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Are iphone displays LED backlit?
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I can't verify that the iphone uses LED's, but I'm almost sure of it. Most ALL cell phones have used LED's light since the beginning.
I would very much like to know this as well... There is no evidence anywhere that points to an LED backlight, not mentioned in any reviews or dissections. Weird if you ask me.
On the apple page, it mentions LED backlight for the ipods, but just says "multi-touch display" for iphone and itouch. Can anyone confirm that there is indeed an LED backlight in the iphone?
My guess is probably not. The iPhone came out a year before the LED display's did. And when the iPhone 3G came out Apple never mentioned anything about LED screens. If I was Apple, I would have had that right under the 3G on their ads. I have a feeling what you have is a good old fashioned backlit LCD. However, the LED may come to a future model since they use less power than an LCD and would result in better battery life.
If it says LCD in the tech specs, then there is your answer. And it is the iPhone does not have an LED screen. There is a difference between and LED screen and an LED backlit screen.
If it says LCD in the tech specs, then there is your answer. And it is the iPhone does not have an LED screen. There is a difference between and LED screen and an LED backlit screen.
No one ever said anything about LED screen... We are talking about LED or CCFL backlight, BOTH are LCD. But in any case, you are right, they would have emphasized the LED backlight if it were there. I guess apple cheaped out on this one, since HTC touch and Blackberry Storm both have led backlights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCD
They're different. One is a screen technology, the other is a light.
lol at noobs not knowing the difference between LED's and LCD technology
it seems that apple probably uses a mercury-free FFL ( not a cold cathode mercury one)
i think if it used LED backlighting they would be touting it as such ( every LED back light product I've bought makes it very clear that it is LED backlit in the packaging or advertising)
it seems that apple probably uses a mercury-free FFL ( not a cold cathode mercury one)
i think if it used LED backlighting they would be touting it as such ( every LED back light product I've bought makes it very clear that it is LED backlit in the packaging or advertising)
It's not really my engineering field, but...
For many years, CCFL was the technology of choice. Lower power than anything else, including LED. I remember changing the light tube on an HP Jornada handheld PPC that went out on me. Looked just like a very thin flourescent lamp, which it is.
However, the iPhone LCD assembly looks way too thin to use CCFL. And almost everyone has used LED backlights for smartphones for about five years now. So I go with LED (or a small probability of EL panel).
(To those who wonder: LED backlights are new on larger displays, not on small. It's only recently that using dozens of LEDs to backlight a large LCD panel became as power efficient as using one or more CCFLs.)
For many years, CCFL was the technology of choice. Lower power than anything else, including LED. I remember changing the light tube on an HP Jornada handheld PPC that went out on me. Looked just like a very thin flourescent lamp, which it is.
However, the iPhone LCD assembly looks way too thin to use CCFL. And almost everyone has used LED backlights for smartphones for about five years now. So I go with LED (or a small probability of EL panel).
(To those who wonder: LED backlights are new on larger displays, not on small. It's only recently that using dozens of LEDs to backlight a large LCD panel became as power efficient as using one or more CCFLs.)
Is there any way to prove this? I'd like to know for sure because I have the opportunity to buy one at a subsidized cost and I'm trying to decide whether I should wait for the new one coming in summer.
Btw, couldn't we tell just by looking at the dissection pics and seeing if there is an inverter or not?
Btw, couldn't we tell just by looking at the dissection pics and seeing if there is an inverter or not?
Dissection pics show a couple of possible power management chips. No one knows if they're inverters or not. But again, the display looks too thin for anything except LED or EL backlighting.
Obvious Q: why does it matter?
Power usage difference between LED and CCFL is probably around 10% or less.
The only other real difference is that CCFL loses brightness over time, while LEDs change hue.
Obvious Q: why does it matter?
Power usage difference between LED and CCFL is probably around 10% or less.
The only other real difference is that CCFL loses brightness over time, while LEDs change hue.
Well, if they are CCFL now, this means that the new one coming out will definitely have LED (since the BB Storm, for example, already has it) and have better battery life.
Yeah, CCFL would require a slanted mirror case behind the LCD, and the pictures I've seen of it are very thin and flat. The tube itself isn't flat. And you don't see the usual CCFL extra brightness along one side.
There is one way to check: if anyone has had a broken screen and replaced the LCD unit itself, they could take apart the old one and look at the backlight used? Or if someone who works for iphone repair?
*bump*
Still no answer? This is driving me nuts
*bump*
Still no answer? This is driving me nuts
Here's a "what's inside" article that lists the iPhone as having 6 surface mount bright white LED's as the iphone's backlight.
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Apple_iPhone-whatsinside-4.aspx
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Apple_iPhone-whatsinside-4.aspx
well both LCD panels are pretty similar
nice investigative work, looks like this mystery is solved
Actually LED is also a screen technology, just designed for much bigger screens with a much bigger pixel pitch.