Do OLED Displays Save Battery on a Phone?

Yes, OLED displays can indeed save battery life on a phone compared to traditional LCD screens. This is primarily due to the unique technology that illuminates each pixel individually.

Pixel Illumination

In OLED displays, when a pixel is black, it is turned off completely, consuming no power. This means that using dark themes or wallpapers can significantly reduce power consumption. Darker content allows OLED displays to save more battery life by turning off pixels where they are not needed.

Contrast and Color

OLED screens can achieve higher contrast ratios since they can produce true blacks. While bright colors on an OLED screen may use more power than on an LCD, the ability to turn off pixels leads to more efficient energy usage, especially with darker content. Studies have shown that OLED displays can use up to 63 percent less power when displaying a dark background compared to a white one.

Dynamic Content

For content that includes a lot of dark areas or is predominantly black, OLED displays can save more battery compared to LCDs. LCDs always have a backlight on, regardless of the image being displayed, which consumes more power. OLED displays, on the other hand, only illuminate the pixels that are needed, making them more energy-efficient.

Dark Mode and LCD Displays

However, when it comes to common uses, OLED displays still consume less power. OLED only supplies current to light-on pixels, while LCDs need to supply the backlight even for white backgrounds, which can use more power. Therefore, using Dark Mode on your smartphones can indeed save battery power.

How OLED Displays Work to Save Battery

Understanding how OLED displays work can help us appreciate the energy savings. OLED panels combine the pixel grid and backlight into a single plastic or glass panel. These panels have superior contrast and color saturation because the LEDs emit their own light when electrically activated. The Thin Film Transistor (TFT) array acts like a switch, turning off the pixels that show black, thereby not drawing any power.

Power Consumption Case Studies

Google conducted a study where they saw a 63 percent drop in battery consumption when a screenshot of a Google maps page was displayed in a dark background on the Google Maps app compared to a white one. They also claimed a 15 to 60 percent reduction in power consumption while using the YouTube app in Dark Mode depending on the brightness of the display. Both of these applications use grey backgrounds instead of black, which means there is a small draw in power by the LEDs.

Always-On Display Functionality

Another advantage of using OLED panels is the always-on display functionality. OLED panels can display notifications and other important information even in low light conditions, which can be useful for many users. This functionality alone can help in preserving battery life when the device is in standby mode.

In conclusion, OLED displays can save battery life on a phone, especially for users who frequently use dark themes or consume content with a lot of dark areas. By understanding how OLED displays work and their unique advantages, we can make better-informed decisions about which device to choose for improved battery efficiency.