New Generation of Lighter Displays to Take on LCDs

A new generation of super-thin, power-sipping displays is making its way to the market, stretching battery lives to new limits and perhaps one day posing a challenge to heavier, energy-gobbling LCDs. New screens that glow on their own are taking on their clunkier liquid crystal display rivals — which require powerful backlighting — by producing sharper video images for smartphones, game consoles and portable media players.

But industry watchers say it will be years before a clear winner — if any — emerges with the clout to outdo LCDs.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and bi-stable technologies are the most likely challengers to LCDs. An OLED screen uses as much as 40 percent less power than a comparable LCD and could be twice as thin because it does not need backlighting.

Reuters