Other This years screen lottery (17, 17 pro, 17 pro max and air)

[NotApplicable]

Did further tests. iPhone 17 Air LG Screen vs. iPhone Pro Max 14 Samsung.

Front: Both are very similar. Overall, the LG Screen is calibrated towards more warm.
However, off axis there is a notable shift towards red on the LG Screen unfortunately.


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In Dark Mode, the LG Screen looks better - has better black levels and overall more crisp display.

Personally i prefer the Samsung Screen due to the whites are not so warm.
It is no doubt also a matter what you prefer. Both are great screens in their own field.

Overall the Air is a fantastic device and I would immediately switch if it would have the same screen quality like my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I maybe will keep my 14 Pro Max until I see an Air with a Samsung Screen.

As expected, there must be more to the story here than “Samsung good LG bad.” In prior years, which serial prefix had the best performance of each generation has not been consistent. Some years it was theorized that the Samsung panels had fewer issues, but in other years the Samsung panels very clearly had uniformity issues.

I am typing this from an Air with a GVC panel, and it looks nothing like your LG panel off-axis. No obvious warm or green coloration off-axis in any direction. Very clean looking display.

I think it’s more of an individual panel lottery than anything.

 

[Itsedstech]

My GH3 panel was the best out of 3 screens i saw 🤷🏽‍♂️

 

[Pufster]

I bought a pro max and air and both have the LG GVC screens. Both have the same green tint when tilting vertically. It seems most of these screens have it one way or another so the chance to get a perfect one is very slim.
The air has a bit less of the green tint than my pro max, but it’s also a bit warmer white white u prefer the cooler tones.

That being said, I can’t exchange my pro max because when I order one now online it arrives at the earliest 15 october and by then my return window of my first purchase is gone by 1 day. And it would be a total nightmare if the new one had even more problems and my first one was gone.

 

[Kai Hawaii]

As expected, there must be more to the story here than “Samsung good LG bad.” In prior years, which serial prefix had the best performance of each generation has not been consistent. Some years it was theorized that the Samsung panels had fewer issues, but in other years the Samsung panels very clearly had uniformity issues.

I am typing this from an Air with a GVC panel, and it looks nothing like your LG panel off-axis. No obvious warm or green coloration off-axis in any direction. Very clean looking display.

I think it’s more of an individual panel lottery than anything.

Yes, but it would be nicer if there wouldn't be a panel lottery. At least, not to the degree we are experiencing it now

 

[fel10]

I bought a pro max and air and both have the LG GVC screens. Both have the same green tint when tilting vertically. It seems most of these screens have it one way or another so the chance to get a perfect one is very slim.
The air has a bit less of the green tint than my pro max, but it’s also a bit warmer white white u prefer the cooler tones.

That being said, I can’t exchange my pro max because when I order one now online it arrives at the earliest 15 october and by then my return window of my first purchase is gone by 1 day. And it would be a total nightmare if the new one had even more problems and my first one was gone.

I agree, but it’s ridiculous that in 2025 we still have to deal with issues like this from a company like Apple. That said, I think the average consumer doesn’t even notice these things—so in reality, we’re just the vocal minority.

 

[NotApplicable]

Yes, but it would be nicer if there wouldn't be a panel lottery. At least, not to the degree we are experiencing it now

Well, there will always be variance in such things. I’m sure Apple and the suppliers have set qc boundaries that achieve the best user experience while allowing the yield necessary to hit production targets. The fact of the matter is most consumers won’t be aware of the panel lottery. It’s something that us forum nerds discuss to no end but someone like my mom or brother would have no idea even exists, and they think their panels look great.

 

[Pufster]

I agree, but it’s ridiculous that in 2025 we still have to deal with issues like this from a company like Apple. That said, I think the average consumer doesn’t even notice these things—so in reality, we’re just the vocal minority.

