Quattron

Quattron is a branded display technology developed by Sharp for its LCD televisions. Introduced in the early 2010s as part of the Aquos line, Quattron is designed to enhance color reproduction by using a four-color subpixel arrangement instead of the traditional three-color RGB scheme.

The core idea behind Quattron is the inclusion of a fourth subpixel color: yellow (in addition to red, green, and blue). The yellow subpixel is intended to expand the display’s color gamut, particularly for yellows and ambers, and to improve overall color saturation and perceived brightness. Displays implementing Quattron rely on specialized pixel structure, driving electronics, and image processing algorithms to interpolate colors across the four subpixels and render images that leverage the extra hue information.

Reception and critique of Quattron have been mixed. Supporters claimed brighter, more vivid colors and improved rendering of certain tones. Critics and independent measurements, however, raised questions about the practical benefits, noting that any gains could be limited in real-world viewing and that color accuracy might be impacted if the processing is not well-tuned. Some analysts pointed out that the four-subpixel approach can introduce artifacts or inconsistent results depending on content and viewing conditions, and that the added manufacturing complexity could raise production costs.

Legacy-wise, Quattron remained a branded feature primarily associated with Sharp’s Aquos televisions for a period, but it did not become a widely adopted industry standard. Over time, other technologies, such as quantum dot and improvements in RGB displays, offered alternative paths to expanding color performance.