LED vs. LCD: The Video Wall Battle

When it comes to the LED vs. LCD video wall debate, it can be hard to pick a side. From the differences in technology to the picture quality and the carbon footprint. There are several factors that you will need to consider when choosing which solution is most suitable for your needs.

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With the global video wall market set to grow by 11% by , there has never been a better time to get to grips with these displays.

How do you choose a display with all of this information to consider though? Keep reading to find out.

Jump to:

Comparison table

What&#;s the difference

Picture quality

Bezel

Resolution

Pixel Pitch

Size

Brightness

Contrast

Carbon footprint

Location

Cost

How will you display your content?

Next step

Comparison table

Explore our range of video walls here, or contact us today and tell us about your video wall project.

LED Video WallLCD Video WallCostMore expensive
Low-end average $40,000-$50,000Less expensive
Low-end average $5,000-$6,000Lighting typeFull array- even distribution of LEDs across the screen. This allows for local dimming that improves image quality by creating more contrast.Series of lamps at the back of the screen. These are spread evenly giving a consistent display.
LCDs are unable to do local dimming due to the display producing consistent lighting.ResolutionThis will vary depending on the pixel pitch
640 x 360 or 960 x x SizeLED panels are smaller and can be combined in unique ways to fit any size requiredLCD screens are larger restricting the space they can be combined in. Can create large displays but has a limit.Lifespan11 years
100,000 hours5-7 years
50,000 hoursBrightnessRange from 600 nits to 6,000 nitsRange from 500 &#; 700 nitsIndoor/Outdoor useSome LED displays are designed for indoor use only. Others are made to be used outside and will have an IP rating identifying how weather-resistant they are, ideally, you&#;ll want an IP65-rated display.Suitable for indoor useContrast:1
Local dimming can give parts of the screen a more authentic black to increase the contrast ratio.:1
Even light distribution limits the contrast.Power consumption600W250WLCD vs LED comparison table

What&#;s the difference?

To start with, all LED displays are just LCDs. Both use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology and a series of lamps placed at the back of the screen to produce the images we see on our screens. LED screens use light-emitting diodes for backlights, while LCDs use fluorescent backlights.

LEDs can also have full array lighting. This is where the LEDs are placed evenly across the entire screen, in a similar way to an LCD. However, the important difference is that the LEDs have set zones and these zones can be dimmed. This is known as local dimming and can significantly improve picture quality. If a certain part of the screen needs to be darker, the zone of LEDs can be dimmed to create a truer black and an improved image contrast. LCD screens are not able to do this as they are constantly evenly lit.

Get in touch today and our team of experts can help you with your LCD or LED video wall requirements.

LCD video wall in an office reception area

Picture quality

Image quality is one of the most contentious issues when it comes to the LED vs. LCD video wall debate. LED displays generally have better picture quality compared to their LCD counterparts. From black levels to contrast and even colour accuracy, LED displays usually come out on top. LED screens with a full-array back-lit display capable of local dimming will provide the best picture quality.

In terms of viewing angle, there is usually no difference between LCD and LED video walls. This instead depends on the quality of the glass panel used.

Bezel

One of the main differences and biggest considerations when picking between an LCD and an LED video wall is the bezel.

LCD

If you go with an LCD display you will need to consider the bezel size. The bezel is the frame that goes around the edge of a single LCD panel. When you bring each panel together to form your video wall, the bezel is where each screen will meet. This will be visible when looking at your video wall, as you&#;ll see a thin black line where each panel connects to another.

Representation of the average LCD video wall bezel

When looking for an LCD video wall, you will see the bezel sizes listed for the panels. The larger the bezel size the thicker the black bar between the panels will be. Depending on the content you wish to display, this can affect the viewing experience. One large continuous image or a lot of data would be most clearly affected by the bezel.

However, with recent advancements in bezel reduction technology, video wall providers are now able to provide LCD displays with very narrow and in some cases almost unnoticeable bezels. LamasaTech offers a narrow 3.5mm bezel LCD video wall as well as an extremely thin 0.44mm bezel display.

LED

LED displays do not have a bezel, so no black frame will appear between each LED cabinet. This produces a seamless display and allows you to show your content uninterrupted. This is an effective setup when you are expecting to display a single image or video across the entire video wall.

