Samsung Galaxy Nexus screen held back by subpar subpixels
Though the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus sports a 720p HD display, its 4.65-inch screen is said to be held back by cheaper technology that gives it a lower pixel density and poorer color accuracy than Apple's Retina Display found on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4.
The Galaxy Nexus features a display branded "Super AMOLED" by Samsung, which is less than the "Super AMOLED Plus" screen featured on the already-available Galaxy S II smartphone. The removal of "Plus" from the name references that the screen uses a cheaper PenTile OLED, despite the fact that it has more pixels per inch, according to FlatPanelsHD.
The less expensive panel on the Galaxy Nexus means that individual pixels must share subpixels on the screen, which undercuts the 315 pixel-per-inch density of the Galaxy Nexus display.
"A PenTile OLED panel was recently introduced with the Samsung Galaxy Note, and we were not impressed," the site said. "In real world PenTile means loss of details and sharpness, as well as a bluish/greenish tint around letters (depending on the background color)."
By calculating the "real" pixel density of the display with the PenTile subpixel sharing, the Galaxy Nexus is said to have a pixel-per-inch number of about 200, which is just slightly higher than the Super AMOLED Plus screen on the Galaxy S II.
"So, the HD Super AMOLED display in the new Galaxy Nexus is not as awesome as it sounds -- unfortunately," author Rasmus Larsen wrote. "And the reason that people do not call it a Retina display should seem much more obvious to you now that you know the underlying technical architecture."
The pixel density numbers of the Galaxy Nexus are also affected by the fact that the new flagship Android device has a large 4.65-inch screen to fill. For comparison, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 feature a display more than an inch smaller diagonally, at 3.5 inches.
Apple made the term "Retina Display" part of its marketing with the launch of the iPhone 4 in 2010. The name was chosen because Apple says the individual pixels are so small and densely packed that they cannot be seen by the human eye. The iPhone 4 and its follow-up, the newly released iPhone 4S, feature a pixel-per-inch density of 326.
There were rumors that Apple's latest iPhone would sport a slightly larger screen, running edge-to-edge on a device with about the same size as the iPhone 4. But those rumors proved to be false, as the iPhone 4S sports the same form factor and same display as the iPhone 4.
Rumors have suggested that Apple will bring its branded Retina Display to the iPad with its third-generation model starting in 2012. One report claimed the new high-resolution displays are 2,047 by 1,536 pixels packed into the same 9.7-inch screen size as previous iPad models.
Rather than embrace AMOLED screens like many Android device makers, including Samsung and its new Galaxy Nexus, Apple has instead chosen to stick with LCD screens for its Retina Displays. Those LCD screens feature in-plane switching (IPS), which allow for picture and color accuracy at extreme viewing angles.
The Galaxy Nexus features a display branded "Super AMOLED" by Samsung, which is less than the "Super AMOLED Plus" screen featured on the already-available Galaxy S II smartphone. The removal of "Plus" from the name references that the screen uses a cheaper PenTile OLED, despite the fact that it has more pixels per inch, according to FlatPanelsHD.
The less expensive panel on the Galaxy Nexus means that individual pixels must share subpixels on the screen, which undercuts the 315 pixel-per-inch density of the Galaxy Nexus display.
"A PenTile OLED panel was recently introduced with the Samsung Galaxy Note, and we were not impressed," the site said. "In real world PenTile means loss of details and sharpness, as well as a bluish/greenish tint around letters (depending on the background color)."
By calculating the "real" pixel density of the display with the PenTile subpixel sharing, the Galaxy Nexus is said to have a pixel-per-inch number of about 200, which is just slightly higher than the Super AMOLED Plus screen on the Galaxy S II.
"So, the HD Super AMOLED display in the new Galaxy Nexus is not as awesome as it sounds -- unfortunately," author Rasmus Larsen wrote. "And the reason that people do not call it a Retina display should seem much more obvious to you now that you know the underlying technical architecture."
The pixel density numbers of the Galaxy Nexus are also affected by the fact that the new flagship Android device has a large 4.65-inch screen to fill. For comparison, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 feature a display more than an inch smaller diagonally, at 3.5 inches.
Apple made the term "Retina Display" part of its marketing with the launch of the iPhone 4 in 2010. The name was chosen because Apple says the individual pixels are so small and densely packed that they cannot be seen by the human eye. The iPhone 4 and its follow-up, the newly released iPhone 4S, feature a pixel-per-inch density of 326.
There were rumors that Apple's latest iPhone would sport a slightly larger screen, running edge-to-edge on a device with about the same size as the iPhone 4. But those rumors proved to be false, as the iPhone 4S sports the same form factor and same display as the iPhone 4.
Rumors have suggested that Apple will bring its branded Retina Display to the iPad with its third-generation model starting in 2012. One report claimed the new high-resolution displays are 2,047 by 1,536 pixels packed into the same 9.7-inch screen size as previous iPad models.
Rather than embrace AMOLED screens like many Android device makers, including Samsung and its new Galaxy Nexus, Apple has instead chosen to stick with LCD screens for its Retina Displays. Those LCD screens feature in-plane switching (IPS), which allow for picture and color accuracy at extreme viewing angles.
Comments
which allow for picture and color accuracy at extreme viewing angles.
...but relatively poor black-levels.
Oh wait, never mind. Apparently the problems with Android are not just the conspiracy cocktails of one person, but fetid, gravid and endemic.
...but relatively poor black-levels.
