do lcd displays update pixel by pixel supplier

Many Apple products use liquid crystal displays (LCD). LCD technology uses rows and columns of addressable points (pixels) that render text and images on the screen. Each pixel has three separate subpixels—red, green and blue—that allow an image to render in full color. Each subpixel has a corresponding transistor responsible for turning that subpixel on and off.

Depending on the display size, there can be thousands or millions of subpixels on the LCD panel. For example, the LCD panel used in the iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) has a display resolution of 5120 x 2880, which means there are over 14.7 million pixels. Each pixel is made up of a red, a green, and a blue subpixel, resulting in over 44 million individual picture elements on the 27-inch display. Occasionally, a transistor may not work perfectly, which results in the affected subpixel remaining off (dark) or on (bright). With the millions of subpixels on a display, it is possible to have a low number of such transistors on an LCD. In some cases a small piece of dust or other foreign material may appear to be a pixel anomaly. Apple strives to use the highest quality LCD panels in its products, however pixel anomalies can occur in a small percentage of panels.

In many cases pixel anomalies are caused by a piece of foreign material that is trapped somewhere in the display or on the front surface of the glass panel. Foreign material is typically irregular in shape and is usually most noticeable when viewed against a white background. Foreign material that is on the front surface of the glass panel can be easily removed using a lint free cloth. Foreign material that is trapped within the screen must be removed by an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store.

If you are concerned about pixel anomalies on your display, take your Apple product in for closer examination at an Apple Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or an Independent Repair Provider. There may be a charge for the evaluation. Genuine Apple parts are also available for out-of-warranty repairs through Self Service Repair.*

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens are used in most premium smartphones. Pixel phones have OLED screens that can display bright, high-quality, and accurate colors.

All OLED screens show some color shift when seen at certain angles. The Pixel 3 and 3a minimize the color change through color calibration in the manufacturing process.

The display cutout, or notch, maximizes the Pixel 3 XL"s screen size. The screen also includes 2 cameras, a light sensor, an earpiece speaker, and a microphone.

Pixel screens are designed and tested to reduce burn-in as much as possible so that it doesn"t affect how you use your phone. But when the same image stays on your screen for a long time at a high brightness, it can affect the colors or cause burn-in.

Blame it on Moore"s Law. The consistent doubling of processor speed every 18 months now seems normal, almost natural to us. It is easy to be impressed with our demiurgical abilities and to believe we can mold digital technology however we desire.

The story of the liquid crystal display suggests otherwise. Despite massive worldwide investments in research and development, LCD technology remains expensive and plagued by poor image quality. Yet the dream of a thin flat-panel display and the new portable devices such a display would enable is powerful enough that Japanese conglomerates continue to invest billions of dollars in LCD development. Even if they eventually succeed - and they probably will - it will say more about persistence than about our mastery of the technology.

The story begins in the 1960s, when scientists first realized that liquid crystals could be useful for television displays. Liquid crystals exhibit the molecular symmetry characteristic of a crystal, but not along every axis. This results in their unique optical properties. Depending on how its molecules are aligned, a liquid crystal will either scatter light or let light pass through. By using an electrical field to control molecular alignment, a thin liquid crystal layer can be coerced to display any image.

The stencil for the image is created by applying electric current to specified regions of the liquid crystal. Then, when the LCD is illuminated by reflected ambient light or a special backlight, the charged regions appear dark. As soon as the current is shut off, the regions fade back to translucence.

For small LCDs, such as those in digital watches, each pixel is controlled with a separate wire. But this is impractical for displays that have thousands of pixels. Instead, the liquid crystal is sandwiched between vertical and horizontal wire grids. The intersections of those wires define individual pixels. This matrix allows m x n pixels to be addressed with only m + n wires.

In a passive-matrix display, any given pixel - say, at position (x, y) - is activated by applying current to the wires in the corresponding column and row. This works because while the voltage of a single wire is too small to affect liquid crystal alignment, the combination is sufficient. However, matrix addressing does not allow two pixels in different rows and columns to be simultaneously activated. If we tried to turn on pixels at both (x, y) and (a, b), we would end up activating four pixels: (x, y), (x, b), (a, y), and (a, b). Consequently, the screen must be filled in one row at a time.

The usual method is to set the voltage level for all of the column wires and send an electrical pulse down a specific row wire. Then do the same thing for the next row. Because the activated pixels immediately begin to fade to translucence after they"re triggered, the screen must be continually redrawn.

Dell offers a Premium Panel Exchange that ensures zero bright pixel defects on Dell Consumer, Professional, UltraSharp, and Gaming including Alienware monitors.

Defective pixels do not necessarily impair the performance of the monitor. However,they can be distracting, especially if the pixels are in positions where viewing quality is reduced.

Unyielding commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has driven Dell to offer a Premium Panel Exchange as part of the standard limited hardware warranty. Even if one bright pixel is found, a free monitor exchange is supported during the limited hardware warranty period.

LCD panelscan be categorized as flat-panel displays. What makes them distinct from other display technologies is the layer of liquid crystal material within. In this thin layer, liquid crystal molecules are aligned between two glass substrates. On the inner surfaces of each of those substrates lie electrodes that control charge carriers like electrons that then interact with the liquid crystals, creating an electric field that runs through them; this, in turn, can change the alignment of the crystals, also changing the overall behavior of the molecules. On the opposite sides of the substrate, polarizers are used to control the levels of light passage, affecting the overall image of the display.

Unlike CRT monitors, LCD monitors cannot illuminate themselves, and so they require a light source: the backlight. This backlight is most frequently made of the well-known LEDs which stand for light-emitting diodes. Sourced from the backlight, light is moved through the back polarizer and back substrate, into the liquid crystals. Now, the light waves can behave in a variety of ways. Backlight used in LCD displays can be LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight or CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) backlight. LED backlights use less power which becomes more popular, while CCFL is lower cost for large size LCD displays such as large LCD TV. Recently, quantum dots technology is used to increase the LCD contrast.

