Resistive Vs. Capacitive Touch Screen
Thinking of buying a new cell phone? There are plenty of new devices in the market that have changed the way we use phones. Our mobile phones are not just limited to make and receive calls or text our friends. They now provide us with a whole new range of features like 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, gaming, video recording, images, multimedia, document reader, etc. And now, the market is flooded with a new kind of phone, with a touch screen phone technology. These touch screen phones have made use of phones easier and fun. All you need to do is slide your fingers across and carry out different operations on the phone. No buttons. Just tap and it is done. However, these touch screen phones have further confused the consumer. They are available as resistive touch screen phones and capacitive touch screen phones.
Resistive Vs. Capacitive Touch Screen Panels
As you will see, for about 80% of the touch screen users it won't make much of a difference which type of screen are they using. Let's go into the details of the panels of these two types of touch screens.
Resistive Touch Screen Phones
Resistive touch screen panels are made of 2 layers of thin, metallic and electrically conductive layers. These two layers are separated with a very narrow gap. When one presses their stylus or finger against the touch screen, the two layers come in contact. The panel begins to act as a voltage divider with connected outputs. This process causes electricity to be conducted and is sent to the operating system of the phone. Thus, leading to a touch screen event.
Capacitive Touch Screen
Unlike resistive touch screen panels, the capacitive touch screen panel is made of glass that is coated with transparent conductor like indium tin oxide. So, when one touches the screen, it causes local electrostatic field to distort. This distortion is called change in 'capacitance'. So, when one touches the screen, the movement is transferred to the operating system that calculates the command and carries out the function.
| Resistive Vs. Capacitive Touch Screen Phones | |
| Resistive Touch Screen Phones | Capacitive Touch Screen Phones |
| They are made of several layers of thin, metallic, layers that can conduct electricity | They are made up of an insulator like glass that is coated with a transparent conductor |
| These touch screens measure the pressure or resistance created between the two layers when touched. | These touch screens tend to conduct electrons from the fingers and creates capacitance that helps in carrying out a respective touch command. |
| Resistant touch screen phones can function with touch using a stylus or finger. | Capacitive touch screen phones function using only the touch of fingers |
| Swiping though contact, zoom in and zoom out, typing mails and text messages, scrolling through photos can be carried out with limited results. | Swiping though contact, zoom in and zoom out, typing mails and text messages, scrolling through photos is more responsive on capacitive touch screen. |
| This screen is more durable as it is not made of glass. | This screen is prone to breakage as it is made of glass. |
| There are many layers that causes reflection of light and therefore results in poor display against sunlight. | There are not many layers and therefore, has better display against sunlight. |
| Multi-touch does not function on resistive touch screen phones. | Multi-touch is excellent on capacitive touch screen phones |
| These screens can operate at any humidity levels. | These screen can operate only if humidity levels is at least 5%. |
| These phones are prone to dust particles. | These phones are not prone to dust particles. |
| This is an old tried and tested technology that is much cheaper. | This is a latest technology that costs more than resistive touch screen. |
Examples of resistive touch screen phones:
| Examples of capacitive touch screen phones:
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As you can see, there are certain technological differences between each panel. However, when you do use them you will find capacitive is more responsive than the resistive touch screen phones. This difference won't make much of a difference to a user as both are equally good. You can read about each individual phone and go through the resistive vs. capacitive touch screen phones. Once you are satisfied, choose a phone that suits your needs as well as budget.
