TFT and LCD are two different types of electronic displays used in computers, TVs, and smartphones. For example, when going through the specs of different cell phones, you will notice that some are listed as having a TFT display and others as having an LCD display.
TFT and LCD are two of the most common types of displays found on mobile phones. Other common types are OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED, and IPS-LCD, and while I will touch on some of these others briefly, I am keeping the focus of this article primarily on TFT and LCD. Let’s start by exploring what these two abbreviations mean.
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What is a TFT Display in phones?
TFT stands for Thin-Film transistor and is a phone display technology designed to show quick animations, complex graphics, and custom fonts on your phone screen. TFT display works by having one transistor connected to each of the pixels on your screen.
What is an LCD Display in phones?
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and is a flat-panel display technology that uses light-modulating properties of liquid crystalline compounds to produce images on the phone screen. The display consists of several layers, including a backlight, polarizers, and color filters, and each pixel is controlled by a transistor. When an electric current passes through the liquid crystals, they twist and untwist to allow or block light, creating the images that we see on the screen.
TFT vs LCD: Differences between them
TFT: stands for “thin-film transistor.” They are actually a kind of LCD panel that uses thin film transistor technology to deliver sharper and brighter images. TFT panels also tend to be plastic, meaning they are less susceptible to break or crack on impact with the floor or other hard object. Plastic displays are used on entry-level phones. As you go higher, plastic gets replaced with glass, meaning LCD, IPS, AMOLED, etc.
A key weakness of TFT panels is that they do not have wide viewing angles, so they are better suited to displays that require you to view head-on. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your needs. For example, the narrower viewing angles mean people sitting or standing around you are less likely to be able to snoop on what you are doing on your mobile phone.
TFT panels are cheaper to manufacture, but they also consume much more power than regular LCD panels. Lastly, they have poorer sunlight visibility. You will find TFT displays on feature phones, smart feature phones, and low-end Android phones.
LCD: This is an abbreviation for “liquid crystal display”. It is a flat panel display with wider viewing angles compared to TFT. They also have lower power consumption and so deliver much better battery life than their TFT counterparts.
TFT vs LCD: Summary
In summary, while TFT panels have some distinct advantages, they fall short in other areas and so their use have been limited to low end phones, from feature phones to entry-level Android phones. Plastic feels inferior to touch than glass, which means that TFT screens don’t get to feature much on mid-range and premium devices.
As we see improvements to TFT technology, we will see them deployed on higher end devices over time. In 2022, Samsung used TFT displays in its mid-range Galaxy A13 and Galaxy A23. Perhaps those improvements are happening already.
For now, LCD is the most widely used display type in modern smartphones. At the very top end, we have premium flagships using OLED and AMOLED displays.
2023 Update: With the arrival of foldable devices, we are also now seeing foldable variants of OLED and AMOLED displays in the market. It is safe to say that OLED and AMOLED screen types have proper cornered the premium, high-end smartphone market.
Which is better – TFT or LCD?
TFT displays are higher quality components than regular LCD displays. TFT displays are sharper, brighter, and refresh better than LCD panels. However, they have weaknesses that make them unsuitable for higher end phones.
OLED vs LCD – which is better?
Compared to LCD, OLED panels have better color reproduction, faster response times, wider viewing angles, and better brightness.
LCD vs AMOLED – which is better?
AMOLED panels have all the benefits of OLED screens, which means they are better than LCD panels. They are expensive though, and so are used in high-end smartphones only.
What are Super AMOLED displays?
These are improved versions of AMOLED screens and were developed by Samsung. They are also thinner. The name explains it: think of Super AMOLED as AMOLED on steroids.
What is Retina display?
Retina Display is a term used by Apple for its IPS LCD screens.