Electrodes are the controlling factors of the liquid crystal behavior, and thus also the light behavior. By conducting or not conducting a current into the crystal layer, the light may or may not be able to pass through the liquid crystals in a manner that will allow passage through the polarizer. Because of this role, electrodes in LCDs are often made of indium tin oxide (ITO). ITO has good conducting properties and can also make for a transparent electrode which is essential to the appearance of displays today.

How the electrodes affect the liquid crystal alignment can vary depending on the method of alignment used (twistednematic,multi-domain,in-planeswitching). For example, twisted nematic liquid crystals are oriented in a twist when no electric field is present which then polarizes the light passing through the layer; when the electrodes apply the field in full, the twist will straighten out, no longer polarizing the light, and so no light passes. In each of these alignment types, the electrodes are placed differently within the structure, altering the properties of the display, such as width of viewing angle, power consumption, and response time. Despite these different alignment methods, the liquid crystal layer’s purpose remains the same: to polarize the light so that the polarized light passes through to the surface of the display. By polarizing the light transmitted from the backlight, the liquid crystal molecules play a role in how much of the light passes through the polarizing filters, whether it be all, none, or a partial amount.

Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro: Measured diagonally; dimension may vary by configuration and manufacturing process. Smooth Display is not available for all apps or content.

Maximum resolution and field of view with RAW image files setting turned on. Setting is turned off by default. See g.co/pixel/photoediting for more information.

Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7: For “24-hour”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 31 hours. Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For “Up to 72 hours”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 72 hour” claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Pixel 6a: For “24-hour”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was approximately 29 hours. Battery testing conducted using Sub-6 GHz non-standalone 5G (ENDC) connectivity. For “Up to 72 hours”: Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby, and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major carrier network. For both claims: Battery testing conducted in California in early 2022 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the “up to 72 hour” claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

Fast wired charging rates (up to 21 watts on Pixel 7 and up to 23 watts on Pixel 7 Pro) are based upon use of the Google 30W USB-C® Charger plugged into a wall outlet. Actual results may be slower. Adapters sold separately. Charging speed based upon testing with device batteries drained to 1% and charged with Google 30W USB-C® Charger. Charging testing conducted by Google in mid-2022 on preproduction hardware and software using default settings with the device powered on. Charging speed depends upon many factors including usage during charging, battery age, and ambient temperature. Actual charging speed may be slower. Wireless charging rates up to 20W (Pixel 7) and up to 23W (Pixel 7 Pro) charging with Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen) (sold separately). Up to 12W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately). Actual results may be slower.

Coming soon. Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN. Not available in all countries. All other Google One membership benefits sold separately. Pixel VPN offering does not impact price or benefits of Google One Premium plan. Use of VPN may increase data costs depending on your plan. See g.co/pixel/vpn for details.

Trade-in values vary based on eligibility, condition, year, and configuration of your trade-in device, and are subject to change upon inspection. Credit card refund only available if a Pixel phone is purchased on that card. Phone trade-in credit will be issued as a refund back on the credit card used for the phone purchase at Google Store or in the form of Store Credit if the purchased phone has already been returned. Refund is based on (and paid after) phone received matching the description provided at time of estimate and will be issued to form of payment used for order. Phones sent for trade-in must be received within 30 days of initiation of trade-in process, provided the purchased device has not been returned during that time. Additional trade-in and store credit terms are located here.

Designed to comply with dust and water protection rating IP68 under IEC standard 60529 when each device leaves the factory but the device is not water or dust proof. The accessories are not water or dust resistant. Water resistance and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and will diminish or be lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage. Dropping your device may result in loss of water/dust resistance. Liquid damage voids the warranty. See g.co/pixel/water for details.

Boarding pass feature requires Gmail app. Event reminders require compatible email and calendar apps. Package delivery feature requires compatible Nest doorbell (sold separately) and the Google Home app or Nest app.

Not available in all languages or countries. Not available on all media or apps. See g.co/pixel/livetranslate for more information. Translation may not be instantaneous.

Personal Safety app features are dependent upon network connectivity and other factors and may not be reliable for emergency communications or available in all areas. For more information, see g.co/pixel/personalsafety.

Available only in the US. Includes YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and Google One. Does not include carrier service plan. Monthly subscription price varies by plan. Upgrades may change monthly price. If you cancel during the 24-month cycle, you will be required to pay the remaining value of your Pixel device at a non-discounted price, and your access to bundled services will terminate. Device protection includes an additional year of coverage for mechanical breakdown (in addition to the one-year manufacturer warranty), and up to four claims of accidental damage for two years (limit 2 per rolling 12-month period, beginning with the date of first repair or replacement). Claim coverage subject to deductible(s). See g.co/pixelpass/tos for full terms.

Save $150 on Pixel 7 Pro. Starts February 5, 2023 at 12:00 am PT and ends February 25, 2023 at 11:59pm PT, while supplies last and subject to availability. US residents only. Must be 18 years or older. Unless otherwise stated, offer cannot be combined with other offers and is not transferable. Purchase must be made on Google Store US. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Void where prohibited.

Buy Pixel 7 Pro and get up to $300 back with qualifying trade-in. Starting on February 5, 2023 at 12:00am PT and ending on February 25, 2023 at 11:59pm PT. Trade-in values vary based on condition, year, and configuration of your eligible device, and are subject to change upon inspection. Typical representative amounts: $300 for iPhone 13 Mini or $300 for Galaxy S20 (5G) . Credit card refund available only on a card used to purchase the Pixel phone. Phone trade-in credit will be issued as a refund back on the credit card used for the phone purchase at Google Store or in the form of Store Credit if the purchased phone has already been returned. Refund is based on (and paid after) phone received matching the description provided at time of estimate and will be issued to form of payment used for order. Phones sent for trade-in must be received within 30 days of initiation of trade-in process, provided the purchased device has not been returned during that time.

The pixels have to be on continuously, if that was not the case (the pixel is off and dark most of the time) then they would have to be extremely bright when it is on to display an image. On a CRT this sort of happens (the dot is very bright) but the phosphors make the dot glow for some time.

