The Science Behind AMOLED Displays – Why Samsung’s Screens Are the Best (and How to Fix Tint Issues!)
Samsung’s AMOLED displays are known for their deep blacks, vibrant colors, and high refresh rates, making them some of the best smartphone screens. But some users experience tint issues (green, purple, or reddish hues), especially at low brightness or in dark mode.
🔍 So why does this happen, and how can you fix it? Let’s break it down in simple terms!
🔹 1. How Does an AMOLED Display Work? (Why It's Better Than LCD)
Unlike LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which needs a backlight, AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) works differently:
✅ Each pixel lights up individually → This creates true blacks and infinite contrast. ✅ Better battery life → When using dark mode, black pixels are turned off, saving power. ✅ More vibrant colors → AMOLED can produce deeper colors and higher brightness than LCD. ✅ Higher refresh rates (up to 120Hz) → AMOLED allows smoother animations and scrolling.
💡 Fun Fact: Samsung is one of the biggest manufacturers of AMOLED displays, supplying screens for its own Galaxy phones as well as Apple iPhones!
🔹 2. What Causes AMOLED Tint Issues?
Some Samsung users notice a green, purple, or reddish tint, especially in dark mode or at low brightness. Here’s why:
📌 A. PWM Dimming (Pulse Width Modulation) – The Main Cause of Tinting
🔸 What is PWM Dimming?
AMOLED screens don’t dim like LCDs. Instead of reducing brightness directly, they use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).
PWM rapidly turns pixels ON and OFF at a high speed to create the effect of lower brightness.
At low brightness, this flickering slows down, causing some colors (especially red and green) to shift.
🔸 Why Does This Cause Tinting?
At very low brightness, some pixels don’t dim evenly, leading to a visible tint effect.
Some people are also more sensitive to PWM flickering, causing eye strain and discomfort.
📌 B. Display Uniformity Issues (More Common in Budget Phones)
Not all AMOLED panels are 100% perfect. Even high-end phones may have slight color variations.
Budget phones use cheaper AMOLED panels, which can sometimes have uneven tinting at low brightness.
📌 Example: If you notice one side of the screen is slightly reddish and the other is greenish, this is due to panel inconsistencies.
📌 C. Software & Color Calibration Issues
Samsung’s One UI software automatically adjusts colors, but sometimes the calibration isn’t perfect.
Updates can fix or make tinting worse, depending on Samsung’s tuning.
📌 Example: Some users report green tint issues after software updates, but later updates fix it.
🔹 3. How to Fix AMOLED Tinting on Samsung Phones
If you notice a green, purple, or reddish tint on your Samsung AMOLED display, especially at low brightness, try these built-in settings to minimize the effect:
✅ 1. Keep Brightness Above 30%
Tinting is most noticeable at very low brightness. Keeping brightness at 30% or higher reduces the effect.
✅ 2. Use "Natural" Screen Mode
Go to Settings → Display → Screen Mode → Natural.
This helps balance colors and reduces excessive saturation or shifting.
✅ 3. Adjust White Balance (If Available)
Some Samsung devices allow you to fine-tune color balance.
If you notice a red, green, or purple shift, slightly reduce that specific color in the white balance settings.
✅ 4. Avoid Pure Black Wallpapers
AMOLED pixels turn off completely on black wallpapers, which can cause uneven tinting.
Use dark gray or dark blue wallpapers instead to minimize the issue.
✅ 5. Enable "Extra Dim" Carefully
Extra Dim mode can reduce eye strain, but it may increase tinting on some devices.
If it worsens the tint, it’s better to adjust brightness manually instead.
✅ 6. Check for Software Updates
Samsung frequently improves display calibration through updates.
Go to Settings → Software Update → Download and Install to check for fixes.
🔹 4. Is AMOLED Tinting Normal? Should You Worry?
📌 Yes, slight tinting is normal on AMOLED panels, especially at low brightness. 📌 If the tint is too extreme or only on certain parts of the screen, it might be a hardware defect. 📌 If you recently bought your phone and the tinting is very bad, you can visit a Samsung Service Center to check if a replacement is possible.
🔹 5. AMOLED vs LCD: Why AMOLED is Still Better
Despite these tinting issues, AMOLED is still the best display technology because:
✔️ Perfect Blacks & High Contrast → AMOLED pixels turn off completely, while LCD always has some backlight. ✔️ More Vibrant Colors → AMOLED supports wider color gamuts (DCI-P3, HDR10+). ✔️ Faster Refresh Rates → Most Samsung AMOLED screens now support 120Hz refresh rates, making scrolling super smooth. ✔️ Better Battery Life in Dark Mode → Black pixels turn off completely, saving battery compared to LCD.
🔹 Conclusion: Enjoy the Best of AMOLED While Minimizing Tint Issues
🔹 Samsung’s AMOLED technology is one of the best in the world, but tinting issues can happen due to PWM dimming, display inconsistencies, and software calibration. 🔹 By using Extra Dim Mode, increasing brightness slightly, and using dark gray wallpapers, you can reduce the tint effect. 🔹 Despite minor issues, AMOLED is still the best display technology, offering deep blacks, vibrant colors, and battery efficiency.
📝 Would you like to see more tips about AMOLED displays? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 👇