I also compared now to my 15 pro max and that screen is basicly flawless. Uniform, no tinting in any angle but it is less bright compared to the 17 pm and a bit less vibrant but only noticable side by side.

Damn I so want a screen without the green vertical tint but reading these pages almost 80% have it one way or another. For my sanity I can’t keep trading it. The rest is really ok vibrant, bright and uniform. What should I do? It’s an GVC.

 

[Lexicon44]

I have a regular iPhone 17 with GVC panel also experiencing green shift along the bottom of the display when tilting the top toward and bottom away from me.

Settings —> Accessibility —> Display & Text Sizes —> Color Filters.

Try turning that on, intensity at minimum and hue slider positioned as mine, some 3/4 to the right. When doing that the green shift becomes almost imperceptible and just looks like the display getting dimmer at an angle as many OLEDs do.

Wonder if a lot of this green shift is dependent on how the white point is calibrated at the factory.

 

[applefanb0y]

I also compared now to my 15 pro max and that screen is basicly flawless. Uniform, no tinting in any angle but it is less bright compared to the 17 pm and a bit less vibrant but only noticable side by side.

Damn I so want a screen without the green vertical tint but reading these pages almost 80% have it one way or another. For my sanity I can’t keep trading it. The rest is really ok vibrant, bright and uniform. What should I do? It’s an GVC.

If its not bad and you have to really go out of your way to notice the tint, keep it. You might get a screen with no tint but horribly uniformity.

 

[Harthag]

I also compared now to my 15 pro max and that screen is basicly flawless. Uniform, no tinting in any angle but it is less bright compared to the 17 pm and a bit less vibrant but only noticable side by side.

Damn I so want a screen without the green vertical tint but reading these pages almost 80% have it one way or another. For my sanity I can’t keep trading it. The rest is really ok vibrant, bright and uniform. What should I do? It’s an GVC.

My suggestion- keep it and enjoy. To me the most important factors are uniformity and lack of blotches / uneven tint when using true tone and night shift. This latter issue rears its ugly head at night or in low light areas, you think you have a perfect screen and then bam, horrible orange tint on 1/3 of the screen. You could get a screen with no vertical shift but horrible uniformity. You could get a screen with terrible multicolor shift when tilting the phone side to side. You could get dead pixels. I've experienced all of the above over the years and it sucks.

If your only issue is some off-axis blue/green shift it isn't worth the hassle of exchange hell and is the least concerning of all issues.

 

[Furrr]

As expected, there must be more to the story here than “Samsung good LG bad.” In prior years, which serial prefix had the best performance of each generation has not been consistent. Some years it was theorized that the Samsung panels had fewer issues, but in other years the Samsung panels very clearly had uniformity issues.

I am typing this from an Air with a GVC panel, and it looks nothing like your LG panel off-axis. No obvious warm or green coloration off-axis in any direction. Very clean looking display.

I think it’s more of an individual panel lottery than anything.

This is not true.


For several years now, LG panels have been considered lower-tier compared to Samsung’s, with lower specifications and less advanced technology. They are also cheaper for Apple to purchase than Samsung panels. There are plenty of articles available on this topic.

For the iPhone 17 Pro Max, around 65% are built with LG screens.


See also link below:

Things You Don't Know About iPhone 13

Things You Don't Know About iPhone 13

rewa.tech

 

[Harthag]

This is not true.
Since a couple of years the LG screens are the lower tier screens and have lower spec. screens compared to Samsung screens, which use a better technology in their screens. They are also cheaper to buy for Apple than Samsung screens. Enough articles to be found around that subject.

For the 17 pro max 65% are build with the LG screens.

See also link below:

Things You Don't Know About iPhone 13

Things You Don't Know About iPhone 13

rewa.tech

I can't stand this screen hierarchy / tier page that keeps getting cited to over and over again. There's absolutely no proof that this is the case other than "trust me bro". I've gone through so many phones and sold them all off over the years. I've had many so-called top tier G9N screens with terrible pink tint along 1/3 the screen, terrible uniformity, terrible off-axis shift. I've also had some near perfect GH3 screens. It is a complete lottery and one person's GH3 can be perfect and the other's trash.