Your eyes aren"t that quick to respond so if all pixels are addressed in such a short time that your eyes won"t notice it then there is no issue in addressing the pixels in a certain sequence.

Something like that indeed, but not pixel-for-pixel, instead one row (or column) is refreshed in one go. Then the next row (or colum) etc. How this precisely done depends on the actual display.

When choosing an LED screen, you should check the screen’s actual resolution — the physical distance in millimeters between two adjacent LED pixels — by consulting the manufacturer or supplier. Some "pseudo-producers" and unscrupulous vendors sell video screens with a lower resolution at almost the same price as screens with a normal physical resolution, and they explain the cost by stating that they are using "virtual pixel" technology.

Now consider the technology known as "virtual pixel", "dynamic pixel”, or "virtual resolution" of the video screen. Different manufacturers explain and implement this technology differently.

Generally speaking, for an LED screen with a given resolution and some specific pixel geometry, an algorithm is presented that allows, in some cases, to improve the detail of individual image fragments. The implementation of such an algorithm can be carried out in real time or previously by processing the image in some modified form.

The level of improvement of the image depends on the geometry of the pixels and the actual algorithm. This approach is perfectly valid and legitimate. However, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons of this method.

Manufacturers who give examples of their implementation of the virtual pixel method illustrate their point by smoothing the edges on a black and white image of letters or numbers. If you just change the color of the displayed letters, the example crumbles.

Furthermore, even the black and white image does not take into account the color balance at the edges of the image. All LEDs are not involved in the formation of the image, only a part of the neighboring pixel is. As such, color distortions at the edges of the image are possible.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific and objective information about the applied image processing methods. No one has yet presented the example of two monochrome (blue, for example) parallel lines that can be visually approximated using virtual pixel technology. This would indicate a real breakthrough in image processing.

Nowhere is the question asked: Do pixel “virtualization” algorithms lead to a deterioration in picture quality? Is the proposed algorithm capable of assessing how much the quality of a given picture can improve (thereby negating the need for any modification if improvement cannot be achieved)?

Despite the fact that the pixel is virtual, its implementation requires very real (and expensive) LEDs. The aforementioned methods are based on such a redundancy of the pixel elements. Higher redundancy leads to better smoothing of the edges of the image. However, for some reason, no one ever poses a question regarding the number of LEDs on the video screen.

If the pixel consists of five LEDs, then, at a resolution of 320 x 240, the number of required LEDs will be 384,000. For a non-redundant pixel of three LEDs, 230,400 LEDs will be required. As such, the price of “virtualization” for such a video screen will be approximately 150,000 LEDs.

Now let’s reduce the pixel pitch to 16 mm. At the same aforementioned physical dimensions, we can accommodate 400 x 300 pixels. If we use three LEDs per pixel, the number of required LEDs will be 360,000. That is approximately the same as for a screen with virtualization and five LEDs per pixel.

Does this technology have “virtual pixel” advantages? Yes, it does. It allows, in some cases, to sharpen the details of the image on the video screen, while simultaneously also introducing color distortions into the image. This method is useful for images with smooth transitions but it is not suitable for images with clear borders, in which case distortions will appear on the image. Consequently, that will necessitate that you specifically prepare videos suited for such a display. Not to mention the toll it will take on live video on such a screen.

In any case, a video screen with a real resolution equal to a “virtual resolution” will always have better clarity and images. Furthermore, as a result of the “virtual pixel” technology, it is futile to even discuss doubling the screen resolution.

If you’re designing a display application or deciding what type of TV to get, you’ll probably have to choose between an OLED or LCD as your display type.

Not sure which one will be best for you? Don’t worry! We’re here to help you figure out the right display for your project or application. In this post we’ll break down the pros and cons of these display types so you can decide which one is right for you.

LCDs utilize liquid crystals that produce an image when light is passed through the display. OLED displays generate images by applying electricity to organic materials inside the display.OLED and LCD Main Difference:

graphics and images visible. This is the reason you’re still able to see light coming through on images that are meant to be dark on an LCD monitor, display, or television.

OLEDs by comparison, deliver a drastically higher contrast by dynamically managing their individual pixels. When an image on an OLED display uses the color black, the pixel shuts off completely and renders a much higher contrast than that of LCDs.OLED vs LCD - Who is better at contrast?

Having a high brightness level is important if your display is going to be used in direct sunlight or somewhere with high ambient brightness. The display"s brightness level isn"t as important if it’s going to be used indoors or in a low light setting.OLED vs LCD - Who is better at Brightness?

Have you ever looked at a screen from an angle and noticed that the images became washed out or shadowy? The further away you get from the “front and center” view, the worse the image appears to be. This is an example of viewing angles in action – the wider the viewing angle, the better the images on screen will appear as you view them from different vantage points.

This means the display is much thinner than LCD displays and their pixels are much closer to the surface of the display, giving them an inherently wider viewing angle.

You’ll often notice images becoming distorted or losing their colors when tilting an LCD or when you view it from different angles. However, many LCDs now include technology to compensate for this – specifically In-Plane Switching (IPS).

LCDs with IPS are significantly brighter than standard LCDs and offer viewing angles that are on-par with OLEDs.OLED vs LCD - Who is better at Viewing Angles?

LCDs have been on the market much longer than OLEDs, so there is more data to support their longevity. On average LCDs have proven to perform for around 60,000 hours (2,500) days of operation.

With most LCDs you can expect about 7 years of consistent performance. Some dimming of the backlight has been observed but it is not significant to the quality of the display.

OLEDs are a newer technology in the display market, which makes them harder to fully review. Not only does OLED technology continue to improve at a rapid pace, but there also hasn’t been enough time to thoroughly observe their performance.

You must also consider OLED’s vulnerability to image burn-in. The organic material in these displays can leave a permanent afterimage on the display if a static image is displayed for too long.

