IPS or AMOLED: which type of screen should you choose for your smartphone?

Screen – it's something a phone just isn't a phone without. Through it I read news, watch videos, play games, even just interact with the phone. Therefore, it is important that the screen is cool. When I choose a new smartphone, I am often faced with the choice: IPS or AMOLED? These are the two most popular technologies, and they are very different. So what's better?

What you should know

In AMOLED, each pixel glows on its own, while in IPS there is an additional layer of backlight. It seems like a trifle, but in reality everything looks completely different. AMOLED is brighter, the colors are more saturated, and black is just black. But that doesn't mean it's perfect.

I like IPS for its simplicity. It's cheaper, your eyes don't get tired as much because there's no flickering, and the picture often looks clearer. But there are nuances: IPS screens are a little thicker, the brightness is weaker, and black looks more like gray. And then there's those flares in the corners… Well, you know.

With AMOLED, it's the opposite – the picture looks gorgeous. Black is real black, and the colors are so bright that you want to look at the screen for hours. And another big plus – battery saving, especially with a dark theme. But there are also disadvantages here: the picture may be less clear if you look closely, and this terrible PWM, which causes headaches for some. And burn-in – if you hold a static picture for a long time, the screen may start to “remember” it.

I always think that for me it is more important. If you want a natural and comfortable picture – IPS is better. But there are very few such phones now, especially among interesting models. AMOLED wins in everything related to the impression of the picture, although it is also not without compromises. For those who spend a lot of time on navigators or are sensitive to flicker, it is better to look towards IPS. But if you want a modern and bright – AMOLED, no questions asked.