Apple watches from the sidelines, as Honor and Samsung lead 2024’s display revolution،
); and it's up to users to check if the dual-layer OLED miracle keeps its promises.
Additionally, this technology is claimed to provide brighter visuals and improved energy efficiency.
Single-layer Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays are made of a single layer of organic compounds that emit light when an electrical current is applied. This technology allows for a wide range of colors and deep blacks because each pixel can be controlled independently, turning on and off as needed, eliminating the need for a backlight.
This is how you get superb high contrast ratios and true blacks, because unilluminated pixels emit no light. Single-layer OLED displays are known for their thinness, flexibility and efficiency; no wonder they are so popular. They offer excellent viewing angles and response times, contributing to smoother animations and less motion blur in dynamic images.
Of course, single-layer OLED displays have their limitations and drawbacks. They are prone to degrade over time, leading to issues such as burn-in, where static images “burn” onto the screen, leaving a ghostly residue. Creepy stuff!
Additionally, while they excel in contrast and color accuracy, they can struggle to achieve maximum brightness compared to LED displays or dual-layer OLEDs. The lifespan of these screens, especially blue organic compounds, is shorter than other technologies, which can affect the overall longevity of the screen.
Dual-layer OLED screen technology explained
Double-layer OLED technology builds on the single-layer approach by introducing an additional layer of organic electroluminescent compounds. This configuration aims to improve the brightness, efficiency and durability of the screen. By having two layers, the screen can distribute the workload, potentially increasing the overall lifespan of the screen and reducing the risk of burn-in.
The additional layer allows more light to be emitted without significantly increasing power consumption, leading to brighter displays while remaining energy efficient.
But – even better – dual-layer OLEDs can improve color accuracy and volume by delivering a wider color gamut and deeper color saturation. This technology retains the advantages of single-layer OLED, such as high contrast ratios and flexibility, while attempting to address some of its limitations. The inclusion of a second layer, however, may result in a slightly thicker screen, which could be factored into ultra-thin device designs.
So, what do you think of your phone screens? Thin (and with a propensity for burning) or thick (with juicy, rich colors and an extended lifespan)?
One of the significant advantages of dual-layer OLED displays is their improved longevity and resistance to burn-in, making them more suitable for devices with static images or interfaces. Additionally, improved brightness levels make these displays more readable in direct sunlight or brightly lit environments.
Benefits:
- Increased brightness and efficiency
- Improved longevity and resistance to burn-in
- Improved color accuracy and volume
- Retains high contrast ratios and flexibility
The inconvenients:
- Slightly thicker than single-layer OLED displays
- Potentially higher manufacturing costs
Essentially, dual-layer OLEDs aim to improve brightness, color and durability while retaining the benefits of OLED technology, at the potential cost of increased thickness and manufacturing complexity.
Single-layer or double-layer OLED (for foldables)
Here's a question phone makers will be asking themselves in 2025 and beyond: “Should we go single or dual for our next foldable device?” » Single-layer OLED displays, being thinner and more flexible, are naturally suited to bending and flexing. required in foldable phones. Their flexibility makes it easy to create foldable devices without damaging the screen.
Dual-layer OLEDs, while offering improved brightness and durability, present a challenge due to their slightly increased thickness. In foldable phone applications, where every millimeter contributes to the overall bulk and foldability of the device, this can be a major problem.
Apple takes notes, as usual
There's one brand that will also jump on the dual-layer OLED wagon: Apple. It's just that Cupertino needs several more years to sort things out.
“In 2028, we expect the iPad Air to also move to OLED, with the iPad Air using a single battery and the iPad Pro using dual-battery tandem OLEDs,” Kang Min-soo, a researcher at Omdia.
Well, we hope that by 2028, the iPhone will also get dual-layer OLED processing. If at that point Apple's phone folds in half, it will likely remain with a single-layer OLED display. Not that there's anything wrong…
It's interesting to see where Samsung will take its fans in 2025 in terms of display technology. Once again, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's screen proved to be solid (in all aspects, not just robustness):
Do you care about dual-layer OLEDs?
The Magic 6 Ultimate (~$1,000) and Magic 6 RSR (~$1,400) aren't cheap. Maybe BOE's new dual-layer OLED display is to blame for this?
I don't expect a dual-stack tandem OLED in, say, the Pixel 8a, but it would be nice to see this display technology trickle down to more devices. Yes, it will have a price, but hey, everything is expensive these days. Even eggs.