Below you can see a comparison of an LCD display with bezels and an LED video wall without.

LCD video wall with bezels LED seamless display

LamsaTech provides seamless LED video walls, get in touch today to discuss your display requirements.

Resolution

Resolution affects the sharpness and clarity of the content displayed on a screen. This is particularly important for video walls as it will determine the appropriate viewing distance.

A higher resolution will keep your content looking clear while being viewed up close from a short distance away, while a lower resolution video wall will be better viewed from further away. This ties in with the pixel pitch which will be explained in the next section.

LCD displays offer a much higher resolution when compared to LED options. A 55&#; LCD display will offer x resolution. When your video wall is completed, the total resolution of your wall will depend on how many panels it includes. For example, a 3×4 LCD video wall will have a total resolution of x .

As LEDs can have differing pixel pitches their resolutions will vary. An LED with a pixel pitch of 1.26 will have a resolution of 960 x 540. Over the same 3×4 video wall display, this LED would offer a total resolution of x .

With a much higher resolution, this makes LCDs ideal for indoor viewing. They&#;ll be able to maintain a clear and detailed image while being viewed from a short viewing distance, for example in a security and control room, simulation room, education facilities and more.

LED video walls are a great choice for outdoor locations where the display will be viewed from a distance, meaning that the resolution is less important. LEDs are also a great choice for indoor environments if you are looking for a video wall with no bezel and the audience will be viewing the display from a distance, making the resolution slightly less important.

Contact our team of experts today and we&#;ll help you implement your video wall.

Pixel pitch

Pixel pitch is the distance between each pixel on an LED panel. The higher the pixel pitch the greater the spacing between the LEDs which will result in lower image quality, while a lower pixel pitch will offer a higher image quality. This will be especially noticeable in close-up viewing environments such as a board room or reception because the details of the content will be lost and viewers will begin to see individual pixels and not a clear cohesive image.

Understanding what pixel pitch you would require for an LED video wall in your chosen location typically requires input from technical specialists. However, here are two you can calculate this yourself.

• Multiply the pixel pitch of an LED display by 3 to get the minimum distance in feet a viewer must be from the wall to be able to interpret the content
• Multiply the pixel pitch of an LED display by 10 for the ideal viewing experience

For example, an LED display with a pixel pitch of 5mm would require a viewer to be 15 feet away to make out any details in the video wall and 50 feet away to clearly view the content.

LCD displays have a much smaller pixel pitch than LED displays, which makes an LCD video wall ideal for showing more informative and detailed content. If your video wall is to be placed in a control room, conference room or reception area, then an LCD display will provide a high-quality experience for this close-distance viewing.

Size

Where the display is going to be placed and the size needed are significant factors in which screen is right for you.

LCD video walls typically aren&#;t made as large as LED walls. Depending on the need, they can be configured differently but won&#;t go to the huge sizes LED walls can. LEDs can be as big as you need, one of the largest is in Beijing, which measures 250 m x 30 m (820 ft x 98 ft) for a total surface area of 7,500 m² (80,729 ft²). This display is made up of five extremely large LED screens to produce one continuous image.

Let us know the size of your video wall project and we&#;ll offer you expert guidance on how you can proceed.

Large LED display &#; The Place, Beijing &#; Erica Chang https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22The_Place%22_Shopping_Mall_in_Beijing_-_panoramio.jpg

Brightness

Where you will be displaying your video wall will inform you of how bright you need the screens to be.

Higher brightness will be needed in a room with large windows and lots of light. However, in many control rooms being too bright will likely be a negative. If your employees are working around it for long periods they could suffer from headaches or eye strain. In this situation, an LCD would be the better option as there is no need for a particularly high brightness level.

Contrast

Contrast is also something to consider. This is the difference between the screen&#;s brightest and darkest colours. The typical contrast ratio for LCD displays is :1, while LEDs can achieve :1. Full-array backlit LEDs can offer high brightness due to the backlighting but also a truer black with local dimming.

Lightest and darkest colours highlighted on an office video wall

The environmental effects on the planet are now at the forefront of many companies&#; minds when making decisions. You could be looking for a video wall solution that has a smaller carbon footprint or complies with your green policies.

