LED And LCD Panels: Which Ones To Use Where And When?

The differences between LED and LCD panels must be understood because digital displays are constantly evolving. LED screens are increasingly being used indoors at huge sporting events and other venues, where they were previously mostly utilized outside. This is mostly because LED screen shapes are more flexible and their prices have come down.

There is ongoing debate about whether to utilize an LCD or LED commercial-grade screen, despite the growing popularity of LED screens.

It's a contentious topic, particularly in light of the growing usage of LED screens indoors. Here's a closer look at LED and LCD screens to help you better grasp the differences.

When Should LED Screens Be Used?

The size of an LED screen can vary from 10 inches to 95 inches. Light emitting diodes are used in this kind of display to visualize images.

An LED screen can have a brightness of up to 2500 nits for outdoor use or greater light levels, and 300 to 700 nits for low to medium light.

Hold on, nit? What is a nit?

A nit is, to put it simply, an intensity of visible light. The brightness of your screen increases with the number of nits.

According to Gary Feather, CTO of NanoLumens, "a viewing distance of 1.25 to 2 meters can be expected when factoring in digital signage sizes, the implied viewing distance and the ability of the eye to discern the pixels and notice pixelation." The goal of the digital signage system is for the user's content resolution to correspond with the viewer's perceived resolution, which is determined by the viewer's distance from the screen and eye fovea, and the produced resolution of the LED display.

Take illumination into consideration before deciding to utilize an LED screen.

When compared to LCD or projection displays, LED screens are easier to see outside. You therefore need a high-quality LED that can withstand changes in temperature, moisture, and light intensity.

Recognize that seamless tiled LED screens are preferred over typical tiled LCD displays and have a pixel pitch ranging from 1.0 to 1.25 millimeters if your digital signage campaign calls for them.

Best part? Compared to conventional lighting options, LEDs can save up to 90% on energy use. They also endure longer. This implies spending more time enjoying and less time replacing.

Where Should LED Screens Be Used?

LED is the best option if your display campaign calls for the usage of a screen that isn't conventionally flat.

As previously said, LED screens are typically utilized outside. When you entered and exited the very congested neighborhood of Times Square in New York, you probably noticed the rounded NASDAQ sign. Standing more than seven floors high, the recognizable LED sign is impossible to miss.

Because it's the sign that offers the huge ball drop on New Year's Eve, the NASDAQ sign is the same digital sign that garners attention from media outlets across the globe. It can show social network feeds, live events, and full motion video.

LEDs can conform to any screen ratio or size because of their flexibility, even bending over pillars and other odd shapes. That being said, LED would be the better option if your signage are circular or extremely huge.

LED signs light up very rapidly, which is ideal if you have screens that need to be operational immediately. Additionally, they are perfect for use in applications that often cycle on and off.

Large retail centers and airports use indoor LED screens. The Dubai Airport in the United Arab Emirates is a prominent example. The enormous facility, which has been dubbed the busiest airport in the world, has decided to use green technology to light its new LED navigational signage.

In Terminal 3, the luxury Emirates terminal, alone, thousands of signage have been placed. The LED navigation signs will be erected in each airport terminal by the time the project is finished.

Wow, it's a big number of diodes that emit light.

When Should LCD Screens Be Used?

A liquid crystal display is known as an LCD screen. This technology is commonly found in laptops and tablets, but it is also employed in a variety of indoor commercial-grade displays on a bigger scale.

An LCD panel is a preferable choice if visitors will be interacting closely with your signs. This is a result of the extremely high resolution.

There are two resolutions for LCD flat panels: 1080P and 4K UHD. In general, the screen is covered with more pixels per inch the higher the resolution. The image is clearer the more pixels there are per inch.

Larger graphics are required if your customers will be watching the screen from a distance.The 4/6/8 rule is a guideline that professionals like to follow while looking at a standard LCD panel.

According to the 4/6/8 rule, there are three viewing factors that dictate how much of a picture should be viewed:

1. Making crucial decisions: 4X height

2. Basic judgment: 6X height

3. Relative height: 8 times

LCD panels are a wonderful option for people who want a portable solution. Long-term cost reductions are achieved since they are, for the most part, energy efficient. Long-term cost savings are possible for users due to reduced power use.

Consider calculators, clocks, and DVD players. All of these technological devices have LCD panels. Although we're discussing LCD on a much grander scale, it's crucial to realize just how much the panels have evolved when choosing the kind of screen you need for your digital display.

LCDs' anti-glare technology makes them easier to see in brighter conditions. The food service industry uses LCD screens for marketing and anything that displays images of food since they also appear more realistic in terms of color.

Remember where your LCD screen is located. Lighting is important. The LCD screen's protective glass layer can reflect a lot of light and give the appearance of a mirror. This can be problematic in some lighting situations, making it difficult to read the material.

Lastly, the sleek and sophisticated design of some business grade LCD screens is appealing because they are as thin as an iPhone. Known as the Art Slim series, the screens are 75% thinner than a typical LCD panel thanks to their 7.5mm (1/4 inch) thickness.

In the end, though, some in the digital signage space think LCD panels are going to become “out of style,” others realize that they are still very much “in” since they are portable, affordable, and provide stunning color, style, and imagery.

Where Should LCD Screens Be Used?

Since LED technology appears to be the preferred choice for digital signs, LCD screens are primarily found in and around smaller-scale projects. They work great for training sessions in small offices or as a sales pitch in retail establishments. The convenience store industry is another sector that uses LCDs.

The San Francisco company f'real unveiLED a milkshake maker that can do more than just dispense shakes. The truly cool thing about the new digital displays is that they can pour shakes in under a minute. While shakes are being produced, the machines display a video on a 22-inch screen to draw people in.

I doubt you've ever seen a milkshake machine that plays a movie, but I haven't. I think it would be interesting to take a step back and observe, if only to take in the distinctive pathways that technology has created in the realm of digital signage.

Touchscreen-style LCDs are frequently seen in the retail sector. They are seen as tabletop tablets in restaurants and as kiosks in fast casual establishments.

Tabletop devices at Applebee's help wait staff by enticing customers to use the device to buy appetizers or another round of beverages. If that's not enough, the same LCD screen where you placed your drink order can also be used to pay your bill. It really doesn't need a server. All you need is a credit card and your finger.

Which Is Better, LCD Or LED Screens?

LED solutions are now both aesthetically pleasing and reasonably priced, thanks to the expansion of LED and the new technological breakthroughs the displays currently offer.

Most businesses utilize LCD to display their high-quality photos and movies because it offers a lot crisper image at the same time.

At prices that will save you money over time, both solutions are available. That being said, it's not always a good idea to choose the least expensive alternative.

Whether installing indoors or outside, lighting is a critical component that cannot be overlooked. Does the local weather matter where you live? If so, factors like positioning or various LCD choices must be considered.

See our post on when using LED screens for digital signage makes sense for further information and comparisons.

Now that we have this straight, do you prefer LEDs or LCDs? Which choice is more effective for your sector?