Moto X Style: TFT screen - is it a deal breaker?

npaladin-2000

Well-known member
Mar 3, 2010
1,175
11
0
Visit site
I was looking forward to an AMOLED screen uncontaminated by Samsung-iness, so I can use it as a nav system while I've got sunglasses on. But according to Motorola.com, the X Pure will have a TFT rather than AMOLED. Thoughts/feelings?
 

jephanie

Well-known member
Nov 11, 2011
1,284
80
48
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

I must have missed that. Are you sure that isn't a typo? I thought AMOLED was required for their Moto Display to work.
 

Citizen Coyote

Well-known member
Jul 9, 2011
1,378
9
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

It's listed in the official specs, sadly. I too am wondering how Moto Display will impact battery life without an AMOLED screen.
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

It is a deal breaker. My old Xperia Z1s had a TFT screen and viewing angles were horrendous.

And I've grown so dependent on Active Display. I don't understand how they will implement it effectively without AMOLED.

Posted via the Android Central App
 

syspry

Banned
Apr 6, 2015
678
0
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

It is a deal breaker. My old Xperia Z1s had a TFT screen and viewing angles were horrendous.
EDIT: OK I misunderstood your post, is this actually really going to be TFT LCD rather than the better IPS LCD that Sony used to fix the viewing angles issue for the Z2 and later?
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

That was rectified a long time ago from the Z2 onwards so how is that a problem in 2015? Also these displays have a long history of easier outdoor viewing than amoled. Point taken on Active Display, I do not know how well that will work without amoled, I guess we'll have to wait and see

Doesn't the Z2 onwards use IPS?

Posted via the Android Central App
 

jephanie

Well-known member
Nov 11, 2011
1,284
80
48
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

It is a deal breaker. My old Xperia Z1s had a TFT screen and viewing angles were horrendous.

And I've grown so dependent on Active Display. I don't understand how they will implement it effectively without AMOLED.

Posted via the Android Central App

I won't call anything a deal breaker when it's on paper and without any real-world experience/review of the actual device. I'll reserve judgement until the reviews come in. But it will be fascinating to know how Moto Display will work with a TFT screen.
 

npaladin-2000

Well-known member
Mar 3, 2010
1,175
11
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

You know, now that I think about it, isn't an AMOLED screen simply a bunch of LEDs squirted onto a TFT? On the other hand, they did specify TFT LCD, so I'm probably just reaching...
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

You know, now that I think about it, isn't an AMOLED screen simply a bunch of LEDs squirted onto a TFT? On the other hand, they did specify TFT LCD, so I'm probably just reaching...

Yea I've never seen an AMOLED display be advertised as a TFT LCD. Something is definitely odd.

Posted via the Android Central App
 

D13H4RD2L1V3

Retired Moderator
Sep 4, 2013
4,407
0
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

Hang on.

Thin-film transistor display?

Hope they use an IPS panel. The XPERIA Z phones before the Z2 had the horrendous TN panel that made viewing angles utterly atrocious.
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

Every article I read specifies that TFT has inherently inferior viewing angles. Take, for example, this:

TFT Guide - Part 2 - Viewing Angle Technologies - Introduction

Just to quote from the above link:

"(1) When you view a TFT display from the side, you will quickly notice a dramatic loss of screen brightness and a characteristic change of displayed colors. Older flat panel displays typically have a viewing angle of 90 degrees, i.e. 45 degrees to each side. As long as there is only one viewer this isn't a problem. As soon as you invite a second viewer, for example a customer you want to show something to, or an additional player for an action game at home - then you won't have to wait too long to hear a complaint about bad display quality."
 

D13H4RD2L1V3

Retired Moderator
Sep 4, 2013
4,407
0
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

Every article I read specifies that TFT has inherently inferior viewing angles. Take, for example, this:

TFT Guide - Part 2 - Viewing Angle Technologies - Introduction

Just to quote from the above link:

"(1) When you view a TFT display from the side, you will quickly notice a dramatic loss of screen brightness and a characteristic change of displayed colors. Older flat panel displays typically have a viewing angle of 90 degrees, i.e. 45 degrees to each side. As long as there is only one viewer this isn't a problem. As soon as you invite a second viewer, for example a customer you want to show something to, or an additional player for an action game at home - then you won't have to wait too long to hear a complaint about bad display quality."

Don't TFT LCDs use either TN or IPS panels?
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

Don't TFT LCDs use either TN or IPS panels?

That is true. I am PRAYING it's an IPS LCD. It's just odd how it is described simply as a TFT display, rather than an IPS or just LCD.

I'm probably just worrying prematurely, because I doubt Moto would screw up a QHD display with bad viewing angles. You're right, it's probably an IPS display. I just wish they specified.
 

syspry

Banned
Apr 6, 2015
678
0
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

That is true. I am PRAYING it's an IPS LCD. It's just odd how it is described simply as a TFT display, rather than an IPS or just LCD.

I'm probably just worrying prematurely, because I doubt Moto would screw up a QHD display with bad viewing angles. You're right, it's probably an IPS display. I just wish they specified.

same here. I find it unlikely it'l be the older TFT. But... to keep that cost at $400 there's still a chance they went this route. I hope not, but it is possible.
 

luke31

Well-known member
Mar 16, 2010
880
25
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

same here. I find it unlikely it'l be the older TFT. But... to keep that cost at $400 there's still a chance they went this route. I hope not, but it is possible.

That low cost is honestly what makes me worried. Though early hands on impressions from various sites say that the display is gorgeous, so our concerns likely aren't warranted.

Posted via the Android Central App
 

D13H4RD2L1V3

Retired Moderator
Sep 4, 2013
4,407
0
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

same here. I find it unlikely it'l be the older TFT. But... to keep that cost at $400 there's still a chance they went this route. I hope not, but it is possible.

The 2015 Moto E has an IPS panel, albeit at a lower resolution
 

NoYankees44

Well-known member
Dec 20, 2011
1,258
22
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

I will obviously withhold final judgement until I see the phone, but I am sure whatever the screen is will be fine.

Lcd screens always have nicer colors than led anyway. I am tired of all the colors being saturated to hell and back. I look at HTC screens with envy every time I am around one. Hopefully the new X screen will be of similar quality.

Also, everyone remember that the Droid mini had an Lcd display and active display and it was fine. I am sure moto can make it work with the new X as well.

Sent from my XT1096
 

Clocks

Well-known member
Aug 27, 2010
2,009
18
0
Visit site
Re: TFT screen - deal breaker?

For viewing angles these are from the phonearena.com hands on. It looks fine to me? (the blurriness is from their camera, see the guy's right thumb is out of focus)

1.png2.png