Commercial LCDs consume less power than commercial LED displays. This is because LEDs require more energy to power their high-brightness capabilities. LCD panels produce an evenly lit display but don&#;t reach the same level of brightness that LEDs do. As a result, LCD video walls are able to consume much less energy.

A 55&#; LCD display will typically consume around 250W of power at its peak, while a 55&#; LED cabinet will consume around 600W.

Location

LCDs

It is important to note that the location of your video wall will impact which option is best for you. LCD video walls are made for indoor environments and are most suitable in locations such as:

• Reception areas
• Control rooms
• Lecture halls
• Meeting rooms

LEDs

Some LED video walls are designed for indoor use while others are made for outdoor environments. A key detail to look out for with an outdoor LED video wall is the IP rating. This identifies how weather-resistant it is and how well it will cope with outdoor conditions. IP 65 is the rating you should look for as this will mean your LED display will be able to handle operating outside. Ideal outdoor locations for LED video walls include:

• Roadsides
• Stadium/venue entrances
• Attached to the side of a building

Cost

If your main concern is budget, then LCD is the obvious choice. You can usually buy a much bigger LCD display for vastly less money than an LED. LCD video walls are generally much cheaper compared to similar-sized LED displays. The low-end average for an LCD video wall is $5,000-$6,000, while an LED display will cost you $40,000-$50,000.

This is the same when it comes to maintenance. LED screens are more expensive to maintain compared to LCD displays.

How will you display your content?

With both LCD and LED you&#;ll be able to daisy chain your screens or connect a video wall processor. Daisy chaining involves connecting an input, such as a media player to one screen and then linking the remaining screens together. You&#;ll then be able to display the content from the input across your display.

A video wall processor offers more control and customisation as it comes with built-in software. Your chosen video wall will be connected to the processor and then you&#;ll be able to drag and drop content around the display and even resize it to fit your requirements.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of led screen solutions. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

To learn more about video wall processors and how they work, read this article.

LamasaTech Advanced Video Wall Processor

Next step

With this knowledge on video walls, you can take the next step in deciding which solution will be best for you.

You can explore our LCD video wall range here.

LamasaTech is a leader in digital display technology with over 12 years of experience. We support customers across a range of industries including retail, military and defence, government and public sector, technology, hospitality and education.

• Light emitting diode (LED) and liquid crystal display (LCD) are terms used to describe types of display technology. 

• LED monitors have longer lifespans and provide sharper and higher-quality images than LCD monitors. 

• This article will explain the meaning of LCD and LED in computing. It also discusses the 12 key differences between LED and LCD technology.

What Is LCD?

LCD, or &#;liquid crystal display,&#; refers to a flat display technology that is often used in computer monitors, instrument panels, cellular phones, video cameras, televisions, laptops, tablets, and calculators. These display devices support high-resolution image quality. LCDs supplanted the earlier cathode-ray tube (CRT) display technology; however, other display technologies, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have begun replacing LCDs in recent years.

LCDs are often seen on laptop computers and are available as active-matrix and passive-matrix displays. The RCA Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey, invented the LCD in . saw the discovery of the twisted-nematic (TN) method of operation, which brought LCD to mainstream applications. Initially, LCD manufacturers offered small screens for portable items like watches and calculators.

Using a thin-film-transistor (TFT) array, Sharp Corporation presented a 14-inch active-matrix full-color, full-motion screen in . Consequently, Japanese manufacturers like Hitachi established a bonafide &#; and eventually, burgeoning &#;  LCD business. Personal computers were the first to adopt large LCD screens, followed by television receivers.

LCDs utilize an active or passive matrix for their display grid. Active-matrix LCDs are frequently referred to as thin-film transistor (TFT) displays. A passive matrix LCD comprises a matrix of conductors containing pixels at each junction. A current is delivered through two conductors in the matrix to regulate the light for each pixel.

A transistor is situated at every pixel intersection in an active matrix, using a lower current to adjust the brightness of a pixel. Therefore, the power in an active-matrix screen may be turned on and off more often, enhancing the panel&#;s refresh rate.

