LCD video walls have long been the preferred alternative for digital signage, but LED video walls are currently gaining popularity. From 2016 to 2020, the market for LED panel walls increased by 16% annually. As a result, if you’re considering implementing digital signage at your company, you now have more choices if you install video walls. While LCD is an excellent option for a video wall, with the advancements in LED technology, it’s worth comparing the two to discover which best suits your needs.
An LCD video wall is dependable, gorgeous, robust, and affordable but has a size restriction. An LED wall, on the other hand, has no end. It might not be as affordable as an LCD video wall, but you can keep expanding it until it reaches your desired size.
Comparison of LED video walls vs LCD video walls
| LED Video Wall | LCD Video Wall | |
| Maximum Size | There isn’t necessarily a maximum size for LED video walls because you can join them in any width or height combination. Video walls can use hundreds of LED panels. | The typical LCD wall is 16 feet wide and 10 feet high. Also, remember that most walls don’t extend to the floor when determining your ceiling height. Therefore, you must factor that into the total height you require. |
| Appearance | To appreciate LED walls, people must watch them from a distance. Imagine them to be like a Lite Brite or an impressionist painting; from a distance, you can see the entire composition. There are no bezels. | Being built of HD panels, an LCD wall’s image will be sharper than an LED wall’s, especially when viewed up close. Bezels, or minimal seams between each LCD panel, will be present. |
| Content | Your AV provider will provide you with the precise dimensions and resolution after determining the size so that your media maker may tailor your content. | Developing material for an LCD wall is usually simpler because they are essentially large, expensive computer displays. Your material will appear fantastic on an LCD wall if it looks great on a typical computer monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Once you’ve decided on the size you need, your AV supplier will supply you with the dimensions and resolution specifications. They can also assist you in figuring out where the seams (or “bezels”) will be so that no part of your image is masked. |
| Installation | Depending on the size of the wall, the installation might take a few hours to several days. Give your baking plenty of time. | Be sure to allow at least half a day for installation, even though LED walls are typically quicker. |
| Cost | The most expensive choice for a video wall. | It is a lot less expensive than LED walls. |
| Brightness | An LED wall may become unbearably bright, making them a fantastic choice for outdoor gatherings. | Although LCD walls are best used inside, they can also be very bright. Unlike outdoor-rated LED tiles, they are not waterproof. |
| Power Requirements | Much lower than LCD. However, you still need to ensure the location has adequate power capability. You can find out how much power you’ll need from your video wall provider. | You require a lot of energy. Almost four amps are needed for each screen. Verify the electricity capacity of your facility or make extra preparations. |
| Loading Requirements | It is relatively light in weight and portable in multiple sections. | It arrives in enormous containers. If a freight elevator is required, you’ll need to make sure your venue has enough room to accommodate it. |
What is LCD?
An LCD, or liquid crystal display, is a passive screen with no lighting to show media or text. Fluorescent tubes are used in place of light to provide light and brighten the image. The lights are always positioned behind the screen panel. The information displayed on the screen by LCD is produced as a dot matrix or segments. A liquid crystal filament is filled between the transparent electrodes, and the filaments are energised by passing a current through them. Finally, this aids in the production of visible light. Although the liquid crystal material used in LCDs is neither a liquid nor a solid, it has characteristics resembling a solid that has crystallised. In addition, the arrangement of the molecules follows set patterns. It is crucial to remember that the molecules are not fixed in any particular shape or form. Since they are thin, LCDs have challenges with angle viewing and anti-glare.
Pros and Cons of LCD
| Pros | Cons |
| LCDs are inexpensive. | LCD struggles to produce black and dark grey light. |
| Comparatively light-weight | In LCDs, white saturation can occasionally cause uneven brightness. |
| Excellent brightness | A fixed aspect ratio and resolution are features of LCD video wall construction. |
| Amazing at wider viewing angles. | Poor or weak LCD pixels can cause the screen to fluctuate in intensity levels or shading. |
What is LED?
A subset of LCD, which technically employs liquid crystal displays, is an LED (short for “light-emitting diode”). On the other hand, LEDs use light-emitting diodes, whilst LCDs use fluorescent lighting. The semiconductor light sources that these diodes are often known as are those that emit light when a current flows through them. The LED diode system creates better, sharper images than standard LCDs. LEDs allow for the placement of light-emitting diodes behind the screen panel or along the edges.
Pros and Cons of LED
| Pros | Cons |
| LED typically has a longer lifespan and it is durable. | It is expensive; the price increases as the screen size increases. |
| Heat is not produced by LED. | LED only offers a small selection of wide viewing angles. |
| LEDs are very energy-efficient. | It is difficult to fix a damaged LED. |
| Maintenance is often minimal with LED. | Due to the high cost and difficulty in locating LED replacement parts for the appropriate product model, repair costs are significant. |
A Direct View LED Video Wall
A wall of movies is difficult to design and requires tiny components to work together to produce a broader picture. A flat panel with multiple smaller LED panels put on it makes up direct view LED displays. LED stands for “light-emitting diode,” unlike LCDs, DV displays’ LEDs generate their light. When electrically activated, each LED is a miniature bulb emitting colour. The LEDs are creating the visuals, not simply illuminating them.
