Which iPhones Have OLED Screens? A Quick Guide… [2024 Edition]

Richard Goodwin

03/27/24 •  9 min read

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Apple makes a bunch of iPhones but only a select few use OLED displays, so make sure you know what’s what before buying!

Apple now uses OLED panels inside all of its modern iPhones. From the iPhone 12 series onwards, all iPhones – save for the SE models – use OLED displays.

But not all OLED displays are the same. If you pony up the extra cash for one of Apple’s iPhone Pro or Pro Max models, you’ll get access to Apple’s ProMotion OLED.

And the benefits of ProMotion displays on iPhone? Smoother scrolling and better-looking video content with 120Hz refresh rates. Apple’s standard models (the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, for instance) run OLED, but they lack ProMotion which means no 120Hz refresh rates. Instead, they’re stuck at 90Hz (like its 2013 or something).

OLED vs LCD: Which Is Better?

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Short answer: OLED is better than LCD. Here’s why:

OLED displays excel in direct sunlight primarily because of their high contrast ratio and pure black levels. Each pixel in an OLED display generates its own light, allowing for precise control over brightness and color.

This results in deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to TFT LCD displays, which rely on a backlight. The backlight in TFT LCDs can be washed out by direct sunlight, making them less visible.

The self-illuminating nature of OLED pixels means they can adjust more dynamically to bright conditions, maintaining clarity and visibility even under strong sunlight.

#1) iPhone X – The First (And Cheapest) OLED iPhone

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The iPhone X was Apple’s first OLED phone. It was also the first iPhone to ship without a Home button, it was replaced by FACE ID. The iPhone X was Apple’s first major design overhaul to its iPhone line-up since 2014’s iPhone 6.

The iPhone X, which is now Apple’s cheapest OLED phone, still serves up plenty of value for money in 2019. If you want that modern iPhone design, but don’t want to pay big bucks for it, the iPhone X could well be what you’ve been looking for.

Where To Get One: 

• Gazelle (USA) | Refurbished | Prices Start From $449
• Music Magpie (UK) | Refurbished | Prices Start From £439

#2) iPhone XS/XS Max

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were Apple’s 2018 flagship phones. The ultra-popular iPhone XR joined them later and went on to be the #1 selling iPhone for the 2018/19 period. Why? It was cheap, it looked and functioned great, and it was available in a range of colors.

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The iPhone XS/XS Max picked up where Apple’s iPhone X left off, adding in a new processor, Apple’s A12 CPU, and updates to the camera and video. At the time the iPhone XS Max was the biggest phone Apple had ever produced. It set up a new “Pro” niche within the iPhone stable which will be a mainstay from now on.

Interested to see how the iPhone 12 compares to older iPhones? Check out our iPhone 12 vs iPhone XS – Is It Time To Upgrade?

Where To Get One: 

• Gazelle (USA) | Refurbished | Prices Start From $449
• Music Magpie (UK) | Refurbished | Prices Start From £519

#3) iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max

The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone Pro Max are Apple’s latest flagships. They pack in the company’s most recent and most powerful CPU, the A13, feature upgraded, large batteries for all-day usage, and some of the best cameras on the market right now.

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Both the Pro and Pro Max models feature a triple-lens camera on the rear and are considered by many to be the best overall cameras in the business right now – both for still photography and video. Google used to rule the roost with its Pixel cameras, but Apple’s closed the gap in 2019.

#4) The iPhone 12 Range

Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup of iPhones launched on October 13. The iPhone 12 – which includes the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro – will get a release date on October 23.

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All the models in the iPhone 12 range feature OLED panels – even the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12, the two base-model options.

Apple also updated the entire range with 5G too, and its new A14 CPU. The iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro are the flagships. Both of these phones have had sizeable updates to their cameras: they both now have LIDAR sensors and vastly improved performance and optics.

The base model iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini both feature dual-lens cameras, meaning all of Apple’s modern (meaning latest) iPhones now run multi-sensor cameras. Previous generations, like the iPhone XR, missed out on dual-lens cameras.

Where To Get One: 

• Verizon (USA) | Plans & Purchase Options | From £41 per Month
• Three Mobile (UK) | Plans & Purchase Options | From £59 per Month

#5) iPhone 13 Range

Launched in 2021, Apple’s iPhone 13 range of iPhones is made up of the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. All of the models in this series come with OLED displays, 5G support, and an array of storage options, topping out at 1TB on the Pro models.

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#6) iPhone 14 Range

The iPhone 14 series which includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, again, all ship with OLED displays. Apple killed off the iPhone Mini in this series, following poor sales. The iPhone 13 Mini was replaced by the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022 – and I don’t think anyone will miss Apple’s smaller iPhone model.

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The iPhone 14 brings with it a host of updates, notably on the Pro models, although there are meaningful changes on both the entry-level and Pro versions. Check out the links below for more details on how the phones inside Apple’s iPhone 14 series compare:

• Is The iPhone 14 Worth It? Yes – But Only For Certain Users
• iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Plus: What’s The Difference?
• iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Which Is Best?
• iPhone 14 Pro Camera Updates: What You Get…
• Apple’s Dynamic Island Detailed: Meet The Pro’s New Notch

The iPhone 14 is now available to order – check out all the latest deals here.

#7 iPhone 15 Range

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It should come as no surprise that the iPhone 15 series ALL have OLED displays. That includes the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In addition to OLED dsiplays, the iPhone 15 series have a TON of feature enhancements, which you can see here.

iPhones That DON’T Have OLED Displays

Or, if you want a mega bargain, you can pick up older iPhone models for around 40-50% less than normal by getting a refurbished model.

Richard Goodwin

Richard Goodwin is a leading UK technology journalist with a focus on consumer tech trends and data security. Renowned for his insightful analysis, Richard has contributed to Sky News, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, and CNBC, making complex tech issues accessible to a broad audience.