How to Tell if Your OLED/LCD Is Original or Copy (Samsung & iPhone Guide)
Not all screens are the same. After a repair, many users ask whether the display installed on their phone is original, refurbished, or an aftermarket copy.
Here’s how to tell the difference using simple checks — no special tools needed.
1. Many Customers Want to Know If Their Screen Is Original
At our Christchurch and Auckland shops, customers frequently bring devices with replaced screens asking: “Is this original?”, “Did the last shop install a copy?”, or “Why does my display look different now?”
It happens because the market is filled with original, refurb-OEM, high-grade OLED/LCD, and low-grade copies — and each behaves differently.
2. If You Feel Something Looks “Different,” You’re Not Wrong
Common complaints from customers include:
- Brightness not as strong as before.
- Colours look washed out or too warm/cold.
- Touch feels slightly delayed or too sensitive.
- Screen turns green/blue at an angle.
- Phone drains battery faster after screen change.
These symptoms often indicate the display is aftermarket or refurbished, not original.
3. How to Check If Your Screen Is Original or Copy
3.1 Check Brightness and Colour Accuracy
Original OLED/LCD panels have higher brightness and stable colours.
Copies often show:
- Slight yellow or blue tint.
- Poor visibility under sunlight.
- Colours look “flat.”
3.2 View the Screen at an Angle
Originals stay consistent even at a strong viewing angle.
Many copies shift into green, pink, or bluish tones.
3.3 Check Touch Sensitivity
Original panels have perfectly calibrated digitizers.
Aftermarket screens may feel:
- Laggy when typing.
- Too sensitive — ghost touches.
- Dead zones on the edges.
3.4 Compare Black Levels (For OLED)
Original Samsung or Apple OLEDs show deep, ink-like blacks.
Copies show grey-ish dark areas because their pixel voltage control isn’t as precise.
3.5 Battery Usage After Screen Replacement
A copy OLED/LCD often uses more power due to inefficient drivers, causing noticeable battery drain.
3.6 Check the True Tone / Colour Calibration (iPhone)
If True Tone disappeared and wasn’t restored, the screen may be aftermarket — unless the shop purposely installed genuine OEM without programming it.
3.7 Check the Part Code or Stamp (Advanced)
Inside the screen’s flex cable, original Apple and Samsung panels have distinct OEM codes.
This requires opening the phone — something repair shops handle.
4. The Technical Differences Between Original and Copy Panels
Display manufacturers like Samsung Display, LG Display, and BOE produce panels with strict quality control.
Aftermarket factories replicate the structure but cannot fully copy:
- Pixel refresh algorithms (prevents burn-in).
- Brightness calibration.
- Touch digitizer sensitivity.
- Colour accuracy & gamma curves.
- Power efficiency.
This is why two screens can look identical but perform completely differently.
5. Related Guides for NZ Users
This article is for general information and reference only. Device conditions vary, and you should not rely solely on this content to make repair or safety decisions.
For accurate diagnosis or repair, please have your device inspected by a qualified technician.