A system (130) and method (500) of operating a main display (301) in a radio (300) can monitoring (502) a use characteristic of the radio. Such use characteristics being monitored can include use of an internal speaker or an external speaker, an open angle (303) of the radio, a type of call, a time of day, a user location, a Caller ID, a holster status, a headset status, a cradle status, a network status, a prepaid minute status, a bus status, or a volume level status). The method can further selectively deactivate (504) the main display based on the use characteristic. In one example, the radio can selectively deactivate (508) the display or backlights when the flip portion is opened to answer the incoming call. The main display (or backlight) can also be selectively activated (510) upon a user button selection if a user desires such activation.