So depending on how your OLED is used, this can greatly affect its lifespan. An OLED being used to show static images for long periods of time will not have the same longevity as one displaying dynamic, constantly moving images.OLED vs LCD - Which one last longer?

There is not yet a clear winner when it comes to lifespans between LCD and OLED displays. Each have their advantages depending on their use-cases. It’s a tie!

What is an unlocked phone?An unlocked phone is a phone that isn"t tied to a specific carrier. When you purchase an unlocked Pixel phone, you get to choose which carrier or plan works best for you. Most phones in the Google Store come unlocked.

Important: Pixel phones work with all major carriers. But not all Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones work on all 5G networks. See a list of certified carriers to make sure your phone works on its 5G network.

An unlocked phone is a phone that isn"t tied to a specific carrier. When you purchase an unlocked Pixel phone, you get to choose which carrier or plan works best for you. Most phones in the Google Store come unlocked.

Important: Pixel phones work with all major carriers. But not all Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones work on all 5G networks. See a list of certified carriers to make sure your phone works on its 5G network.

3. Follow their instructions to set up your phone with their service plan.What is eSIM?eSIM technology allows you to add a cellular plan to your Pixel 6a, without using a physical SIM card. Pixel 6a will arrive ready to activate with eSIM. You will need a Wi-Fi connection for setup.

eSIM technology allows you to add a cellular plan to your Pixel 6a, without using a physical SIM card. Pixel 6a will arrive ready to activate with eSIM. You will need a Wi-Fi connection for setup.

If you choose to connect to a carrier after you buy your Pixel 6a, you will need to contact your carrier to activate with an eSIM.What is the difference between connecting my Pixel now with a carrier and connecting it later?The Google Store offers carrier activation with AT&T and Verizon. If you activate with a carrier now, we’ll connect your Pixel to your account. AT&T customers: Once you receive your new Pixel, call AT&T to complete your activation. Your Pixel will arrive ready to go with your number and plan information. If you connect with a carrier later, once your new Pixel arrives, you can insert a physical SIM card or use eSIM from any carrier that provides service for Pixel.

The Google Store offers carrier activation with AT&T and Verizon. If you activate with a carrier now, we’ll connect your Pixel to your account. AT&T customers: Once you receive your new Pixel, call AT&T to complete your activation. Your Pixel will arrive ready to go with your number and plan information. If you connect with a carrier later, once your new Pixel arrives, you can insert a physical SIM card or use eSIM from any carrier that provides service for Pixel.Does Pixel 6a have 5G network compatibility?Yes, Pixel 6a works with 5G networks. The type of 5G service depends on both the phone model and the carrier network. Learn more about 5G.

Yes, Pixel 6a works with 5G networks. The type of 5G service depends on both the phone model and the carrier network. Learn more about 5G.What is included in the Pixel 6a box?Your Pixel 6a purchase comes with a 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0), Quick Start Guide, Quick Switch Adapter, and SIM tool. Pixel 6a does not come with a 30W USB-C Power Charger, but that can be purchased separately.

Your Pixel 6a purchase comes with a 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0), Quick Start Guide, Quick Switch Adapter, and SIM tool. Pixel 6a does not come with a 30W USB-C Power Charger, but that can be purchased separately.How does the Google Store trade-in program work?You can trade in Google Pixel phones and phones from most other manufacturers. How much you will get for your trade-in depends on the phone, model, manufacturer, and condition. During your purchase of a new Pixel phone, answer a few questions accurately, and once we receive the phone within the specified time frame and verify its condition, you’ll most likely receive the full amount of the estimated refund. Keep in mind that our trade-in partner needs to receive your phone within 30 days of receiving your new phone, and the condition needs to match what you told us. Learn more about Google Store trade-in.

You can trade in Google Pixel phones and phones from most other manufacturers. How much you will get for your trade-in depends on the phone, model, manufacturer, and condition. During your purchase of a new Pixel phone, answer a few questions accurately, and once we receive the phone within the specified time frame and verify its condition, you’ll most likely receive the full amount of the estimated refund. Keep in mind that our trade-in partner needs to receive your phone within 30 days of receiving your new phone, and the condition needs to match what you told us. Learn more about Google Store trade-in.What is Preferred Care?Preferred Care is worry-free protection for your device, which provides mechanical breakdown coverage (after the one-year manufacturer"s warranty) and covers accidental damages (including drops, liquid spills, and cracks). You can also get access to participating walk-in centers for screen repairs and unlimited access to specially trained agents whenever you call. Available every day, 24/7. Best of all, you can pay for the coverage up front or in monthly installments. Learn more about Preferred Care.

Preferred Care is worry-free protection for your device, which provides mechanical breakdown coverage (after the one-year manufacturer"s warranty) and covers accidental damages (including drops, liquid spills, and cracks). You can also get access to participating walk-in centers for screen repairs and unlimited access to specially trained agents whenever you call. Available every day, 24/7. Best of all, you can pay for the coverage up front or in monthly installments. Learn more about Preferred Care.How does Pixel Pass work?Pixel Pass is an all-in-one subscription from Google. It includes:

Pixel phones you get with Pixel Pass are unlocked, which means your Pixel works with all major carriers. Learn more about Pixel Pass.How do I switch from an Android phone or an iPhone to Pixel?Switching to Pixel is easy. No matter what phone you’re coming from, you can transfer your stuff, like photos or messages, from your old phone to your Pixel in a few simple steps. Learn more about switching to Pixel.

Switching to Pixel is easy. No matter what phone you’re coming from, you can transfer your stuff, like photos or messages, from your old phone to your Pixel in a few simple steps. Learn more about switching to Pixel.Where can I find setup and tips?Move your stuff over, personalize your settings, and explore Pixel features to get the most out of your phone. Get to know Google Pixel.

