IPS vs. AMOLED – Pros and cons of different smartphone displays

The Motorola Moto G47 deliberately forgoes modern AMOLED technology in favor of a classic IPS display. 

The display offers 1,604 by 720 pixels on a 6.67-inch diagonal screen. The low resolution is almost certainly a concession to the currently very high memory prices: Even on budget smartphones, higher-resolution screens are now standard. 

Brightness and response times are also worse than on devices from Xiaomi or Samsung with OLED panels.

According to the manufacturer, the Moto G47 costs more than US$ 300, but it’s already available online for significantly less—for example, for around US$ 200 at amazon.com.

Sunlight Readability Under Real-World Conditions

Laboratory measurements show a maximum peak brightness of 1002 cd/m² in APL18 mode. For HDR content, we measured 971 nits of peak brightness, and with full-screen illumination, the peak value is below 800 cd/m². 

This may limit outdoor use on bright days, but it’s not quite as much of an issue for those who primarily use their phone indoors.

PWM Flicker-Free Without Modulation

However, the Moto G47 also has a major advantage: the display operates without pulse-width modulation (PWM) for brightness control. This means less strain on sensitive eyes during extended use. 

For sensitive users, this is a major advantage: Flickering OLEDs often lead to headaches and significantly faster eye fatigue.

Those who don’t have extreme brightness requirements or want high resolution will be just fine with the Moto G47’s IPS display in the long run. However, if you spend a lot of time outdoors and want good readability at all times, you should definitely consider alternatives with AMOLED displays.

You can find more detailed measurement charts and comparison tables in our in-depth review of the Moto G47.