Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Plastic OLEDs in the Pixel 6 Pro GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Phones
Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Plastic OLEDs in the Pixel 6 Pro
Concerns about the use of POLED displays may be unfounded
By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 14, 2021 01:30PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
Android fans are expecting news about Google’s upcoming flagship phone lineup, the Pixel 6.Rumors about the new phone have been surfacing for months.Some of the latest leaks seem to suggest Google will use LG’s POLED displays in the Pixel 6 lineup, stirring concerns about the quality of the display. Google A recent leak of a spec sheet for Google’s Pixel 6 has stirred up concerns about the use of POLED displays in the new flagship phones, but experts say users don’t need to worry. Well known leaker Jon Prosser has shared a leaked spec sheet for both the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Among these specs were their screen sizes, camera setups, and the types of displays that they would use. While the specs look great, one notable detail about the Pixel 6 Pro is it will use a plastic OLED (POLED) display. This inclusion has led to some concerns that the phone will follow in the footsteps of the Pixel 2 XL, which experienced a multitude of display-related issues upon release. "A plastic-OLED is basically an OLED made on a plastic substrate, which enables it to be flexible. In fact, all flexible OLEDs today are made on plastic substrates—the ones used by all of Apple's iPhones and the Watch, in all high-end smartphones by Samsung, and others," Ron Mertens, an expert in material technology like OLED and MicroLED, told Lifewire in an email. "Normal users won't see much difference," he continued. "A flexible OLED can be bent (to enable edge-like designs) and most companies prefer it to a glass OLED because it is thinner and lighter." We ve Got History
A lot of the concerns surrounding the use of plastic OLED in the Pixel 6 Pro stem from the release of the Pixel 2 XL. Originally launched in 2017, the Pixel 2 XL suffered from a series of display-related issues like image retention. Similar to image burn-in, image retention happens when static images on the screen are "burned" into the screen. Unlike burn-in, though, image retention goes away after a while. There were also issues reported with the display seeming more blue than usual when the phone was viewed at certain angles. While the issue was originally attributed to the use of the plastic OLED displays, it was later clarified that the problem came from Google’s choice to use a circular polarizer in the display. Nobody really understands why Google made that decision, but when compared to other displays of the era, the blue tint was easy to see. No Cause for Concern
So, while the Pixel 2 XL might have suffered from some issues, the cause wasn’t the plastic OLED. Additionally, the use of plastic to help mitigate the cost of phone displays is becoming more and more common, according to Christen Costa, tech expert and CEO of Gadget Review. "POLED displays are most likely going to become the norm for devices like smartphones. They're cheaper to produce and on the whole more durable," Costa explained in an email. "The user is presented with a screen option that functions almost identically to an OLED, but costs less and is flexible enough to withstand bending and survive drops." A flexible OLED can be bent (to enable edge-like designs) and most companies prefer it to a glass OLED because it is thinner and lighter. Costa says knowing the displays are made using plastic can lead to users having a negative perception of it. However, he said that being cost-effective and smarter with your design plans doesn’t necessarily make the final product "cheap." Instead, he and Mertens say the use of plastic as a substrate for creating phone displays is what has allowed for the more modern designs we have now. Edge to edge displays, rounded corners, and other bent designs are all doable because of the plastic substances used in their designs. Ultimately, though, Costa says the difference will be negligible to everyday users. "The differences in clarity between POLED and OLED screens are just enough so that tech-minded individuals will feel like they're getting an inferior product," he explained. "We've also seen very few glass-free screens. Usually there's still a protective layer over the POLED, so your phone screen can still shatter. If that glass barrier isn't there, you'll also find POLED displays far easier to scratch." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Pixel 6 & 6a: News, Price, Release Date, and Specs Neo QLED vs. OLED: What's the Difference? Google Pixel Fold: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The Next Google Event: News, Rumors, and Announcements Google Phones: A Look at the Pixel Line OLED vs. LED: Which TV Display is Better? How to Fix Screen Burn on Any Screen Google Pixel Tablet: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors Google Pixel 7 & 7 Pro: News, Price, Release Date, Specs & More New iPad Pro 2022: Price, Release Date, Specs, and News Apple Glasses: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors How to Use the Magic Eraser on the Pixel 6 Rollable Pixel: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors QLED vs. OLED Google Pixel Watch: Release Date, Price, Specs, and News Plasma vs. OLED Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies