Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) has become a popular display technology. Most modern-day displays, in fact, now use either OLED or light-crystal display (LCD) technology. Also known as organic electroluminescent diode, OLED involves the use of an electroluminescent layer. When exposed to an electrical current, this layer will illuminate. If you’re interested in learning more about OLEDs, check out the five following facts.
#1) Not the Same as LED
There are OLEDs, and there are LEDs. Displayed labeled as “OLED” aren’t the same as their LED counterparts. They are two different types of displays that leverage their own technology to produce images. LEDs are actually LCDs that feature LED backlighting. They contain liquid crystals that are illuminated with backlighting. OLEDs, on the other hand, create images by passing electricity through an electroluminescent layer.
#2) Don’t Require Backlighting
You might be surprised to learn that OLEDs don’t require backlighting. OLED is one of a few display technologies that doesn’t require backlighting. While LCDs often use LED or cold-cathode fluorescent tube (CCFL) backlighting, OLEDs don’t need backlighting. This is because their pixels can illuminate themselves when exposed to an electrical current.
#3) Support Flexible Constructions
OLEDs support flexible constructions. Not all OLEDs are rigid. Some of them are flexible, meaning they can bend without breaking. There are smartphones, for instance, that feature a flexible OLED. Foldable smartphones are still somewhat new, but they’ve become more popular in recent years. For their display, foldable smartphones will often use an OLED thanks to their support for flexible constructions.
#4) Highly Energy Efficient
If you’re looking for an energy-efficient display, you may want to choose an OLED. OLEDs are highly energy efficient. All displays consume energy during operation. With that said, OLEDs consume less energy than most other types of displays because they don’t require backlighting. OLEDs only need a small amount of electricity to pass through the electroluminescent layer. As a result, they are highly energy efficient.
#5) Ultra-Fast Response Times
In addition to being energy efficient, OLEDs offer ultra-fast response times. They have faster response times than LCDs and most other types of displays. Some reports suggest that the response time of OLEDs is 100 to 1,000 times higher than that of LCDs. Regardless, you can rest assured knowing that OLEDs have ultra-fast response times. They can change the colors of their pixels more quickly than other types of displays.