See More: Sublimation Printing vs. Screen Printing: 12 Key Differences 

What Is LED?

A LED display is a flat-panel video display that employs an arrangement of light-releasing diodes as pixels. Due to their brilliance, these devices can even be utilized outside, where any visual output is apparent even in sunlight &#; for store signage and billboards. Modern computer displays use a mix of LCDs and LEDs to illuminate the display regardless of ambient lighting conditions.

LED stands for light-emitting diode; when current travels through such diodes, it produces light. In the semiconductor material within an LED, electrons reunite with electron holes, emitting energy as photons. This is the foundational principle of LEDs and LED screens.

LEDs have several benefits compared to incandescent light systems, such as reduced power consumption, longer lifespan, enhanced physical durability, smaller size, and quicker switching.

The LEDs on an LED display are tightly spaced. By adjusting the luminosity of every LED, the diodes collectively produce a picture on display.

To generate a vibrant color image, the concepts of additive color mixing are used, in which new colors are made by combining various colors of light. A LED display comprises red, green, and blue LEDs arranged in a predetermined pattern. These three hues come together to create a pixel. A LED device can create billions of colors by altering the diode&#;s intensity. When seen from a fixed distance, the arrangement of colored pixels on an LED display appears as an image.

In , the first LED was invented by the Russian inventor Oleg Losev. Only infrared, red, and yellow LEDs were implementable for many years. These diodes were used in various gadgets &#;  from remotes to alarm clocks.

In , the Japanese physicist Shuji Nakamura developed a functional blue LED. Soon after, green and white LEDs emerged, setting the groundwork for the boom of LED applications in illumination and screen technologies.

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LCD vs. LED: 12 Key Comparisons

To sum up, light emitting diode (LED) and liquid crystal display (LCD) are terms used to describe types of display technology. Technically speaking, LED uses a backlight technology instead of a fluorescent tube. LED monitors have longer lifespans and provide sharper and higher-quality images than LCD monitors. 

The twelve key differences between LED and LCD are explained in detail:

1. Working

LCD LED

• As its name suggests, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels employ liquid crystals to toggle pixels on and off to expose a certain color. 

• Liquid crystals are analogous to a combination of a liquid and a solid in which an electric current may be used to alter its form to trigger a certain response. These liquid crystals may be compared to window blinds. 

• When the window blinds are open, light may readily enter the room. In LCDs, whenever the crystals are positioned in a particular manner, they no longer let that light pass through. The LCD panel&#;s back is responsible for transmitting light through the screen. 

• Positioned in front of the light is a display of red, green, or blue-colored (RGB) pixels. Liquid crystals are essential for electrically activating or deactivating a filter to disclose or conceal a specific color in a pixel.

• This implies that LCD panels function by blocking light originating from the rear of the screen, as opposed to CRT screens, which generate their own light. This enables LCD monitors and televisions to use far less energy when compared to cathode ray tube (CRT) models. In , LCD televisions eclipsed CRT televisions in worldwide revenues for the first time.

• LEDs are semiconductor devices that utilize the laws of quantum physics to convert electricity into light energy. As electrons migrate from upper to lower states, they generate photons containing energy. The term for this phenomenon is electroluminescence.

• LED screens are composed of a thin layer of semiconductor material that has been highly distorted (i.e., with impurities inserted to regulate processes). Gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, gallium arsenide phosphide, and gallium indium nitride may be used as an LED&#;s semiconductor.

• In an LED, the diodes are forward-oriented, allowing current flow in the forward direction. This permits the electrons in the semiconductor&#;s conduction band to recombine with the hole in the valence band (or the most distant electron orbit within an atom).

• Consequently, whenever the recombining of holes and electrons releases a significant quantity of energy in the form of heat and light, this energy is used to create photons. The photons then produce monochromatic or single-color light.

• As a result of the LED screen&#;s thin semiconductor layer, photons may readily escape the junction and radiate outward, resulting in a vivid, multicolored display.

 

2. Backlighting

LCD LED

LCDs use fluorescent lighting to display images on the screen by illuminating the crystal solution, which blocks or allows light to pass through to create the images.  

