning picture.

Read more