 

[Furrr]

I can't stand this screen hierarchy / tier page that keeps getting cited to over and over again. There's absolutely no proof that this is the case other than "trust me bro".

That’s not accurate.


Multiple teardown reports and supply chain analyses have confirmed that LG panels are generally considered a lower tier option compared to Samsung’s. Samsung uses LTPO OLED with more advanced materials (including deuterium-based blue emitters) that improve brightness and lifespan. LG panels, while serviceable, don’t reach the same peak brightness, efficiency, or uniformity and that’s exactly why Apple pays less for them.

The claim that “there’s no proof” doesn’t hold up. Publications like Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), The Elec, and multiple teardown specialists have documented the performance and supplier breakdowns. Apple’s strategy has long been dual sourcing: Samsung for higher spec, LG for volume and cost.

For the iPhone 17 Pro Max, estimates show that roughly 60–65% of panels come from LG. This isn’t “trust me bro,” it’s consistent with years of sourcing reports.

So yes, while both pass Apple’s quality control, there is a technical and cost difference, and it’s not just internet myth.

 

[Harthag]

That’s not accurate.


Multiple teardown reports and supply chain analyses have confirmed that LG panels are generally considered a lower tier option compared to Samsung’s. Samsung uses LTPO OLED with more advanced materials (including deuterium-based blue emitters) that improve brightness and lifespan. LG panels, while serviceable, don’t reach the same peak brightness, efficiency, or uniformity and that’s exactly why Apple pays less for them.

The claim that “there’s no proof” doesn’t hold up. Publications like Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), The Elec, and multiple teardown specialists have documented the performance and supplier breakdowns. Apple’s strategy has long been dual sourcing: Samsung for higher spec, LG for volume and cost.

For the iPhone 17 Pro Max, estimates show that roughly 60–65% of panels come from LG. This isn’t “trust me bro,” it’s consistent with years of sourcing reports.

So yes, while both pass Apple’s quality control, there is a technical and cost difference, and it’s not just internet myth.

I wasn't quoting your comments as "trust me bro" but rather that old web page that states those tiers. Your chart that you posted about supply chain / % panels from each manufacturer, I have no issue with. I haven't seen data with proof that LG screens are inferior to the point where the user experience is affected. I can't see Apple allowing that. If anything, I suspect they'd fine tune both LG and Samsung panels to perform identically when it comes to user experience. Any differences in brightness or uniformity would likely be due to normal panel variance.

 

[Furrr]

I wasn't quoting your comments as "trust me bro" but rather that old web page that states those tiers. Your chart that you posted about supply chain / % panels from each manufacturer, I have no issue with. I haven't seen data with proof that LG screens are inferior to the point where the user experience is affected. I can't see Apple allowing that. If anything, I suspect they'd fine tune both LG and Samsung panels to perform identically when it comes to user experience. Any differences in brightness or uniformity would likely be due to normal panel variance.

You’re correct that Apple calibrates both LG and Samsung panels so that they meet a common baseline. To the average user, that means the experience looks nearly identical.

But hardware differences don’t just vanish because of calibration. Independent lab tests (DisplayMate, DSCC, The Elec) show that Samsung LTPO OLED panels reach higher peak brightness (up to 200–300 nits more in HDR), better off axis color stability, and lower power consumption due to newer emitter materials (like deuterium-based blue). LG panels meet Apple’s minimums but don’t hit those same ceilings. Enough lab reports to be found online.

For most users the difference is subtle, but for people who are sensitive to color shifts or brightness uniformity, it’s noticeable. That’s why some report greener/yellower tints off axis on LG, while Samsung looks cleaner. Apple smooths the gap, but the underlying tier difference is real otherwise Apple wouldn’t be paying Samsung a premium per panel.

