Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
'The OnePlus 8T was my favourite phone. My business largely depends on that. All the work came to a halt when I saw the green straight line on the display," Suday Saha was expressing his feelings and experience regarding the 'green line issue' of the smartphone. He is the founder and CEO of Zootech and Wacthtag, an online-based shop.
Like Suday Saha, the green line issue of the smartphone's display has been a huge setback not just for the users but for the overall market.
What is it?
The emergence of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) and AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays marked a significant advancement in smartphone technology, offering vibrant colours, deep blacks, and energy efficiency.
However, with innovation came a challenge: the green line issue. A green vertical line appearing on the display has become a prevalent problem for smartphone users, causing frustration and concern.
When did the issue start?
The Greenline issue with OLED and AMOLED displays first surfaced in mid-2018, increasing fast over the years.
Users noticed the green vertical line spanning from the top to the bottom of their smartphone screens.
"I noticed in December 2022 a thin green line in the middle of my display. My phone was a year and a half old then," said Suday Saha.
Initially, it was sporadic, but as more devices adopted these display technologies, the problem became more widespread.
Brands affected by the green line issue
Several smartphone brands have faced the green line problem in their OLED and AMOLED devices. Prominent brands such as Samsung, Apple, Google, OnePlus, and Xiaomi have reported cases of this issue in their flagship models.
The problem is not limited to a specific manufacturer, which indicates a more fundamental underlying cause.
Samsung makes AMOLED panels; all the other brands use that display.
Probable reasons
One primary reason is a manufacturing defect in the OLED panels. When manufacturing these displays, a slight misalignment of the pixels or impurities in the organic compounds can lead to the appearance of the green line.
External factors like physical pressure or temperature variations can exacerbate the issue, indicating both hardware and environmental causes.
The AMOLED pane has RGB red, Green, and Blue light. All these three have different waves and frequencies, therefore, they need different voltages to light up the screen. A slight change in the voltage might cause a defect. It might cut off the golden ribbon that connects the panel with the display and thus can cause the 'Greenline.'
Though there is no exact evidence, however, many users and tech experts have accused the 'updates' of smartphones might be the reason for that problem.
Suday Saha has a handful of experiences regarding this claim.
"I have enough review relating to the green line issue before and after the updates. Though people are saying regular updates might cause the damage, I think it is solely a manufacturing defect since the AMOLEDs are only made my Samsung."
Impact on the worldwide smartphone business
The cost of an AMOLED-display phone starts from Tk 20,000. The green line problem has undeniably impacted the global smartphone industry. Users' frustration with faulty displays has led to declining customer trust and brand loyalty.
"As a businessman, I need to have my phone fit and sound. The green line has affected my business so much that I have switched to Redmi K50i, which is an FFS LCD display," said Saha.
Current market share of smartphone brands
As of 2023, the market share of smartphone brands has undergone significant fluctuations due to various factors, including the green line issue.
According to the latest data on the shipments of the prominent smartphone brands by German-based market research platform Statista, about 268 million units were shipped, around 46 million units fewer smartphones in the first quarter of 2023 than during the corresponding quarter of 2022.
A representative of Tech World, a gadget-based shop at the Basundhara, said, "Customers are now more conscious and tend to wait to buy until the problem is solved."
However, "The overall sales haven't affected the market," said Dulal Rahman, the salesman of the
A to S Technology of Bashundhara Shopping Complex.
Shoppers like Electro Enterprise and Cell Tech Bd have echoed similar words.
Probable solutions
"To mitigate the green line issue, smartphone manufacturers must focus on improving the OLED and AMOLED display manufacturing process," said Suday Saha.
"People are buying phones with their hard-earned money. Brands precisely (Samsung) should come forward with 2 or 3 years warranty and take responsibility for the issue," he said.
Ensuring pixel alignment accuracy, using high-quality organic compounds, and implementing advanced quality control measures are essential to address the issue.
Providing users with better warranty coverage and efficient customer support for device replacements can help regain customer confidence.
OLED and AMOLED displays have revolutionised the smartphone industry with their superior visuals, but green vertical lines have marred this technological advancement.
Brands like Samsung, Apple, Google, OnePlus, and Xiaomi have experienced this issue, prompting a need for improved display manufacturing practices.
By investing in quality control, innovative technology, and better customer service, smartphone brands can regain consumer trust and ensure a seamless display experience that is the hope of users and sellers of smartphones.