Many of HTC’s current smartphone models feature AMOLED displays, a type of screen technology often touted as the best available for mobile devices. AMOLED has its critics, but the most frequent complaint leveled against it – particularly of late – concerns supply shortages. It seems Samsung (the primary manufacturer of the AMOLED screens) has been unable to churn out enough of the displays for HTC to manufacture desired quantities of Desire, Nexus One, and Droid Incredible smartphones, sometimes resulting in long delays for the consumer.

In order to combat this problem, HTC announced today what many have long suspected: that it will transition from AMOLED to Super LCD displays in some of their smartphones, namely the Desire and Nexus One. 

Super LCD, or SLCD, displays have many of the advantages of AMOLED, and even trumps AMOLED in some utility comparisons such as viewability in direct sunlight.  HTC also claims new SLCD displays have “approximately five times better power management” than older LCD technology, which should at least mitigate AMOLED’s biggest advantage: battery life.

HTC will release SLCD versions of the Nexus One and Desire “later this summer.”  There was no mention of the Droid Incredible, whose AMOLED screen has reportedly been responsible for frequent shortages of the smartphone since its April 2010 release.