TFT na LCD ni aina mbili tofauti za maonyesho ya elektroniki kutumika katika kompyuta, TV, na simu mahiri. Kwa mfano, wakati wa kwenda kupitia specs ya simu za mkononi tofauti, utaona kwamba baadhi ni waliotajwa kama kuwa na TFT kuonyesha na wengine kama kuwa na LCD kuonyesha. TFT na LCD ni aina mbili za kawaida za maonyesho yanayopatikana kwenye simu za mkononi. Toleo la OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED na IPS-LCD ni aina ya OLED, na wakati mimi kuwasiliana na baadhi ya wengine kwa ufupi, mimi ni kuweka lengo la makala hii hasa juu ya TFT na LCD. Hebu kuanza kwa kuchunguza nini hizi mbili kifupi maana. Mfano wa TFT Display katika Simu TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) ni teknolojia ya kuonyesha simu iliyoundwa kuonyesha animations haraka, graphics tata, na fonts desturi kwenye skrini ya simu yako. TFT inaonyesha transistor moja iliyounganishwa na kila pixel kwenye skrini yako. LCD Display ni nini katika simu? LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) ni teknolojia ya kuonyesha ya jopo tambarare ambayo hutumia mali ya modulating mwanga ya misombo ya maji ya kioo kutengeneza picha kwenye skrini ya simu. Kioo hicho kina tabaka kadhaa, kutia ndani taa ya nyuma, polarizers, na vichungi vya rangi, na kila pixel inadhibitiwa na transistor. Wakati umeme unapopita kwenye kioo hicho, kinageuka na kugeuka ili kuruhusu au kuzuia mwanga, na hivyo kutokeza picha zinazoonekana kwenye skrini. TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) ni aina ya LCD panel ambayo hutumia teknolojia ya transistor ya filamu nyembamba kutoa picha kali na mkali. Paneli za TFT pia huwa na plastiki, ikimaanisha kuwa hazina uwezekano wa kuvunjika au kupasuka kwa mgongano na sakafu au kitu kingine kigumu. Vipimo vya plastiki hutumiwa kwenye simu za kiwango cha kuingia. Kwa sababu ya hali ya hewa, plastiki inabadilishwa na kioo, na kwa hivyo LCD, IPS, AMOLED, na vinginevyo. Kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa uwazi wa paneli za TFT, ni muhimu kuzingatia kuwa paneli hizo hazina pembe za kutazama pana, na kwa hivyo zinafaa zaidi kwa maonyesho ambayo yanahitaji kutazama mbele. Hii inaweza kuwa jambo zuri au baya, ikitegemea mahitaji yako. Kwa mfano, pembe nyembamba za kutazama zinamaanisha watu wanaoketi au wamesimama karibu na wewe ni uwezekano mdogo wa kuweza kugundua unachofanya kwenye simu yako ya mkononi. Paneli za TFT ni nafuu kutengeneza, lakini pia hutumia nguvu zaidi kuliko paneli za kawaida za LCD. Mwishowe, wao huwa na mwonekano mbaya zaidi wa jua. TFT inaonekana kwenye simu za mkononi, simu za mkononi za smart, na simu za Android za hali ya chini. LCD: Hii ni kifupi kwa ajili ya <unk>kioo cha kioo cha kioevu<unk>. Ni flat-paneli kuonyesha na pembe pana viewing ikilinganishwa na TFT. Pia, ina matumizi ya chini ya umeme na ina maisha bora ya betri kuliko TFT. TFT vs LCD: Kwa muhtasari, wakati paneli za TFT zina faida tofauti, zinashindwa katika maeneo mengine na hivyo matumizi yao yamepunguzwa kwa simu za mwisho za chini, kutoka simu za kipengele hadi simu za Android za kiwango cha kuingia. Plastiki inahisi chini ya kugusa kuliko kioo, ambayo ina maana kwamba skrini TFT hawapati kipengele sana juu ya vifaa vya kati na premium. Kama sisi kuona maboresho ya teknolojia TFT, tutaona yao kupelekwa juu ya vifaa vya mwisho juu ya muda. Samsung imeweka skrini ya TFT kwenye Galaxy A13 na A23 Labda marekebisho hayo tayari yanaanza. Kwa sasa, LCD ni aina ya kuonyesha inayotumiwa sana katika simu mahiri za kisasa. Kwa upande wa juu, tuna flagships premium kutumia OLED na AMOLED maonyesho. Kwa mfano, kwa sasa, kwa kuwa vifaa vya foldable vimeanza kutumiwa, kuna aina kadhaa za OLED na AMOLED kwenye soko. Kwa kweli, OLED na AMOLED ni aina ya skrini ambazo zinaonekana kuwa na uwezo mkubwa wa kuvutia watumiaji wa simu za mkononi. Ni ipi bora <unk> TFT au LCD? Maonyesho ya TFT ni vipengele vya ubora wa juu kuliko maonyesho ya kawaida ya LCD. Maonyesho ya TFT ni makali zaidi, yenye kung'aa zaidi, na huongeza mwangaza vizuri kuliko paneli za LCD. Hata hivyo, wana udhaifu ambao hufanya wasifae kwa simu za hali ya juu. OLED vs LCD: Ni ipi bora? Ikilinganishwa na LCD, paneli za OLED zina uzalishaji bora wa rangi, nyakati za majibu ya haraka, pembe pana za kutazama, na mwangaza bora. LCD vs AMOLED ni ipi bora? Paneli za AMOLED zina faida zote za skrini za OLED, ambayo inamaanisha ni bora kuliko paneli za LCD. Wao ni ghali ingawa, na hivyo ni kutumika katika high-mwisho smartphones tu. Nini Super AMOLED kuonyesha? Hizi ni matoleo yaliyotengenezwa bora ya skrini za AMOLED na zilitengenezwa na Samsung. Pia ni nyembamba zaidi. Jina la Super AMOLED linaelezea: Fikiria Super AMOLED kama AMOLED kwenye steroids. Retina Display ni nini? Retina Display ni jina la kipekee la Apple kwa ajili ya LCDs.