The reviews for Nokia’s Lumia 900 for AT&T are in, and while reception for the latest Windows Phone flagship device has been lukewarm, one thing nearly all reviewers agree upon is how gorgeous the ClearBlack AMOLED display is. Though the 900 is limited by Windows Phone software to an 800 x 480 resolution, owners of the Lumia 900 will be treated to one of the brightest and most intensely saturated screens they’ve ever set their eyes on.
Raymond Soniera of DisplayMate Technologies helps us understand what makes the screen so pleasing to look at, and it all has to do with light reflectance. Most smartphones and tablets have a high level of light reflectance. When you look at your device, if you can see yourself or your surroundings reflected by the screen, this is indicative of high light reflectance. High light reflectance can significantly reduce both the sharpness and color quality of your screen, resulting in a less pleasant viewing experience.
So how does the Lumia 900 stand up to DisplayMate’s tests? The Lumia 900 has one of the lowest light reflectance of any device they’ve ever tested, with a measurement of about 4.4%. For reference, the iPhone 4 comes in at about 44%, a full 40% higher than the 900. The new iPad comes in at about double the Lumia 900’s rating.
The low reflectance on the Lumia 900 translates to an extremely pleasant smartphone experience, and we hope other manufacturers choose to bring this technology to more smartphones in 2012. As new devices come out with HD screens that increase the amount of time we spend consuming content on smartphones and tablets, color saturation and brightness will become key specifications consumers are looking for in their next devices. Clearly, Nokia’s leading the way with the Lumia 900 and its ClearBlack technology.
[via CNET]