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The iPhone X's new OLED screen is sort of a big deal

Apple’s new iPhone X features a custom-made, cutting-edge “Super Retina” display technology that promises to “dazzle the eyes.” The technology behind the new display is OLED, but it’s been around for years on other smartphones and it’s manufactured by Apple’s bitter rival, Samsung.

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology allows for thinner phone designs because each individual pixel is illuminated, unlike LCD displays, which require a backlight system.

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Another benefit of the lack of a backlight is that OLED screens can produce deeper blacks, as well as more eye-popping and vivid colors. It also allows for greater resolutions and great contrast. If you’ve ever held one of Samsung’s recent high-end smartphones next to an iPhone, you’ve probably noticed that the colors are much more vibrant.

But there are some drawbacks with OLED screens. The colors can appear unnatural and oversaturated, giving images and video somewhat of an unreal characteristic. During the presentation, Apple vp Phil Schiller said this was “the first OLED display great enough to be in an iPhone.”

He said Apple had overcome some of the issues other companies had experienced with the display technology, and early impressions would suggest they have made some positive changes.

READ: Apple’s new Face ID fell on its face in front of everyone

Another drawback of OLED technology is that it is expensive compared to LCD displays, perhaps partly explaining the iPhone X’s starting price of $999.

According to well-sourced Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is only capable of producing 10,000 iPhone X units per day at the moment due to the more complex manufacturing process, which includes producing the edge-to-edge display. And that could mean iPhone X shortages for anyone with $1,000 burning a hole in their pockets.