Sony questions difference between Vita’s LCD and OLED displays

The difference between the Vita Slim’s LCD display and the Original Vita’s OLED display is small, if not imperceptible” if it exists at all, Sony has claimed.

The new Vita arrives in the UK next month and with no plans to replenish stock of the existing model, gamers will have to act fast if they want to secure the current design.

A lot of attention online has been devoted to the fact that the new model uses a supposedly inferior LCD display in favour of the existing OLED panel. But Sony has questioned whether the difference is as stark as is being made out.

When we introduced Vita with the OLED screen that was considered – and it was – the pinnacle of screen technology. It was a beautiful screen and LCD at the time would have felt like a compromise,” Sony UK boss Fergal Gara told VG247.

What’s happened in the interim is LCD screen technology has improved significantly. Whilst some think there’s a subtle difference between the two, we think it’s relatively imperceptible.

Technology is always full of compromises and trade-offs, and we believe we’ve got the trade-offs right. In other words, if there’s any degradation in screen technology it’s very subtle, but it’s also helping us achieve other advantages.”

Gara echoed the sentiment when speaking to Eurogamer.

Is it a downgrade, is the question?” he argued. "I think screen technology has evolved significantly since Vita was introduced. OLED was the high end around then – and it remains at the high end. The thing that’s changed is LCD technology has improved, so we believe the differences are very small.

We wouldn’t introduce the device if that compromise was significant. We think it’s very small, if not imperceptible. It’s giving bigger advantages than disadvantages – it’s helping with the battery life, with the thickness. We think they are bigger wins than any subtle – if any – reduction in visual quality.”

You can judge the difference for yourself in this Product Reviews post, which also includes a video.

Says the site: As we told you with the Japanese launch though, there is a significant difference in quality compared to OLED and it may not be a downgrade that you are willing to live with.”

Image credit: Product Reviews