There are always tradeoffs and compromises with such young technology.
"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all....."
There are always tradeoffs and compromises with such young technology.
"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all....."
Quoting people that have used the device...
"The panel looks downright gorgeous, with unbeatable viewing angles, remarkably crisp text and graphics and a beautiful feel as one swipes across it"
Find a single bad first impression of the screen. Tip: You can't. It's still super amoled. Even when compared side by side with any iphone 4.
Pentile Matrix has better outdoor performance, white performance, and better battery life. At that PPI, you would have to put it under a microscope to see subpixels.
Not sure why this article is trying to imply that the iphone4's screen is any better.... I sure hope everyone has compared things like black performance between an iphone's LCD display and any amoled display
It's fun to watch you guys dig to the bottom of the barrel to try and find something wrong with it.
Seriously, can we already drop these stupid "new" screen names. It's getting ridiculous.
Quoting people that have used the device...
"The panel looks downright gorgeous, with unbeatable viewing angles, remarkably crisp text and graphics and a beautiful feel as one swipes across it"
Find a single bad first impression of the screen. Tip: You can't. It's still super amoled. Even when compared side by side with any iphone 4.
Pentile Matrix has better outdoor performance, white performance, and better battery life. At that PPI, you would have to put it under a microscope to see subpixels.
Not sure why this article is trying to imply that the iphone4's screen is any better.... I sure hope everyone has compared things like black performance between an iphone's LCD display and any amoled display
I new the minute I saw that headline that this was written by DED.
Oh wait, never mind. Apparently the problems with Android are not just the conspiracy cocktails of one person, but fetid, gravid and endemic.
The problem with the Nexus display is not technically a "problem with Android." This time.
I new the minute I saw that headline that this was written by DED.
Non sequitur. Stick to the topic.
Quoting people that have used the device...
"The panel looks downright gorgeous, with unbeatable viewing angles, remarkably crisp text and graphics and a beautiful feel as one swipes across it"
Find a single bad first impression of the screen. Tip: You can't. It's still super amoled. Even when compared side by side with any iphone 4.
Pentile Matrix has better outdoor performance, white performance, and better battery life. At that PPI, you would have to put it under a microscope to see subpixels.
Not sure why this article is trying to imply that the iphone4's screen is any better.... I sure hope everyone has compared things like black performance between an iphone's LCD display and any amoled display
It's fun to watch you guys dig to the bottom of the barrel to try and find something wrong with it.
Less pixels per inch.
...but relatively poor black-levels.
Actually not.
The contrast levels on IPS screens are absolutely amazing and better than any other screen by a country mile with the one exception of AMOLED. To characterise the excellent although admittedly "second best" contrast of Apple's screens as "poor" is extremely misleading at best.
Actually not.
The contrast levels on IPS screens are absolutely amazing and better than any other screen by a country mile with the one exception of AMOLED. To characterise the excellent although admittedly "second best" contrast of Apple's screens as "poor" is extremely misleading at best.
Using that same logic, to label the pixel density or color accuracy as worst is "extremely misleading at best" as well.
What that site doesnt know is OLED's inherent nature of color reproduction produces in excess of NTSC's standard broadcast levels.
Most LCD's only product at max around 82% of the color gamut of a NTSC color gamut.
AMOLED's produce 100% of the NTSC color gamut.
That site has absolutely NO credibility nor does it have any documented scientific evidence to suggest otherwise.
The picture in the comparison is that of the OLD Pentile display and not the NEW Pentile display.
Less pixels per inch.
Galaxy Nexus is at 315
Iphone is at 326
amoled will outperform the LCD any day
" One report claimed the new high-resolution displays are 2,047 by 1,536 pixels packed into the same 9.7-inch screen size as previous iPad models."
2048x1536 would be double the current iPad resolution.
MM>Yes 326 vs 315 are both over the magic 300 mark, but the shared sub pixels makes for a less accurate picture. I'll reserve judgment till I can actually see the 2 in person side by side, but PenTile = bad
Galaxy Nexus is at 315
Iphone is at 326
amoled will outperform the LCD any day
Not in precise colour reproduction it won't, especially pentile.
I new the minute I saw that headline that this was written by DED.
.
Who or what is DED?
Less pixels per inch.
315~ compared to what? 326? anything over 300 is invisible to the naked eye...according to some people. I don't know for fact.
I'll reserve judgment till I can actually see the 2 in person side by side, but PenTile = bad
This anyone can agree with.
I read that the trade off was because they hadn't yet perfected an RGB version of that HD screen that wasn't also a complete battery drain.
Galaxy Nexus is at 315
Iphone is at 326
amoled will outperform the LCD any day
Here is an analysis of subpixel density by Anandtech. The Nexus has about 2/3ds subpixel density of the iphone. Granted, the screen is about 60% bigger. So it is a trade off depending on what you like and what you see with your eyes. Personally, I want a 4" screen on any high end phone. iphone is too small for my taste and Android is too big. Maybe the iPhone 5 next summer. Good thing I have an iPad to curb my gadget lust.
Not in precise colour reproduction it won't, especially pentile.
Super AMOLED doesn't produce natural colors, but neither does iPhone's IPS display.
Undersaturated != Natural.
http://www.displaymate.com/iPhone_4_ShootOut.htm
I read that the trade off was because they hadn't yet perfected an RGB version of that HD screen that wasn't also a complete battery drain.
They also have to save something for SGSIII.