Phone terms glossary

AMOLED / OLED display An OLED screen is a display where each pixel lights up on its own, and AMOLED is an advanced version commonly used in phones. LTPO display An LTPO display is a type of smartphone screen that saves battery life by automatically changing its refresh rate based on what is shown on screen. Refresh rate (Hz) Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws the image, measured in hertz (Hz). Brightness (nits) Screen brightness in nits measures how much light a display emits, and a higher number means a clearer screen in bright conditions. Resolution and PPI Resolution is the number of pixels on the screen, and PPI is how many pixels fit in one inch, so higher numbers mean a sharper picture. Gorilla Glass and screen protection Gorilla Glass is a type of toughened glass used on phone screens to resist scratches and impacts, while screen protection covers anything that reduces the risk of screen damage. PWM dimming PWM dimming is a way phones adjust screen brightness by rapidly turning the backlight on and off, which can cause eye strain for some users. HDR10 / HDR10+ / Dolby Vision These are display technologies that make colors more realistic and details clearer in bright and dark scenes on phone screens. Chipset (SoC) The chipset, or SoC, is the brain that runs everything in your phone, from app speed to camera quality and battery life. CPU cores and GHz CPU cores are the units inside a phone that handle tasks, and GHz measures how many operations each core can do per second. GPU (graphics processor) A GPU is the chip that draws images and animations on your phone screen. RAM RAM (Random Access Memory) is the temporary memory a phone uses to run apps and keep them open in the background. UFS storage UFS is the type of internal storage used in smartphones to hold apps, photos, and files, offering faster read and write speeds than older storage types. Camera megapixels (MP) Camera megapixels (MP) is the number of pixels a camera captures in a photo, affecting image size and detail when you zoom in. OIS optical image stabilisation A camera technology that moves the lens itself to cancel out hand shake while you shoot. Periscope telephoto and optical zoom Periscope telephoto is a camera lens design that allows high optical zoom without a protruding lens, while optical zoom is real magnification without losing image quality. 4K / 8K video and fps 4K and 8K are high video resolutions, while fps is the number of frames per second that determines motion smoothness. Battery capacity (mAh) Battery capacity in mAh measures how much energy a battery can store, and a higher number generally means longer use before you need to recharge. Fast charging (W) Fast charging (W) is a measure of how much power a charger can deliver, and higher wattage generally means faster battery charging. Wireless charging and Qi2 Wireless charging lets you charge your phone without a cable, and Qi2 is a newer standard that makes it faster and safer. Reverse charging Reverse charging lets your phone act as a power bank and send battery power to another device, such as wireless earbuds or a friend's phone. IP68 / IP69 water resistance IP68 and IP69 ratings show how well a phone resists water and dust, but they do not mean the device is indestructible. 5G 5G is the fifth generation of wireless cellular technology, offering faster internet speeds and lower latency than previous generations. eSIM An eSIM is a built-in digital SIM inside the phone that works without a plastic card and is activated electronically. NFC A short-range wireless technology that lets a phone exchange data with nearby devices with a single tap. Wi-Fi 6 / 6E / 7 Newer Wi-Fi standards that deliver faster speeds and better stability when many devices are connected at home. Bluetooth versions Bluetooth versions are successive updates to the short-range wireless technology, and each newer version generally offers higher speed, lower battery use, and longer range. USB Type-C and USB versions USB Type-C is the shape of the port, while the USB version determines data speed and charging, and they can differ from one phone to another. GPS / GNSS positioning GPS / GNSS positioning is the technology that lets your phone know its location on the map to guide you while navigating. In-display fingerprint sensors A technology that scans your fingerprint directly on the screen without a separate sensor. SAR radiation value SAR value is a measure of how much radio-frequency energy from a phone is absorbed by the human body, expressed in watts per kilogram. Android / iOS update years Update years are the period during which a phone maker commits to providing operating system and security updates after launch.