Last updated: March 25th, 2026 at 16:06 UTC+01:00
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New AMOLED is not the same as old AMOLED.
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Max Jambor / SamMobile
Samsung's new Galaxy A57 is full of small surprises. One of them is a Super AMOLED+ display, replacing the predecessor's Super AMOLED panel.
Why is this switch unexpected? Samsung seemed ready to shelve the tech. One of the last Galaxy phones with Super AMOLED+ was the Galaxy A73, which debuted in March 2022.
In other words, Samsung hasn’t used Super AMOLED+ much in recent years, so its return with the Galaxy A57 is surprising.
How much of an impact does this upgrade have? Is it even an upgrade? It’s hard to say, especially given how AMOLED has evolved and changed over the last decade. Here's what we mean.
Samsung first introduced Super AMOLED+ roughly 15 years ago as an upgrade to Super AMOLED. The main difference was the subpixel arrangement: Super AMOLED used PenTile, while Super AMOLED+ used an RGB Strip.
This made images look crisper and improved energy efficiency. However, the distinction was much clearer back then than it is today. Most modern Samsung AMOLED panels now use a PenTile layout anyway. Well, Diamond PenTile, to be precise.
Max Jambor / SamMobile
Galaxy A57 – Source: Max Jambor / SamMobile
To put it differently, comparing Super AMOLED and Super AMOLED+ fifteen years ago was a different kettle of fish than it is now. In theory, AMOLED+ should be an upgrade, but in practice, the difference isn’t obvious anymore. The A57 shares the same 120Hz refresh rate and 1,900 nits peak brightness as the A56.
Fortunately, even if the switch to Super AMOLED+ proves to be nothing more than a rebrand or gimmick, the A57 still offers a more tangible display improvement in the form of thinner bezels all around. The screen retains a chin, but it is thinner. Plus, the top and side bezels are now slimmer and symmetrical.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