Move your stuff over, personalize your settings, and explore Pixel features to get the most out of your phone. Get to know Google Pixel.Who should I contact if I have questions about my Pixel purchase?Visit our Help Center to contact us and get help.

the correct density, the system loads the default resources and scales them up or down as needed. The system assumes that default resources (those from a

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

For Google"s flagship in 2020, the company had decidedly stepped back from the ultra-premium category of smartphones, which usually costs customers north of $1,000 USD. It seems that Google"s current mantra insists that it doesn"t require bleeding-edge hardware to create a helpful handset. But whether or not the Google Pixel 5 can be competitive with other company"s flagships is its own point of discussion that we covered in our full review. I"m here to just talk about the single most expensive piece of hardware in modern phones: the display.

The Google Pixel 5 immediately stands out from its predecessors in an unanticipated way: It actually takes on a modern display form factor, with an edge-to-edge display with truly uniform bezels, about 4 mm for each side, which is uncommon for Android phones. Google continues to use a flexible OLED substrate for its flagship, which can be made thinner and be made to have better viewing angles and polarization characteristics compared to the rigid OLED that they use in their mid-range Pixel a-lineup. The thinness of the flexible OLED also increases optical clarity by bringing the emissive pixels closer to the cover glass (thus closer to your fingertips), which helps the screen appear more paper-like and inky. Most modern flagship OLEDs have been made of a flexible substrate for the past couple of years, but it is important to make this distinction since its optical advantage does not show up in current display measurements. Additionally, the front camera cut-out on the Google Pixel 5 appears flush with the display, while the camera on the Pixel 4a appears slightly raised compared to the screen with a noticeable silver ring around the component.

The Pixel 5"s 6-inch display size may lead some to believe that this is a plus-sized device, but it is very much still a relatively-compact device. The body of the Google Pixel 5 is actually about the same size as all of its smaller-sized predecessors. Where most of the increase in display size comes from is in the reduction of bezel along the vertical axis. Compared to the Pixel 2 XL, which also has a 6-inch display, the Pixel 5 does feel much smaller. In terms of screen resolution, the Google Pixel 5 contains 2340×1080 pixels, or about 432 pixels per inch. Past Pixels usually covered about 440 pixels per inch for the smaller variants, so this slight reduction in pixel density shouldn"t be noticeable compared to them. However, there are occurrences where I can notice color fringing when viewing the display closer-up, so a slightly higher screen resolution would be appreciated. I"m partial to Apple"s objective of targeting a specific pixel density instead (about 460 pixels per inch) and using a pixel resolution that satisfies it while maximizing pixel fill factor for optimal display power efficiency.

The display panel is sourced solely from Samsung Display, and the hardware seems to have been slightly upgraded from last year"s to accommodate a higher peak brightness. However, the display driver IC remains the same as that of the Pixel 4 XL"s (s6e3hc2), and the display panel itself seems to be an older-generation Samsung OLED. This puts the Google Pixel 5 behind other flagships that use Samsung"s newer generation of OLED in terms of peak output and power efficiency, but it should give Google a chance to refine their display in other areas, which I explore later on. In any case, a polished display with little-to-no drawbacks will yield a better user experience than a display with slightly more output but with notable flaws. In my experience, I have observed that Samsung Display"s newer OLEDs run into much more quality control issues than previous generations, so perhaps Google"s decision to skip this generation can be viewed as a positive.

To obtain quantitative color data from the display, I stage device-specific input test patterns to the Google Pixel 5 and measure the display’s resulting emission using an X-Rite i1Display Pro metered by an X-Rite i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer in its high-resolution 3.3nm mode. The test patterns and device settings I use are corrected for various display characteristics and potential software implementations that may alter my desired measurements. My measurements are typically done with display-related options disabled unless mentioned otherwise.I use

patterns), correlating to an average pixel level of about 42%, to measure the transfer function and grayscale precision. It"s important to measure emissive displays not only with constant average pixel level but also with constant power patterns since their output is dependent on the average display luminance. Additionally, a constant average pixel level does not inherently mean constant power; the patterns I use satisfy both. I use a higher average pixel level closer to 50% to capture a midpoint between both the lower pixel levels and the many apps and webpages with white backgrounds that are higher in pixel level.I use the latest color difference metric Δ

normally considers luminance (intensity) error in its computation, since luminance is a necessary component to completely describe color. However, since the human visual system interprets chromaticity and luminance separately, I hold our test patterns at a constant luminance and do not include the luminance (I/intensity) error in our Δ

All three color profiles share the same exact white point, which I measured at 6400 K for my Pixel 5. The tone mapping of the profiles is also identical, which targets the standard gamma power of 2.20. The only difference between the profiles is in the color primaries of their target color space:

The Adaptive profile, which is the default color profile for the Google Pixel 5, targets a color space with red and green primaries that extend past that of sRGB but are short of DCI-P3. Pure blues are similar between all three profiles, which all share the same sRGB-blue primary. The name of the profile is a misnomer in that there"s nothing "adaptive" about it. This naming may lead many users to believe that the profile switches color spaces depending on the content being viewed. However, this is not the case at all; the Adaptive profile is similar to the Vivid profile found in other Android phones, which just increases the color saturation for all generic content.

The Boosted profile is similar to the Natural profile but with slightly boosted colors for each color primary. Google says that the profile increases color saturation by 10% in every direction, although I haven"t actually measured how accurate this description is.

As an important note for users of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3, the Saturated and Adaptive profiles of those phones have a cooler white point compared to the Adaptive profile found in the Pixel 4 and later. While the Saturated and Adaptive profiles of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 were calibrated to roughly a 7000 K white point, the Pixel 4 and later target the industry standard at 6500 K, which will appear warmer. Unfortunately, Google doesn"t provide an option to manually adjust the color temperature of the white point for those that prefer colder white points, but the silver lining is that humans can adapt to pretty much any white point, and there are benefits to being accustomed to the standard D65 white point over a colder one.

Google"s previous Pixel devices have generally underwhelmed when it came to peak display brightness. For many people, the maximum brightness of a display is one of the most important specs, if not the most important spec to look for in a display. After all, a phone is of no use if the display isn"t legible. In a world where smartphones are touting 700-800 nits of full-screen display brightness (at 100% APL), Google unleashed its flagship, the Pixel 4, which was only able to muster 450 nits. Thus, display brightness had become one of the banes of the Pixel line.

