Difference Between AMOLED and TFT (With Table)

Devices like smartphones, media players, TVs, laptops, tablets, digital cameras, and other such gadgets require a technology that serves better quality visuals and excellent battery life. And for those technologies like AMOLED and TFT is very important.

An AMOLED is an organic compound, while TFT is a thin transistor LCD. Both of them have TFT arrays in their display models. The first one generates its own light, and the second relies on the backlight.

AMOLED vs TFT

The main difference Between AMOLED and TFT is their production and quality. The cost of producing Active-Matrix Organic LED is higher than the Thin-Film Transistor LCDs. Because the power consumption of AMOLEDs is better than the TFTs. But On the other hand, the former has limited resolution quality than the latter.

Comparison Table Between AMOLED and TFT 

Parameters of Comparison

AMOLED 

TFT 

Full Forms

The full form of an AMOLED Display is an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode.

The full form of the TFT is a Thin-Film Transistor.

Variant Of

The AMOLED display is the variant of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

TFT is the variant of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).

Display

The display looks black after turning it off.

The display does not completely look black after turning it off.

Quality

It provides visuals with less-resolution quality.

It provides visuals with high-resolution quality.

Viewing Angles

It has an All-around viewing angle.

It has color inversion at only extreme viewing angles.

Colors

Bright and vibrant colors are available in this display.

Limited contrast options are available in this display.

Display Lights

It has its own light.

It does not have its own light.

Backlight

It does not require a backlight.

It requires a backlight. 

Power Consumption

It consumes less power and has better battery life.

It consumes more power and has inferior battery life.

Production Costs

It is costlier than TFT.

It is cheaper than AMOLED.

Availability

It is available on highly-expensive devices and smartphones.

It is available on easily affordable devices and smartphones.

Co-related Versions

Its closest technology version is its older form, out of which it is improvised, OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes).

Its closest technology version is its upgraded form, IPS LCDs (In-Plane Switching LCDs) with improvised features.

What is AMOLED?

OLED displays a thin type of film display technology. AMOLED is also a sub-form of it that is consists of organic compounds of the electroluminescent and pixel technology. It has been serving since 2007 and progress towards high-resolution visuals and reducing battery consumption.

The full form of an AMOLED Display is an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode. The AMOLED display is the variant of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Its closest technology version is its older form, out of which it is improvised, OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes). The display looks black after turning it off. 

The product is costlier than TFT. All-round viewing angles. Bright and vibrant colors are available with these LEDs. It provides visuals with loss-resolution quality. It does not have a backlight. So, it consumes less power and has better battery life. It is available on highly-expensive devices and smartphones. 

What is TFT? 

The full form of the TFT is a Thin-Film Transistor. TFT is the variant of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). Just like AMOLED, this tech also improves image qualities, contrasts, and their addressability. But it provides visuals with high-resolution quality, even better than the former.

The display does not entirely look black after turning it off. And the Color inversion at extreme viewing angles. Limited contrast options are available. TFT does not have its own display light; it requires to rely on the backlight. That is why it consumes more power and has inferior battery life. 

But it is cheaper than the AMOLED. It is available on easily affordable devices and smartphones. Its closest technology version available is its upgraded form, IPS LCDs (In-Plane Switching LCDs) with improvised features.

Main Differences Between AMOLED and TFT

  1. The AMOLED is a variant of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), whereas the TFT belongs to Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).
  2. The first display looks black after turning it off. Conversely, the second one does not entirely look black after turning it off.
  3. TFT LCDs provide a higher resolution visualization experience than AMOLEDs.
  4. The former has an all-rounder viewing angle, and the latter only has color inversion at extreme viewing angles.
  5. Active-Matrix Organic LED displays are available in bright and vibrant colors. On the other hand, Thin-Film Transistor LCDs have limited contrast options.
  6. An AMOLED has its own light, contrarily TFT does not have and has to rely on the backlight.
  7. The first does not require a backlight, whereas the second does.
  8. AMOLEDs has better battery life than TFTs as it consumes less power, while TFT displays have inferior battery life.
  9. The former is available on highly-expensive devices and smartphones. And the latter could be found on easily affordable gadgets.
  10. Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes are costlier than Thin-Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Displays.

Conclusion 

Both technologies are useful in different appliances and devices. Gadgets like computer monitors, TV Sets, car dashboards, handheld devices, digital gaming systems, smartphones,  and other digital assistants provide high-quality visuals because of these displays.

AMOLED is useful for those who thrill for great resolutions and have such supportive devices. Because it consumes less power and provides great battery life. Whereas, TFT LCD is an affordable display. It even gives the backlight feature. Although, it does not have bright, vibrant colors and all-around viewing angles like the former. It still gives high resolution than other displays.

References

  1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7047115/ 
  2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1889/JSID20.3.156 
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566119918306049

This Article has been written by: Supriya Kandekar