Infographic text included for screen readers:
The Difference LCD, LED and OLED
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
LCD panels use an LED light source to illuminate the pixels
- Full HD (1080P) or Ultra HD (4K)
- Indoor: 300 – 700 nits
- Outdoor: 2500 nits
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
Direct View LED displays use a surface array of LEDs as the display pixels and light source
- Measured by “Pixel Pitch”: the smaller the distance between pixels the closer viewers can get before they see actual pixels
- Indoor & outdoor: 4,000 to 10,000 nits
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)
OLED displays use self-lighting pixels for exact control of image brightness and quality
- Full HD (1080P) or Ultra HD (4K)
- Indoor: 400 to 450 nits
Higher nits mean higher brightness. High brightness is recommended for outdoor applications for optimum visibility in daylight/sunlight.
HOW IT WORKS
LCD
Edge-Lit displays place an LED light source at the outer edges. Backlit displays place an LED light source directly behind the LCD pixels.
Direct View LED
Direct View LED displays place a signal layer behind the LED array, plus a thermal plane for heat sink. The LEDs provide the lighting.
OLED
With no separate light source and only half the layers of an LCD panel, OLED displays are extremely thin and lightweight.
FORM FACTOR
LCD
Edge-lit and backlit displays come in many different sizes. The backlit display design enables a very thin bezel. Great for creating large video walls.
- Thin
- Light
Direct View LED
Direct View LED displays can be made in virtually any size. They’re ideal for outdoor spaces such as sports arenas.
- Thick
- Heavy
OLED
Dual-sided flat and curved tiling displays enable images to be swapped or mirrored on either side. Single-sided custom displays can be arched, curved, concave or convex.
- Thinnest
- Lightest
PICTURE QUALITY
LCD – Better
LCD panels offer bright, high resolution images. IPS technology enables wide viewing angles.
LED – Good
Direct View LED displays offer amazing brightness and color depth. Image quality depends on pixel pitch and viewing distance.
OLED – Best
OLED displays deliver unprecedented picture quality, with perfect black, infinite contrast and incredible color.
