Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL
) has gleefully boasted about the fact that the iPhone 5 features
a four-inch Retina Display. But is it enough to surpass the
quality of the screen that Samsung is building for the Galaxy S
IV? According to one study, it might not even be enough for Apple
to top the Galaxy S III among all users. IHS (NYSE:
IHS
) iSuppli has
published a report
that reveals that while the iPhone 5's in-cell display is very
well designed, it "falls short of the Samsung's flagship Galaxy S
III."
iSuppli said that while the iPhone 5 is touted as the thinnest
smartphone, its display is 0.4 millimeters thicker than the
display featured in the Galaxy S III. The iPhone 5 also features
a color gamut of 72 percent of the NTSC standard. This is a
significant increase over the iPhone 4S, which came in at just 50
percent.
The Galaxy S III, however, contains a color gamut that reaches
100 percent of the NTSC standard.
"As the first product with in-cell touch, the iPhone 5
represents a major achievement, improving the image quality and
reducing the thickness of the smartphone compared to previous
models," said Vinita Jakhanwal, director for Small & Medium
Displays at IHS. "And although the iPhone 5 still trails the
Galaxy S III in the display specs race, the iPhone 5 overall
remains thinner than the Galaxy S III, and its display color
gamut is more than sufficient for most users."
"Sufficient" may not have been the word that Apple was hoping
to hear when it released the iPhone 5. But it could be music to
Samsung's ears. While the Galaxy S III was criticized by some
users for producing images that looked unrealistic or
oversaturated, Jakhanwal notes that the "actual front-of-screen
viewing experience could diverge for different users."
In that sense, Apple may have the overall advantage if it is
able to produce a screen that achieves a greater degree of
universal appeal, even if it is not truly a superior screen.
Samsung still has the technical advantage, however, since it
has already achieved 100 percent color gamut. By making a few
small tweaks to the Galaxy S IV, the company should be able to
eliminate any complaints that accompanied the Galaxy S III. And
if (or when) it does, Samsung may have finally stumbled upon a
feature that Apple will not be able to top.
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@LouisBedigianBZ
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