Display Comparison: Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S III vs HTC One X vs Nokia Lumia 900

Introduction:

Initial impressions make a whole lot of difference, especially when a handset is being showcased alongside some other comparable models at a store window or shelf. Gazing from a distance away, it’s usually the handset’s design that captures the attention of people first and foremost, but upon closer inspection, the next thing to reel them in is none other than the kind of display they’re packing along for the ride. New to the scene, Apple’s latest incarnation of the iPhone is being dissected top to bottom from critics all around, but for this comparison article, we’re going to see how its newer 4-inch Retina Display stacks up against some of its other highly esteemed rivals.

For this comparison, we’re going to be pitting it against the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display of the Samsung Galaxy S III, 4.7-inch 720p Super-LCD 2 display on the HTC One X, and the 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display that’s being flaunted by the Nokia Lumia 900. Needless to say, this is one stacked group already, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fall fare against one another – to hopefully proclaim the best one out of the bunch! In order to make that final call, we’re going to go beyond the hardware specs and see how they perform in real world situations, since you know, that’s exactly what matters most.

Brightness and Contrast:

There’s nothing better to attract people than having a bright display, right? Well, as we manually set all four smartphones to their highest brightness setting, it becomes clear that the iPhone 5’s newer IPS-LCD screen jumps at us the most with having the highest brightness output. Having the advantage in this category, we’re able to visibly make out everything on the iPhone 5’s display when using it outdoors – even when the sun is beating directly down on us. Coming in at a close second place, the Super-LCD 2 panel in use by the HTC One X continues to show its worth, since it’s an LCD panel at heart, which continues to shows its worth in outdoor conditions as well. And finally, the Samsung Galaxy S III and Nokia Lumia 900 land on the same level in terms of outdoor visibility, as their respective HD Super AMOLED and ClearBlack AMOLED panels aren’t as effective in allowing us to properly see them outside. At the same time, the drop in contrast while tilting them slightly causes reflections that interfere with their usability.



Resolution:

Quickly looking over the specs sheet, one would assume that the two Android smartphones donning 720p resolution in this comparison would have the win, but again, that’s simply on paper and doesn’t account for pixel density. However, if we do take that into consideration, then it would be the iPhone 5 taking charge with its pixel density of 326 ppi. However, before we concretely say that it’s the unanimous winner in the details department, our eyes need to confirm the obvious.

Loading up our web site on all four smartphones and looking at them from a zoomed out view, it’s undeniable that the 640 x 1136 resolution of the iPhone 5’s display exhibits the sharpest details of the bunch. In fact, the text on-screen have sharp edges that help strengthen its crisp visuals to make them easily visible to the eye. Meanwhile, the HTC One X’s 4.7-inch 720p display also coughs up some exciting visuals as well – though, it’s a tad bit softer looking around the edges, partly due to its lower pixel density of 312 ppi. Galloping into third place, it’s the 720 x 1280 resolution of the Samsung Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch display. Even though it’s sporting the same resolution as HTC’s flagship, Samsung’s baby employs the less favorable PenTile Matrix arrangement, which is noticeably duller looking with its details. Regardless of that, its deficiency doesn’t adversely affect the look of its details while looking at its display from a normal distance away. And finally, the Nokia Lumia 900 fails to impress in this department with its 4.3-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display, as its far away 217 ppi pixel density drastically separates it from the competition – resulting in jagged looking visuals that lack any sharpness to them.

Color Reproduction:

Turning on all devices in a dark room, it’s arguable to say that the Samsung Galaxy S III and Nokia Lumia 900 would grab some attention for their overly saturated color tones, which undoubtedly carries along the higher wow factor amongst normal Joes. Seeing that these two specific handsets rely on AMOLED technology, they’re able to tantalize us with their vibrant color reproduction – while simultaneously producing the most pure black color. In fact, it’s rather difficult to know where the edges of their screens end because the color black turns out, well, black as night as some would say. At the same time, however, the color white is usually tainted with some bluish hues, which doesn’t make it accurate looking. Come to think of it, that’s a common trait amongst AMOLED panels in general.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Super-LCD 2 panel of the HTC One X, which also has a hint of oversaturation with its color reproduction. Rather than having a cooler appearance like its AMOLED counterparts, its colors tend to appear warmer looking in tone – resulting in the color white exhibiting some yellowish tones. Furthermore, there’s some hint of grey attached to the color black, but it’s still pleasant looking for the most part. Lastly, the iPhone 5’s IPS-LCD screen is actually the most accurate one of the bunch when it comes to color reproduction – albeit, it also has a hint of saturation too, but it isn’t as prevalent than what’s seen on the HTC One X.

Therefore, if we were to judge it purely on accuracy, the iPhone 5 would clearly win this one by a longshot, as it closely replicates the most natural looking colors. However, if we’re talking about the wow factor, then it’d have to be the AMOLED panels found with the Samsung Galaxy S III and Lumia 900 that would stand head above water.


Viewing Angles:

When it matters most, such as looking at them directly at a 90-degree angle, we can visually make out the items on-screen with each of the four displays – so yeah, no problem in this aspect. However, as we begin to tilt each handset to see if they maintain their crisp appearances, that’s when we begin to see some noticeable differences between the bunch. Again, the Samsung Galaxy S III and Nokia Lumia 900 seem to fare well in this category, as they maintain their clarity at moderate and extreme viewing angles. Specifically, colors retain their vibrancy without the expense of any washed out looks as we increasingly tilt them more and more. Showing some improvement over its predecessor, the iPhone 5 comes in next, since it doesn’t fall victim to the slight dullness exhibited by the HTC One X with the color black. Nevertheless, we’d classify all four smartphones as having above average viewing angles compared to other devices out there, but as we need to point out all of their strengths and weaknesses, it’s the handsets using AMOLED panels that shine the most.

Conclusion:

Subjectively speaking, any one of these four displays will appeal to people, since they have their own unique characteristics to enthrall our catching gazes. One person might find a smaller display to be more likable than a larger one, or in another instance, they might side with natural color tones over ones that are more saturated. Therefore, instead of proclaiming one unanimous winner, it’s better to actually go through and point out what makes it display so darn lovable – or not.

First up to bat is the iPhone 5 with its 4-inch Retina Display, which we have to say, is the most detailed out of the bunch thanks to its 326 ppi pixel density. Throw in the fact that it also produces the most natural looking colors out of the bunch, while remaining to be the best for outdoor usage, it seems to be the most well-rounded out of the crew.

Although it’s not the most detailed one, the Samsung Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display will no doubt grab some attention for its ginormous size – the biggest in fact out of all of them! Additionally, its saturated color production and superb viewing angles constantly keeps everything on-screen looking extremely sharp. Bigger is better, right? Naturally, some people agree with that wholeheartedly, but at least it’s also able to impress in other aspects as well.

Continuing to show that it’s a formidable force to reckon with in this day and age, the HTC One X also has the muscle to reel in prying eyes to its enchanting looking 4.7-inch 720p Super-LCD 2 screen. With size in its favor as well, it’s further complemented by the warmer color tones exhibited by its display, which as we know from experience, is equally as enticing when compared to the AMOLED displays out there.

Sadly, the only pleasant things we can honestly say about the Nokia Lumia 900’s 4.3-inch ClearBlack Display, is its iridescent color reproduction and wide viewing angles – much like what we find with Samsung’s flagship. However, it fails to impress for the simple reason that its resolution is far outdated, outdated to the point that it’s now regarded as being something employed by mid-range devices nowadays. Still, it’s a decent looking display, but don’t expect it to grab the top spot any time soon.