An update to the Pixel 4 series brought the devices closer to their competitors by finally implementing their display panels" high brightness modes. This boosted the peak full-screen brightness from 450 nits to 550-600 nits, which was still considered conservative for a flagship at the time it was released and mediocre by today"s standards. So, to be competitive with future devices, Google had some catching up to do.

Here, the term "average pixel level", or APL, is synonymous with the area of lit pixels on the display expressed as a percentage of the total display area. Emissive displays, like OLED, vary in brightness depending on the intensity and the area of pixels it emits. "Measured Luminance vs. Display Area" or "Measured Luminance vs. Window Size" would both be better-fitting names for the chart since the APL metric can entail many other circumstances, but APL has been colloquially used and is generally understood when discussing display brightness.

For the Pixel 5, Google brings modest improvements to the display brightness. At its 50% APL midpoint, I measured the Google Pixel 5 to peak at about 750 nits with auto-brightness (470 nits for manual max system brightness), which are values that are on par with its competitors in their calibrated color modes. However, at higher APLs, the Google Pixel 5 demonstrates inferior performance compared to the competition: At 80% APL, which is about the APL of light-themed apps, the Pixel 5 only outputs about 680 nits, whereas competitors can reach about 800 nits. This brightness performance for the Pixel 5 places it about halfway between the Pixel 4 and its competitors, which seems lackluster for a flagship smartphone in 2020. Minimum brightness measures white at 1.9 nits, which is the same as most competitors.

Despite the Google Pixel 5 still being behind others in maximum output, the good news is that I find that the brightness of this Pixel is finally bright enough for it to be decently legible under most sunny conditions. In circumstances where the display brightness wouldn"t be satisfactory, such as under direct California summer sunlight, then even the LG G7 ThinQ"s 1,000 nits will not suffice.

Nevertheless, extra brightness headroom is important for improving display tone mapping accuracy and consistency. Ultimately, a display is heavily restricted by its full-screen/100% APL brightness, which is 650 nits for the Google Pixel 5. A higher-brightness panel that can output 800 nits at 100% APL, like those found in other flagships, would allow a higher-precision calibration at 650 nits. We see that the peak brightness of the Google Pixel 5 varies significantly with on-screen APL, dropping in brightness as on-screen APL increases. Because of this, we can expect the tone mapping performance to also vary with on-screen APL; the inverse-proportional relationship of luminance vs. APL should mean picture contrast will increase with on-screen APL, which makes display calibration complicated at these brightness levels. Below high brightness mode, which ranges from 1.9 to 470 nits on the Pixel 5, Google keeps display luminance constant regardless of on-screen APL, which allows the company to calibrate the display with high precision. But at maximum brightness, Google tries to extract as much output from the panel at lower APLs at the cost of calibration consistency.

Finally, for Google"s sake in its camera and "helpful"-focused marketing campaign, a higher peak brightness would be indispensable in improving the accuracy of the camera viewfinder when capturing photos outdoors, and it would make the Pixel camera"s exposure and tone-map controls more useful.

I can"t overstate the importance of display tone mapping and contrast, along with actually assess it correctly—the advent of the Perceptual Quantizer gives us the best look at luminance measurements. I consider display tone mapping to be the most important aspect of a display, and a display with bad tone mapping absolutely ruins the experience for me. Bad tone mapping can result in crushed shadows, colors that are too dark, and/or a washed-out display. Luckily for me, all three profiles on the Google Pixel 5 share the same tone mapping, which makes evaluating this part simple. There is a slight difference between the tone mapping in the 90 Hz and 60 Hz modes, but most of the differences come from color hue, so I"ll only be covering 90 Hz below while I"ll cover 60 Hz in the next section.

The tone mapping of the Pixel 5 targets the standard gamma power of 2.20 (except for in high brightness mode), which is a necessary baseline for accurate color tones and image contrast. And for the most part, we see that Google Pixel 5 does accurately track the 2.20 gamma power, with a few hitches.

First, the trace that stands out the most is the max-brightness tone map curve in red. We see that its tone mapping seems to render color tones significantly lighter than the standard 2.20 gamma power, so one may expect the Google Pixel 5 to appear too light and washed out at max brightness. However, the Pixel 5"s max brightness is only viewed during really bright conditions, and ambient lighting is directly related to the perceived contrast of a display. When the ambient lighting is much brighter than the display brightness, color tones on the display will appear relatively darker, so to compensate, the display can make color tones lighter to counteract the ambient lighting. This is the same principle as increasing the display brightness to make the display more legible; when you increase the display brightness, you increase the perceived contrast of the display. However, if the display has reached its peak brightness, the only other option is to increase the lightness of color tones, which is what the Pixel 5 is doing here. This tone map curve shows a good understanding of the concept of perceived contrast by Google, so this behavior deserves recognition. However, as mentioned in the previous Brightness section, the Google Pixel 5 is handicapped by its peak full-screen brightness, so it varies its luminance with APL to maximize content brightness. This results in the max-brightness tone map curve to become steeper and darker at higher APLs, such as in light-themed apps, which reduces the effectiveness of the lighter color tones.

Our 20% PQ-brightness tone map curve in pink, which is associated with a white level of about 10 nits, shows the Pixel 5 rendering colors too light across its entire grayscale. Unlike the tone map curve at max brightness, the behavior at this brightness is undesirable. In general, people keep their display brightness a relatively fixed difference brighter or dimmer than the brightness of their surroundings, and the two brightnesses are usually within the same ballpark. Therefore, the display tone mapping should be consistent throughout a display"s brightness range, with the exception of the extremities (max and minimum brightness), since the display might not be able to get bright or dim enough to satisfy the user"s preference.

At minimum brightness, the Pixel 5"s tone map curve (in blue) shows a response that tracks the gamma power of 2.20 very closely, and there"s a slight lift near black to ensure that the display doesn"t clip shadows. Typically, this would be great tone map behavior, but, opposite to the edge-case at maximum brightness, we have to consider that the brightness of the surrounding ambient light can be much dimmer than the white level of the Pixel 5"s minimum brightness (1.9 nits). A dark room in a house will typically have an illuminance below 0.1 lux, sometimes even under 0.01 lux for a room without any active light sources. Viewing a patch of white on a 1.9 nit display in these conditions is similar to viewing it on an 800-1000+ nit display in typical office lighting (~200 lux), which is uncomfortable and eye-searing for many people. This is why dark mode is pretty much mandatory for night-time viewing unless you hate your eyeballs. If the display is too bright compared to the ambient lighting and the display can"t get any dimmer, then the display should make color tones darker to compensate. But here with the Pixel 5"s minimum-brightness tone map curve, its 2.20 gamma power response may appear too light and washed out in dark environments. The ideal behavior would be to adapt the tone map curve to the ambient lighting, but so far there have been no phones that I know of that exhibit this behavior.

Besides these two issues, there"s one item that sets the Google Pixel 5 apart from most other displays: The Pixel 5"s OLED panel can render its first step gray (#010101) throughout its entire brightness range — in other words, zero black crush from the display — which is a feat that I"ve only measured iPhones to perform until now.

Our Pixel 5 measures fantastically accurate with respect to its white point. Color error ΔETP measurements range from 0.5 to 1.2 throughout the Pixel 5"s brightness range, with an average correlated color temperature of 6400 K. This is accurate to the D65 standard and notably closer than some other flagships I"ve measured, which generally trend towards 6300 K in their calibrated display mode. The consistency of the Pixel 5"s white point measurement is also notably excellent.

What"s more impressive is that our Pixel 5 unit demonstrates a fairly tight grayscale calibration. From my measurements, the tint of all the grays reports a color error ΔETP less than 3.0 from the average color of gray for its respective display brightness. This is the case all throughout the Pixel 5"s brightness range. This means that, for any single given display brightness, our Pixel 5 unit showed no signs of different tints of grays, which would usually be most noticeable when viewing dark-themed apps with multiple layers in the interface. This feat is very rare among Android displays, including the displays of Samsung Galaxy flagships. Note that this doesn"t mean that the Google Pixel 5 has no tinting with respect to D65, just that the color of gray maintains the same tint for a given system brightness.

On that note, there is some gray tinting that may be noticeable between the different brightness settings. Our aggregated chart, which combines the grayscale plots throughout the Pixel 5"s brightness range, shows some spread in the darker tones between green and magenta that is outside the average region. We can see that the grayscale is tinted slightly green between 60% and 20% PQ-brightness, and this hue shift may be visible when adjusting to these brightness settings from other brightness settings. It"s not significant on our unit, and it"s much better than what I"ve seen from other displays, but it"s present and may vary in intensity depending on the manufacturing variance of your device.

What"s interesting is that the minimum-brightness grayscale calibration is absolutely outstanding — might I say, it"s perfectly calibrated, with color errors ΔETP and spread less than 1.0. I"m mentioning this since minimum-brightness calibration is usually the most difficult since we"re working against a lot of noise at signals this low; this was obviously a focus by Google, especially considering their previous Pixels lacked performance here. This feat, as well as the total lack of black clipping, puts the Pixel 5 in its own league (alongside the iPhone) when it comes to near-black tone rendering.

The Smooth Display feature of the Google Pixel 5 will switch from 90 Hz to 60 Hz when the display is static or when playing ≤60 FPS content. If the display brightness is below 25 nits (14/255 brightness setting), the Pixel 5 will stay fixed at 90 Hz. In high refresh rate displays, there can be noticeable differences in color calibration between the 60 Hz and the 90/120 Hz modes.

The figures above switch between the 90 Hz plots and the 60 Hz plots above 25 nits, showing the color difference when the Google Pixel 5 switches into its 60 Hz display mode. We see a slight shift towards green for midtones and darker colors, but from my usage, the shift was barely visible. These differences are vastly less significant than what was seen on the Pixel 4/4 XL or the OnePlus 8 Pro. As always, manufacturing variances play a large role, and another Pixel 5 unit can have results much different than what we"ve measured on ours.

Google Pixel devices have typically performed quite well in color accuracy in their calibrated display mode, so I expected the Pixel 5 to have no issues with it. However, while the color accuracy on the Pixel 5 isn"t bad per se, I was surprised to see some of the errors that I"ve found.

Below 40% PQ-brightness, we start to see gamut and saturation compression, with the most problems around 20% PQ-brightness. Combined with the lighter tone mapping and contrast found at this point, the Google Pixel 5 does appear slightly more washed out at this display brightness. The issue isn"t as prevalent at minimum brightness, but the Pixel 5"s weak color rendering at 20% PQ-brightness is a disappointment.

At max brightness (high brightness mode), the Pixel 5 shows hue errors in reds and oranges, which can cause the appearance of skin tones to appear too red. High-saturation purples are also tinted far too blue. There"s a slight oversaturation across the gamut, but this is desirable behavior for high brightness mode to counteract some of the gamut compression caused by high ambient lighting.

Between 60% and 80% PQ-brightness (90–250 nits), which covers the display luminance range for reference viewing environments, the Pixel 5"s color accuracy is good with no noteworthy color errors.

The Pixel 5"s Display P3 color accuracy is fairly similar to its sRGB color accuracy, with similar color error characteristics, so it"s decent. There is still barely any non-HDR P3 content on Android, and Android cameras still capture colors in sRGB, so these measurements aren"t too useful at the moment. This may change in the future, so it"s still useful to have decent P3 accuracy for future-proofing.

The foundation of color reproduction begins with contrast, which, for HDR content, dominantly follows the ST.2084 PQ curve. And oh does the Pixel 5 perform: Its display follows the PQ curve with textbook precision, all the way up to its peak brightness, which is about 700 nits for HDR content. There"s also a tiny lift near black to ensure that blacks aren"t clipped. I really don"t have much else to say here about the Pixel 5"s HDR contrast response — just look at how cleanly it traces its target. This is measured at 20% APL with constant display power, and many higher-end consumer TVs don"t have PQ responses nearly this rigid (usually because they have much greater power limitations).

