The difference between display, touchscreen and glass in smartphones and tablets

The display of a smartphone or tablet is often considered a complete part. However, a display itself consists of three different parts: The glass, the touchscreen and the LCD or OLED. In this article, you will learn exactly what the difference is between these parts and when you need to replace which one.

The glass

The top layer of a display is the Glass. This is the part you touch when using your smartphone or tablet. The glass itself does not affect the image or touch functions of your device. It is only there to protect the other parts of the display from external influences. It prevents liquid from penetrating and protects the other parts from scratches and bumps. This is why it is the most frequently damaged part.

The touch screen

The Touch screen is the next part under the glass. It does not generate an image either. It is only responsible for processing touch inputs. All touches and movements on the display are detected and processed by the touchscreen.

The LCD or OLED

The lowest part in a display is the LCD or OLED. This produces the image you see on your smartphone or tablet. You look through the transparent glass and the transparent touch screen of your smartphone or tablet to the LCD or OLED.

Which part do I need to replace in my display?

The repair depends on which part of your smartphone or tablet is defective. Depending on the defect, only one part of the display needs to be replaced, or the entire display. With many smartphones, however, this decision is taken away from you, as for many only whole display units are sold. However, it is worth checking whether the individual parts of the display are also available in our range, because it is often sufficient to replace only a single part.

If you have cracks in the display, but the touch functions still work and the image can still be seen normally under the cracks, it is sufficient to replace the glass. If the touch functions no longer work, but the image can still be seen normally, it is sufficient to replace the touch screen. If you no longer have a picture on your display, or if there are coloured spots or stripes on your display, the LCD or OLED must be replaced.

Now you should know which part of your display needs to be replaced. Find out now in our Online shop to find the right replacement part for your display!