While smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) remains one of the most popular routes into VR for consumers, there are problems with the experience, even for those who are lucky enough to be using high-end handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S9 to power the VR experience. Samsung are working to improve the situation with a technology called Anti-SDE AMOLED.
Part of the problem with user enjoyment of mobile VR involves what is referred to as the ‘Screen Door Effect’, or SDE. This means that users can see the gaps in between the individuals pixels, giving a feeling that you are peeking through a mesh screen door.
Samsung have filed a trademark application for the Anti SDE AMOLED at the European Union Intellectual Property Office. This is the name that will likely be appended to an AMOLED screen which doesn’t suffer from the Screen Door Effect.
There are few technical details currently available for the technology, but experts are expecting that the design will involve with a different subpixel layout or will have a much higher resolution. Samsung recently displayed its high-pixel-density VR display, which boasted a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, or 1200 pixels per inch, on a 243-inch panel.
For context, the Oculus Rift offers 461 ppi, the PlayStation VR has a 368ppi display, and the HTC Vive Pro has a display of 615ppi.
Many analysts are expecting that Samsung will move to offering 4K UHD AMOLED screens for its smartphone screens at some point, but it is not expected to be available in time for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
Further speculation is that the Anti SDE AMOLED is just a brand name for the next generation of VR screens, but with no technical specifications available, it is currently impossible to be sure.
For future coverage of new VR hardware and developments, keep checking back with VRFocus.