LCD vs OLED iPhone Screens: Soft OLED & Genuine Apple

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. An LCD panel uses liquid crystals to create the image while a separate backlight provides the light needed for you to see it.

Apple has used LCD displays in many iPhones, including models such as the iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and several generations of iPhone SE.

Because the backlight illuminates the display from behind, an LCD cannot switch individual pixels completely off in the same way an OLED screen can. This means black areas of an image are still being illuminated to some degree.

• Can produce bright, clear images
• Generally lower cost than OLED replacement panels
• Appropriate for iPhones originally designed with LCD
• Black levels and contrast are more limited than OLED
• Uses a backlight across the display rather than self-lit pixels

OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. Unlike LCD, an OLED display does not require a conventional backlight. Each pixel can produce its own light and can also switch off individually.

This is what allows OLED screens to produce true blacks and very high contrast. It also means power consumption can vary depending on what is being displayed. Dark content can use less display power because fewer pixels need to emit significant light, while predominantly bright content does not necessarily provide the same advantage.

Apple introduced OLED to the iPhone range with the iPhone X and has since used OLED displays across many of its higher-end and newer models.

• True black levels because individual pixels can switch off
• High contrast
• Strong viewing angles on good-quality panels
• Thin display construction
• Power use can be lower when displaying darker content

Soft OLED uses a flexible substrate rather than the rigid construction found in some lower-cost OLED panels. This is closer to the flexible OLED construction used in many original iPhone displays.

• Flexible OLED construction
• True blacks and strong contrast
• Good viewing angles on quality panels
• Can provide a closer overall replacement experience to the original display
• Usually costs more than LCD

For an iPhone originally designed with OLED, a good-quality Soft OLED can offer a strong balance between display quality, flexible construction and price when a genuine Apple display is not the preferred option.

Hard OLED is another type of aftermarket OLED replacement screen. It normally uses a rigid substrate rather than the flexible construction found in Soft OLED displays.

This can make Hard OLED a lower-cost OLED option, but the rigid construction can also make the panel more vulnerable to impact damage compared with a flexible Soft OLED screen.

Tech Titans Manchester does not currently offer Hard OLED screens. Where an aftermarket OLED option is suitable, we prefer good-quality Soft OLED because its flexible construction is closer to that used in many original iPhone OLED displays.

A genuine Apple display is an original Apple component designed for the relevant iPhone model.

Where available, genuine parts generally provide the original display characteristics and construction intended for the phone.

Depending on the model and availability, genuine screen options may include new genuine components or carefully sourced genuine reclaimed displays. The exact option should always be explained before the repair takes place.

Genuine screens usually cost more than aftermarket alternatives, so the best choice depends on the value of the iPhone, how long you intend to keep it and how important retaining original display hardware is to you.

The display technology is only part of what determines screen quality. Two replacement screens using the same basic technology can still perform very differently.

Brightness

Maximum brightness varies between replacement panels. A cheaper OLED screen is not automatically as bright as the original display simply because it uses OLED technology.

Colour accuracy

Different panels can reproduce colours and white balance differently. Premium replacements generally aim to provide a closer match to the original display, but performance depends on the specific panel rather than the label alone.

Contrast

OLED has an inherent advantage because pixels can switch off completely, producing true black. LCD relies on a backlight, so dark areas remain illuminated to some extent.

Viewing angles

Good OLED displays generally maintain contrast and colour well when viewed from an angle. LCD viewing-angle performance depends heavily on the panel being used.

Touch response

Touch sensitivity and responsiveness can vary between replacement displays. This is one reason the cheapest screen is not necessarily the best value for a phone you use every day.

OLED can be more efficient in some situations because individual pixels can reduce their output or switch off completely. This is particularly useful with dark interfaces and content.

LCD uses a backlight across the display, so the backlight continues operating even when much of the image is black.

However, it is too simplistic to say that OLED always uses less power. Power consumption depends on brightness, the content being displayed, panel efficiency and the quality of the replacement screen.

What about durability?

Durability also depends on more than whether a display is LCD or OLED. Screen construction, glass quality, manufacturing quality and the type of impact all matter.

A flexible Soft OLED construction can provide a closer physical match to the flexible OLED construction used in many original iPhone displays, but no replacement screen is immune to accidental damage.

No. Replacing an iPhone screen does not automatically mean losing True Tone, and a replacement display does not have to be genuine Apple simply for True Tone to be available.

Compatible aftermarket replacement screens can support True Tone too. Availability and behaviour can depend on the iPhone model, the replacement part and how the repair has been completed.

It is also important not to judge overall screen quality purely by whether True Tone works. Two screens may both support the feature while still differing in brightness, colour accuracy, touch response, viewing angles and power efficiency.

For a more detailed explanation, read our guide to True Tone after an iPhone screen replacement.

Face ID should not be treated as a reason to choose OLED instead of LCD.

The Face ID system uses separate sensors and components from the display panel itself. Choosing an OLED screen does not automatically preserve Face ID, and choosing an LCD screen does not automatically disable it.

If Face ID develops a fault following screen damage or a repair, the cause needs to be diagnosed separately rather than assumed to be the type of replacement display.

Price matters, but it should not be the only factor when comparing iPhone screen replacements.

If two businesses quote very different prices for what appears to be the same repair, they may not actually be supplying the same quality or construction of screen.

Differences can include:

• LCD or OLED technology
• Brightness
• Colour accuracy
• Touch responsiveness
• Viewing angles
• Power efficiency
• Glass and panel durability
• Whether the display is genuine or aftermarket

A lower-cost screen can be entirely appropriate for some customers. For someone planning to use the same iPhone every day for several more years, paying more for a higher-quality display may provide better overall value.