Samsung shows off 1.98-inch VGA display

Seems like every time we turn around somebody is doing an LCD smaller or bigger or thinner or bendier. In this case we have Samsung doing an LCD just plain awesomer, managing to squeeze a 640 x 480 resolution into a mere 1.98-inch panel. Samsung is saying the display is the first of its kind, and is targeting it for use in cellphones. Beyond the resolution, the display is rated at a plentifully bright 250 nits, decent 300:1 contrast ratio, and lovable 16 million colors. No word on when we'll see this in phones, but we'll sure be there with a drool bucket when one drops

[Sean S @ Jun 7th 2006 4:04PM]

Imagine the tiny Do it Yourself LCD projector you could create with one of those things...

[Jason @ Jun 7th 2006 4:14PM]

I see Samsung as a company who puts out better PR releases than product.

Not that their products are bad, I just feel all the good stuff is over in S.K. and we get the crumbs.

I look at Samsung products available here in N.A., and don't want them because I know what's coming; or what they've got in S.K.

[Gordy @ Jun 7th 2006 4:18PM]

Seems like its home would be in the viewfinders of DSLRs--and phones, I guess.

[Rymix @ Jun 7th 2006 4:21PM]

Wow. Staple a couple of those to the inside of a pair of goggles and you'll have some kick-ass 3D VR action.

[Craig @ Jun 7th 2006 4:28PM]

What is it with Korean manufacters always having to show off their products with women??? It's not needed!

[Tonicboy @ Jun 7th 2006 4:34PM]

@Craig-

You're absolutely right. There is no need for them to use women to show off their products. They should follow the lead of American auto shows, power tool shows, video game conferences, professional sports.

[Ken @ Jun 7th 2006 4:39PM]

Um, aren't currently available LCD projectors packing like 4 times the pixel density in less than 1/2 the size of this? Why does this press release not wow me in any way?

[m00n3r @ Jun 7th 2006 4:46PM]

Those screens are portrait, so wouldn't the resolution be 480x640?

[Kris @ Jun 7th 2006 5:16PM]

This will be great for PDA phones. That's the biggest knock I have on my MDA. The difference between VGA and QVGA is huge.

[Justin @ Jun 7th 2006 5:20PM]

Am I the only one that is shocked that Sammy still sticks to it's love affair with 2" screens, when its counterparts in Japan have made 2.4" screens the norm (and with Sharp, a VGA resolution one is on the way)?I fail to see the point of such high a resolution on such a small display...

[TC @ Jun 7th 2006 5:57PM]

Craig; she might not be hired by Samsung. She might just be stealing the display or something.

[Saffy @ Jun 7th 2006 5:59PM]

That's nice and all, but I have to kind of wonder at what level resolution on a screen that small becomes useless. Is normal sized text going to be readable at that size? I doubt it. And any other (graphical or photographic)detail at that size is likely going to be hard to notice as well. But having not held the display in my hands, I wouldn't go so far as to completely passy jugement. After all, VGA isn't exactly hi res. Maybe these screens will offer something other than an initial wow factor. In the immortal words of Don Rumsfeld, "who knows?"

[Matt @ Jun 7th 2006 6:30PM]

"It is a known fact that putting a woman next to a product makes it more appealing. Sex sells and it always will."

Except when they have ugly models. Some company a while back did just that. The one in this picture isn't the hottest, but she's certainly better than that.
Plus, does sex really sell LCDs to businesses who would make products with them?

[Ciaran @ Jun 7th 2006 6:57PM]

I think the best format would be a 2.4-2.8 inches. Perfect for PDA phones from HTC,Eten etc, but maybe they are targeting the newer models that have thumbboards like the Q and Nokia E61. 'semi-normal' Web browsing on your phone will at last be possible :-)

[lilteyang @ Jun 7th 2006 7:14PM]

Sharp already has a 2.4 inch, 1600K color VGA display for their SCH-904 cell phone. While Samsung's ability to squeeze this many pixels into a smaller size is definately more advance, I wonder about its real-world application. I think watching or reading something at VGA resolution on a 2.4 inch screen is painful enough, now imagine that screen to be even smaller...