They require a source of light as they do not produce light themselves. Traditionally, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) provided a light source in LCDs but have been replaced by other sources such as LEDs or electroluminescent panels (ELPs).  

Backlighting is a form of illumination used in LED and LCDs to illuminate the display on the screen. Display devices such as monitors or televisions would offer low-quality or dim images without a backlight.

Unlike LCDs, LED displays produce light of their own. They use light-emitting diodes as a source of light to illuminate the crystal solution from behind to create images on the screen.

 

3. The type and positioning of lighting 

LCD LED

LCDs require a light source to illuminate the crystals to create images on the screen as they do not produce light like other displays, such as plasma or cathode ray tube displays. This light source can either be behind the screen or at the edge, depending on the type of screen. 

Importantly, LCDs usually have a light source placed behind the screen.

Unlike LCDs, a device may emit light from behind or the edges of LED monitors.

Direct-lit LED displays emit light from the back. This type of lighting eliminates the need for a separate backlight, resulting in a more energy-efficient display. When the light source is located on the edge of the screen, it is known as an edge-lit LED display. 

In this type, the light can be directed toward the center of the display by using a light guide plate to ensure that light is spread evenly.

See More: What Is the Metaverse? Meaning, Features, and Importance

4. Image quality at different viewing angles

LCD LED

A viewing angle refers to the maximum angle at which consumers can view a display monitor with an acceptable visual performance. Outside this angle, the monitor displays images with poor contrast, brightness, or blurs. 

Manufacturers of LEDs and LCDs face the challenge of reducing the rate of change of hue and saturation while retaining the RGB percentage of a particular image irrespective of angular position with respect to the center of the screen.

In general, LED displays have a wider viewing angle than LCDs of up to 178 degrees, enabling consumers to see images clearly from different angles.

The viewing angles supported by LEDs are less than LCDs, influencing the image quality in certain conditions. LEDs have a viewing angle of 120-160 degrees. 

It is important to note that the image quality of LED displays may not be as good as that of LCDs when viewed from a regular, vertical angle.

 

5. Application in video walls

LCD LED

Video walls are also known as display walls. Modern video walls use tiled LCD panels, direct LED tiles, or rear-projection tubes to minimize the dead pixel space between different displays. 

Video walls of several tiled LCD panels have a narrow viewing angle and offer high resolution with vibrant colors. However, they are not as bright as those made of LED displays and are thus suitable for control rooms.

Video walls made of several direct LED tiles have a wide viewing angle and offer high-resolution images with accurate colors. These bright video walls suit outdoor spaces such as stadiums, concert halls, and shopping centers.

While LCD tiles have bezels that cause gaps and visual barriers, LED tiles have excellent uniformity with no bezel appearance, making LEDs a popular choice for video walls.

 

6. Gaming applications

LCD LED

Consider a monitor with low response time, high refresh rates, in-plane switching (IPS) panel technology, and a high dynamic video (HDR) feature &#; it would be the ideal display for gaming. LCDs cannot perform lag behind LEDs in this regard but are also cheaper.

Although LED and LCD monitors can provide gamers with an immersive gaming experience, they exhibit differences in performance. 

Gamers should strive to get value for money by striking the right balance between performance and price.

LED monitors have higher refresh rates, resulting in better performance with minimal lag and ghosting issues in graphic-intensive games. They have IPS panels that display colors with greater accuracy, a wider color gamut, and dimming capabilities. 

An LED monitor with high-display resolution (HDR) technology is a plus as it produces astounding-quality game images. They also have lower average response times, which allows for more distinct motion.

Ultimately, one should consider buying LED monitors for the best gaming experience as they score higher than LCD monitors in these essential parameters.

 

7. Picture quality

LCD LED

Factors such as resolution, color accuracy, brightness, contrast, and viewing angle affect the picture quality in LED and LCDs. 

It is important to note that LCD monitors produce good-quality images, though not as great as LEDs. However, their image quality reduces when viewed at vertical angles, a parameter where LCDs can outperform LEDs. 

LED monitors produce pictures of higher quality as they outperform LCD in most parameters apart from viewing angles.

For instance, in terms of color accuracy, full-color LED monitors have a wider color gamut, ensuring less color distortion and producing realistic images. They also display images with higher brightness and contrast.