And, it has been said before, if it isn't an issue for you, don't try to find an issue. The average user will not notice the difference.

 

[Steve686]

In most of the posts over the years for this perception, the manufacturing date had been included.

 

[TL24]

My 17 Pro 512GB has the G9P - looks great to me. Haven't seen anyone else post this panel?

 

[Ash16pm]

You just got a bad screen. There’s no point in aiming to get a specific panel, as there are terrible Samsung screens and LG screens. It really is a lottery. My 17PM with (LG) GH3 screen is fantastic, just minimal blue shift when tilting the phone vertically (top towards me) at an unnatural angle. Uniformity is perfect unlike my Samsung panel from my old 16PM and my wife’s 16PM.

True that’s a good point think I was just so annoyed at the time but your right

 

[shadyman]

Mine is floorless.

Edit: Flawless. 🤪

 

[NotApplicable]

Independent lab tests (DisplayMate, DSCC, The Elec) show that Samsung LTPO OLED panels reach higher peak brightness (up to 200–300 nits more in HDR), better off-axis color stability, and lower power consumption due to newer emitter materials (like deuterium-based blue).

Mind linking these lab test results for the current gen of displays, as well as the 16 and 15 and 14 gen? I’m assuming you have the links more easily available than I would be able to find them, since you seem to be intimately familiar with them!

I’ll be interested to see their empirical test results of many panels (statistically significant sample size) from each supplier for every generation, including uniformity which Samsung anecdotally does worse at.

 

[upandown]

My 17 Pro 512GB has the G9P - looks great to me. Haven't seen anyone else post this panel?

My previous 14 Pro and 15 Pro both had G9Ps. Solid panels

 

[ae109582user]

You’re correct that Apple calibrates both LG and Samsung panels so that they meet a common baseline. To the average user, that means the experience looks nearly identical.

But hardware differences don’t just vanish because of calibration. Independent lab tests (DisplayMate, DSCC, The Elec) show that Samsung LTPO OLED panels reach higher peak brightness (up to 200–300 nits more in HDR), better off axis color stability, and lower power consumption due to newer emitter materials (like deuterium-based blue). LG panels meet Apple’s minimums but don’t hit those same ceilings. Enough lab reports to be found online.

For most users the difference is subtle, but for people who are sensitive to color shifts or brightness uniformity, it’s noticeable. That’s why some report greener/yellower tints off axis on LG, while Samsung looks cleaner. Apple smooths the gap, but the underlying tier difference is real otherwise Apple wouldn’t be paying Samsung a premium per panel.

And, it has been said before, if it isn't an issue for you, don't try to find an issue. The average user will not notice the difference.

What’s your plan going forward? Are you going to keep trying the 17 pro max till you get a good panel?

 

[qwertylol111]

I have two 17 Pro Max, one with a GH3 and one with a GVC display. I also have a 16 Pro Max with a G9N display.

I can say that in my case, the G9N and the GH3 are very similar in terms of warmer tones, black levels, color vibrancy and brightness. While the GVC one is more white, bit worse black levels and a bit brighter.

 

[Furrr]

What’s your plan going forward? Are you going to keep trying the 17 pro max till you get a good panel?

No, if the data is correct (65% of the pro max having a LG panel) it would be a gamble and too much work. Hate to re-instal everything over and over again and is becoming a silly thing to do. I’m returning my 17 pro max and sticking with my 13 pro max for another year.

 

[thatJohann]

oh wow!

Got a Sky Blue Air 512GB delivered and it has a pristine perfect display with uniform tint and no green tint on angles, I thought those didn't exist on the Air line. So happy that I finally found a keeper! not sure how to check the manufacturer but it must be Samsung or whichever the good one is.

Spoke too soon! lol, it's def not a perfect display as I thought, there's slight vertical color shift when tilting downwards, but not as noticeable as my past Air. Regardless, it's good enough given all the Airs seem to have it.