Super AMOLED vs AMOLED vs LCD in direct sunlight... fight! (video)

By now you know that (one of) AMOLED's Achilles' heel is readability in direct sunlight. But Samsung's been working hard to fix that with its new Super AMOLED technology. Techblog took the display to task by pitting the Samsung Galaxy S (4-inch, 480 x 800 pixel Super AMOLED) against the HTC Desire (3.7-inch 480 x 800 pixel AMOLED) and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 (4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel TFT LCD). It's clear from the video embedded after the break that the LCD still has the edge in the harsh Greek sun, but the Super AMOLED certainly makes a much stronger showing than its AMOLED sib. In fact, differences in visibility between the LCD and Super AMOLED are often indistinguishable, like the picture above. That'll be good news for us just as soon as Samsung can start meeting demand... regardless of what Stevie J has to say. Check the video after the break and be sure to click the source for some more side-by-side pics, including a few taken indoors where that Super AMOLED display really shines.

[bleakvision Posted Jun 21st 2010 11:26AM]

Good to hear that. Just got my galaxy s today. But so far it has been raining here in Vienna.

[rescawen Posted Jun 21st 2010 11:34AM]

any i9000 users here, getting mine tommorow, and ill post some user experience.

[jawman Posted Jun 21st 2010 2:05PM]

GREAT video! i've been waiting for a video like this.
So for in the sun, standard AMOLED is the worst,
Super AMOLED is pretty darn good,
TFT LCD is slightly better.

However, given the other advantages of S-AMOLED over TFT LCD, I'd still take a S-AMOLED over a TFT LCD any day. Even though the TFT LCD might be slightly better in the sun, the Super AMOLED beats it in almost every other category.
Great video! :)

[sbbc96 Posted Jun 21st 2010 2:12PM]

I like. I like. iPhone 4 screen + Samsung Super AMOLED + Android openness = Super phone.

[pekosROB Posted Jun 21st 2010 2:27PM]

Too bad none of these phones have a kick stand to view from a different angle... :-P

[kyphem Posted Jun 21st 2010 2:54PM]

Its not like you are going to watch football in the direct sunlight.... mostly answer calls or look up directions thats it

[Kromatik Posted Jun 21st 2010 4:10PM]

I'm hoping Samsung license this tech out to other manufacturers.

[HAL2000 Posted Jun 21st 2010 7:49PM]

Hey you guys forgot to turn on that nexus o...... oh.......... :\

MORE LIKE NEXUX NONE, AMIRITE???? :D

[255BB Posted Jun 22nd 2010 3:49AM]

IMO after watching outdoor and indoor video tests on that website
outdoor , super AMOLED = LCD > AMOLED
indoor , super AMOLED >= AMOLED > LCD

[junktrunk Posted Jul 8th 2010 5:16PM]

This is a stupid way to do the comparison. Why would you not align the phones so that the top (or bottom) edge of each of their screens was facing the sun, rather than this way where one of them (Galaxy) is always getting more glare on the screen than the others as related to the camera viewing angle. It's just about impossible to actually compare anything, especially given the camera operator's inability to keep the camera in the same place above each device.