In the beginning, monochrome DV LED displays were frequently utilised in outdoor digital signage solutions. Everything changed in the late 1990s with the introduction of RGB colour LEDs. The leading technology for digital signage right now is DV LED, which is developing at a rate that puts it directly in competition with LCD video walls’ pixel density.
Pixels
A black resin epoxy is used to coat a contemporary LED used in video walls. Shades are put in between the lamps to get true black and to get rid of reflection. DV LED displays now have a pixel density significantly higher than any LCD on the market.
The typical viewing distance must be considered when establishing an LED video wall. The majority of LED panels won’t scale. Therefore your resolution is determined by the number of pixels. The requirement for finer pixel pitch increases as individuals gets closer. In a video wall, one surface mount device (SMD) LED typically corresponds to one pixel (and on that lies the RGB die). The pitch, equal to the separation (in mm) between each SMD LED, is typically used to calculate the pixel density.
DV LED Video Wall Benefits
The benefits of constructing a video wall keep expanding as LEDs gain popularity as a material for them. Some advantages of selecting this kind of hardware for your digital signage show include the following:
- LED panels may be tiled together and have no bezels (seams).
- LEDs with epoxy coating provide natural black colour and have a long life of 50,000 hours.
- Broad colour spectrum 95% NTSC and the highest accuracy available Unmatched homogeneity
- 800 nits of brightness or higher
- energy efficiency
- ideal viewing positions (most expansive too)
- Any dimension, not just 16:9
- Depending on total brightness, LED performs better than LCD at handling ambient lights.
- Variable depth, frequent rear access
- ideal for outdoor use
Although LED is a practical use for powerful visuals, it is not the only one. Large video displays also employ LCD panels, and depending on the situation, and they might be the preferable choice.
Please be aware that DV LED panels with finer dot pitches are more prone to damage near the edges during installation. A service expert must usually fix them on site if they are broken.
What is an LCD display with an ultra-narrow bezel?
An LCD with an ultra-narrow bezel is one of the most outstanding options for a video wall because they have long been a popular choice. Liquid crystal display is called LCD, and chances are you utilise this technology daily with your smartphone.
A liquid crystal layer is positioned between two panes of polarised glass to create the LCD panel in a video display. A picture is produced by the liquid shifting when electricity is applied. A backlight is produced to illuminate the display because the crystals in this liquid cannot generate their light.
The spaces between the displays on LCD video walls, known as “bezels,” are there even though they are tiled like LEDs. Because it leaves the fewest seams, the ultra-narrow bezel design is best for video walls. With LCD technology and a small bezel, video walls can display a highly uniform brightness.
Construction Of Pixels
A molecular layer between transparent electrodes and polarising filters makes up each pixel of an LCD. The location of light and an electric field control pixelation. Other qualities
- single LCD module with many layers
- modules with 2M cells
- The less obvious pixel structure
- a lot of pixelation (compared to LED)
Ultra Narrow Bezel LCD Digital Signage Benefits
The use of LCD technology as the standard for video walls has existed for a reason. Some benefits of using this hardware for your digital signage installation include the following:
- vibrant, flowing colours
- Higher resolution
- Energy-saving: up to a 50% reduction in power consumption
- The most economical choice available
- Simple to set up
- Uniformly high brightness
- Reduced installation depths
- Greater indoor utility
- Simple and easy-to-maintain hardware
- 500–700 cd/m2 for brightness
- Little, slender, and takes up minimal room
Please be aware that new displays with bezel gaps under 2 mm are now extremely brittle during installation. Extra caution must be used during installation since the tiny piece of sheet metal keeping the glass in place can break the display if any force is exerted around the edges.
The right video wall will depend on several aspects, including image quality, energy efficiency, size, and position. Whatever side of the LED vs LCD argument you may be on, and whether you are selecting an ultra-narrow bezel LCD or a DV LED for your video wall, you are already on the right track. Nothing holds a crowd’s attention as well as a wall of motion and colour that never stops.
In a constantly evolving market, selecting good LCD or LED panels for business installations might be difficult.
Your needs, applications and financial situation will determine the kind of technology you should choose. The most considerable distinction between the two technologies is frequently one of cost, with LCDs being less expensive than their more recent counterpart. Buyers should consider the complete expenses of installation, support, maintenance and scaling of their display installations and the screen hardware. If you are facing difficulties deciding on the components of your video wall, contact professionals and quicken the process.