Display Quality Review OLED and High Refresh Rate Screens

If you're in the market for a new phone, tablet, or laptop, one thing’s probably bugging you: which screen tech actually delivers the best display quality? Spoiler: OLED and high refresh rate screens are dominating 2024 — but which one should you pick? As a tech reviewer who’s tested over 50 devices this year alone, let me break it down with real data, not marketing fluff.

OLED vs. LCD: Why OLED Wins on Paper (and in Reality)

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screens have been around for a while, but they’ve only recently become affordable in mid-range devices. Unlike LCDs that need a backlight, each pixel in an OLED screen lights up individually. This means true blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and better power efficiency — especially when displaying dark content.

Check out this comparison:

So yes, OLED displays crush it in contrast and efficiency. But they’re not perfect — burn-in is still a risk with static elements (looking at you, status bars). That said, modern phones use pixel shifting and auto-brightness throttling to reduce this. I’ve used my main device for 18 months with no visible burn-in. Still, if you’re someone who keeps the same phone for 5+ years, LCD might be safer.

High Refresh Rate: Smooth Is the New Fast

A 60Hz screen feels like molasses in 2024. Most flagship devices now offer 90Hz, 120Hz, or even 144Hz. But does it matter? Absolutely. Scrolling, gaming, and animation feel dramatically smoother. In fact, in a blind test by DisplayMate, 87% of users preferred 120Hz over 60Hz — even if they couldn’t explain why.

Here’s what different refresh rates mean in practice:

• 60Hz: Standard, slightly choppy scrolling
• 90Hz: Noticeably smoother — great balance
• 120Hz+: Ultra-fluid, ideal for gaming and pro use

The trade-off? Battery. A 120Hz screen can drain 10–15% more power. But adaptive refresh rate tech (like LTPO) helps — it drops down to 1Hz when idle. So unless you’re using an older high-refresh device without adaptive support, go for it.

Pro tip: If you’re choosing between a 1080p 120Hz OLED and a 1440p 60Hz OLED, I’d pick the former. Smoothness > sharpness for daily use.

Putting It All Together: What Should You Buy?

For most people, the sweet spot in 2024 is a high refresh rate OLED panel. Think Samsung Galaxy S24, iPhone 15 Pro, or Google Pixel 8 Pro. They offer the best mix of color accuracy, smooth motion, and battery smarts.

But if you’re budget-conscious, a 90Hz OLED (like on the OnePlus Nord series) still beats a 120Hz LCD any day. Prioritize the display tech first, then the refresh rate.

In short: OLED gives you richer visuals, and high refresh makes everything feel faster. Together? They’re a game-changer.