[Blaze XR @ Jun 7th 2006 7:52PM]

Now now people... we're off topic again... This article is about Samsung's new 2 inch VGA LCD, not the social and economical effect of sex appeal in products.

Anyway, this product is freakin WOW... 2 inch VGA?? I want to see like 2.3 inch WVGA for PMPs... even though they'll cost like hell.

[boe @ Jun 7th 2006 8:53PM]

This would be good if it is touch screen capable for pda phones since they have the most data to display. Any word on that?

[Shakeeb @ Jun 7th 2006 9:06PM]

Wow ! And to think my PDA's 3inch screen is only QVGA. Shame I tell you.

This thing probably has a better resolution than what laser printers print on paper.

[Russ @ Jun 7th 2006 10:03PM]

A display this good is already available in stores in Japan on the Sharp 904SH phone.

[greg @ Jun 7th 2006 10:51PM]

I have been waiting for something like this for quite a while.

http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/09/samsungs-vga-quality-2-6-inch-lcd-screen-for-cellphones-and/

http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/22/casios-high-resolution-2-2-inch-lcd-screen/

[greg @ Jun 7th 2006 11:31PM]

First there was the unavailable 2.6 inch vga display, then the unavailable 2.2 vga. Now we have this new awesome unavailable 2.0 vga display! Seriously, it would be great if one of these were ever actually avail. Huge improvement over qvga.

[Patrick @ Jun 8th 2006 7:36AM]

I, for one, would definitely find a good use for the display.

My current project needs phones with high-res displays
(see http://www.neochroma.com)

These displays make about as much sense as a conventional film slide - with all the projection equipment available for film, that's quite a lot.
Of course it is not transparent, but in many applications that be worked around.

[Galley @ Jun 8th 2006 9:03AM]

The Toshiba VM4050 cell phone that came out more than two years ago was rumored to have a VGA screen, rather than the advertised QVGA. A 480 x 640 image looked better than one at 240 x 320. It had one of the best-looking screens I have seen anywhere. I replaced my beloved VM4050 with the Samsung A900 "Blade" which has an equally impressive QVGA screen.

[Leon @ Jun 8th 2006 11:23AM]

@Gordy

It will never be used in DSLR simply because SLR, Single Lens Reflex, works by having a mirror reflect the lens' image to the viewfinder. Where we might find this LCD in the future is the viewfinders of prosumer digicams.

[lucas @ Jun 8th 2006 4:36PM]

Come on guys. I have a Sharp 904SH mobile phone, 3G, japanese model, which has a VGA screen. Ok, it's 2.2 inches, but that's pretty close to this displays right? It's already available for people to buy it in Japan for a long while already; It records and plays video in VGA resolution and 3gp (quicktime) or asf formats directly to a minisd card, play as long as you´ve got memory left. And the GPS, etc the phone´s got are "secondary" features but the VGA screens on mobile phones is not something new Samsung just designed. Search by 904SH on Google and find out by yourself...

[John @ Jun 9th 2006 4:30AM]

@Leon

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1226

[netboy @ Jun 9th 2006 10:19PM]

what a WASTE to BURN MONEY and resources to develop this crap! u cant do much with a 1.98" VGA screen, it only good for regular cellphone or smartphone! it' not like u looking at your cellphone screen every hour!
1.98" VGA is not suitable for pda or pdaPhone, i cant imaging how difficult to use the stylus on a 1.98" screen. i believe it' a mimium of 2.8" VGA screen to be suitable for pda or pdaPhone.

i rather they spend those money and resources to develop cheaper way to make 2.8" or 3.5" VGA screen!

[Michael Levy @ Jun 12th 2006 1:23AM]

If you get a quad-SLI setup, you could run FEAR on a 6" monitor.

[Thinkaboutit @ Jul 1st 2006 4:02PM]

If you don't have guts to export anything here to get losses rather than profits, you shouldn't be complaining that Sammy doesn't bring their newest gadgets here. Currency is an important factor when putting products out to the world market and currently S.K. currency fluctuates like hell day by day.

If I was a marketing director for Sammy, I would also want to release in the domestic market first and see how people reacts.