LED monitors also have higher refresh and rendering rates, producing sharper and clearer images.

 

8. Differences in energy efficiency

LCD LED

The power consumption of LED and LCDs vary depending on the display&#;s resolution, screen size, build quality, the brightness of the screen, and power-saving settings. Older LCD models that use cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting consume more energy than modern LCD models with LED-backlit LCDs.

Monitors with bigger screens and higher resolutions consume more power. Also, monitors displaying animation with a lot of motion consume more energy than static pictures. Similarly, the higher the screen brightness settings, the more power is consumed.

When all factors are held constant, including usage by consumers, LED monitors are more energy efficient than LCD monitors as they use less power to produce the same amount of light.

Additionally, consumers could activate power-saving modes to save more energy.

See More: LTE vs. 4G: Understanding The 8 Key Differences

9. Environmental friendliness

LCD LED

Environmental friendliness refers to the impact of LCD, and LED displays on the environment during production, use, and disposal. LEDs and LCDs affect the environment significantly, especially considering how they are manufactured and disposed of after use by consumers. 

Compared to older models that used cathode-ray tubes (CRTs), LCDs are environmentally friendly as they consume less power and last longer, reducing waste.

However, LCDs contain trace amounts of mercury which are harmful to the environment and contribute to pollution after disposal.  

Of the two, LED displays can be considered the more environmentally friendly option as they weigh less, thus consuming less fuel during delivery. 

They also consume less power and have a longer working lifespan. LCDs contain trace amounts of mercury which are harmful to the environment and contribute to pollution after disposal.

 

10. Shelf life

LCD LED

When considering what type of display to buy, especially a TV monitor or a workstation display, it is critical to consider how long it will last. 

LCD and LED monitors generally have relatively long lifespans as they do not have moving parts (like hard-disk drives) that suffer from wear and tear. The average shelf life of an LCD is 50,000 hours.

LEDs have the longest expected working life of up to 100,000 hours. Exposing LED monitors to high temperatures and humidity may shorten their lifespan. This results from diodes degrading much faster when exposed to high temperatures. 

The type of content you consume can also affect the lifespans of your display monitor. For example, working on graphics-heavy tasks like computer-aided design (CAD), with lots of color variation for extended periods, will impact the diode&#;s life, resulting in a shorter lifespan.

 

11. Price point and affordability

LCD LED

LCD monitors are certainly more affordable than LED monitors. This is because they have been around the markets for longer and have lower production costs. 

The prices of both LCD and LED monitors also increase with increased screen size and resolution. Different models and manufacturers also have different prices for their monitors.

LED monitors are expensive as they incorporate cutting-edge technologies, including IPS panels and edge-lit backlights, and consume less energy. Additionally, the intended use of the LED monitor can drive up the price. 

For instance, gaming LED monitors are more expensive than a typical workstation display used by a web developer, as they are built and optimized to handle even the most intensive graphics to provide gamers with an immersive experience with hyperrealistic images.

 

12. Differences in size and shape

LCD LED

Manufacturers make LCDs using standard shapes and sizes, which limits consumers to fewer selections. Unlike LEDs, therefore, LCDs do not have applications in areas like digital signage.

Moreover, LCDs with CCFL backlighting have thicker monitors as they take up more space than LED monitors that are equipped with backlighting technology.

Consumers have a wide range of shapes of LED displays to choose from to meet their needs. They can purchase creative LEDs like the ball LED display, the curved LED display, the flexible LED display, or the foldable LED display.

Further, edge-lit LED monitors are even thinner than back-lit LED monitors. 

See More: What Is a Computer Network? Definition, Objectives, Components, Types, and Best Practices 

Takeaway

Despite dramatic advancements in display technology (e.g., the rise of organic LED or OLED), both LCD and LED remain a staple in computing displays. LEDs are used more for televisions and signage, while LCD screens are a staple in regular workstations and desktops. However, even LED monitors are reasonably priced today, making it harder for IT managers to choose. By knowing the differences between LED and LCD technology, you can make the right decision for your needs. 

Did we help you understand how LCD differs from LED? Tell us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We&#;d love to hear from you! 

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