However, just like with all other Androids, HDR10 tone mapping is flawed. Even with proper 1K or 4K max-luminance metadata, Android ignores it and tone maps with a peak brightness roll-off up to 100% PQ signal level. HDR10 content maxes out at 1,000 nits, so the display shouldn"t be tone mapping past 1,000 nits, which is at 75% PQ signal level. At 75% PQ signal level, the Pixel 5 only outputs 560 nits, which means that 560 nits, and not 700 nits, is effectively the Pixel 5"s peak brightness for HDR10 content. All Androids seem to be affected by this issue, so Google is responsible for it.

The peak brightness can be a weakness, which falls slightly short of the 1,000 nits that the HDR10 standard is capable of delivering. However, this will only be an issue if the content that is being viewed contains highlights that exceed 700 nits, which currently isn"t too common for most shows and films. Furthermore, the difference between 700 nits and 1,000 nits for small specular highlights isn"t actually that stark (but Dolby Vision"s 2,000+ nits will do you in). However, because of the HDR10 tone mapping issue, HDR highlight performance suffers.

DCI-P3 color accuracy on the Pixel 5 is fantastic, which is surprising to see since its normal Display P3 accuracy isn"t nearly as impressive. The average color error ΔETP across the entire DCI-P3 gamut is less than 3.0, which is acceptable performance for a reference display. There are only two points that I can nitpick, which are at 100% red and 100% blue, but these maximum errors are relatively minor.

Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 5 doesn"t support Dolby Vision, rather only HDR10 and HDR10+ (the latter of which currently seems like a dead standard). If a display"s HDR10 playback quality is good, then Dolby Vision"s omission wouldn"t be a big deal since Dolby Vision content provides an HDR10 base layer. But without Dolby Vision support, we"re stuck with Android"s incompetent HDR10 tone mapping.

The Google Pixel 5 has a very good display without state-of-the-art panel hardware, and it"s Google"s best display yet. That saying usually causes some eye rolls among readers, because why wouldn"t the latest flagship be the best? Many products can usually regress in some aspects over a revision. But in this case, Google has garnished its flagship with a great display with welcome improvements without making me think "what the hell?" at a deficiency.

I"ll take that back for a second: I do miss AmbientEQ, and I think that automatic display white balance is a great feature. However, I"m fully content to have a display without it so long as it has a D65 white point accuracy as accurate as on my Pixel 5, although I"m sure others may want an option to adjust the white balance.

Back to my point: From my time reviewing this phone, there hasn"t been one stand-out issue that made me wish I was using a different display. Matter of fact, the Google Pixel 5 has one of the least problematicdisplays I"ve used as of late. No harsh tinting of dark color tones, no bothersome flickering when switching refresh rates, no panel uniformity issues, no huge calibration missteps to scratch my head at (although there is the HDR10 tone mapping issue). The OnePlus 8 Pro, with its superior display hardware, is unusable for me due issues with all the above. I have very high sensitivity when it comes to panel blemishes; it"s possible I just got lucky, but the panel on my Pixel 5 is pristine and clean from imperfections.

I usually don"t talk about panel uniformity just due to the unreliability of extrapolating from one retail unit, but I felt the need to point it out since this year, almost all the phones I"ve reviewed have had panel imperfections. Google was the last OEM I was expecting to receive a perfect panel from. And from the black crush tragedy known as the Pixel 2 XL, the near-black performance of the Pixel 5 blew my mind. This was a very deliberate calibration shift and focus on shadow tone control from Google. The Google Pixel 4 (non-XL) gave us the first hint of this type of performance, but I was hesitant about its staying power since the Pixel 4 XL did not perform the same. I was worried that this might have just been a fluke of the Pixel 4"s LG panel versus the Pixel 4 XL"s Samsung panel, but seeing that it has improved and carried onto the Samsung display of the Pixel 5, which shares the same DDIC as the Pixel 4 XL, makes me confident that this is Google"s doing.

It seems like the general consensus of the Google Pixel 5 is that it"s a genuine refinement over previous Pixel phones. Google is doing the best they can with parts that they"re familiar with, and they continue to focus on aspects that constitute a practical smartphone. In the display department, the Pixel 5"s color tone performance has been refined to an extent that surpasses just about every other flagship. If Google"s factories are in your favor and your Pixel 5"s display performs similar to mine, then, despite not packing the latest Samsung panel, you have what I consider to be one of the most immaculate smartphone displays available. And according to XDA"s Adam Conway, you also get a stellar software experience, best-in-class camera software, and performance that defies its benchmark scores.

Distance for Pixel Acuity Distances for just-resolvable pixels with 20/20 vision. Typical smartphone viewing distance is about 12 inches<8.0 inches for full-color image

If you spend long enough debating the merits of LCD vs. OLED display technologies, eventually, someone will touch upon the subject of the dreaded OLED screen burn in. The point made is that OLED displays will inevitably suffer from horrible-looking artifacts over time, while LCD and new technologies like Mini-LED won’t. But like most of these debates, you’ll probably hear as many overblown anecdotes as you will actual facts about the issue.

You may never have experienced it for yourself, but many consumers are wary about the possibility of burn in when pondering their next smartphone purchase. Particularly as expensive flagship smartphones have universally adopted OLED display technology. Apple, Google, and other manufacturers acknowledge that burn in can be a problem in rare cases. OLED technology has made its way to much more affordable price points in recent years, putting the issue on the radar for even more consumers.

The word “burn in” is a little misleading, as no actual burning or heat problems are involved. Instead, this term describes a display suffering from permanent discoloration across any part of the panel. This may take the form of a text or image outline, fading of colors, or other noticeable patches and patterns on display. The display still works as expected, but a somewhat noticeable