Today, the market is flooded with manufacturers that produce top-notch monitors or display screens along with unique specifications. However, there are two screens that stand out from the competition – LED and LCD.
Since they became popular in the world, one of the most confusing things people go through when buying a display device is whether to go for an LED screen or an LCD screen.
Well, to make the right choice, it is necessary that we understand the difference between these technologies. Therefore, we have brought you this article to help you learn how these screens distinguish from each other, and which one offers more overall convenience. Read on to find out.
Table of Contents
What is an LED? And types of LEDs?
The LED is an abbreviated term for Light-Emitting Diode. In the simplest language, it is a semiconductor device that produces light when the current is passed through it. Due to its low energy consumption quality, extended lifetime, and compact size it is used in various applications.
Types of LED
1: DIP LED – Dual In-Line Package LEDs are considered conventional LED lights and are popular due to their simplicity, multiple shapes and sizes, high brightness, and low power consumption.
2: SMD LEDs – Surface Mount Light Emitting Diode or SMD are a better version of DIP LED. They produce wider beam and are commonly used to generate illumination, and are greatly utilized in spotlighting and floodlights.
3: Red Green Blue (RGB) LED – These LEDs hold three primary colors and when combined can produce millions of hues of light. These are common in LED matrix displays, televisions, computer monitors, outdoor decoration, stage lighting, etc.
4: Bi-Color LED – As the name suggests, this LED type comes in two colors (green and red). The color of the LED will depend on the polarity of two anodes and a common cathode.
You will see these LEDs in BUTTONS of various machines to either ON or OFF or increase decrease the intensity. Usually highlighted as Green – ON, and Red – OFF.
5: High-Power LED – Normal LEDs generate a few mill watts of power whereas High-Power LED generates 1 watt of power. They are extremely bright and are commonly used in flashlights, spotlights, and automobiles. High Power LEDs can last about 100,000 hours and have more dynamic color conversion than traditional LEDs.
How does it work?
Light Emitting Diode is a P-N junction diode that gets activated when the current is passed. Here ‘P’ stands for positively charged carriers called holes and N stands for negatively charged carriers called electrons.
When these carriers are connected, a diode is formed. Once the current is passed in this diode, electrons (N) and holes (P) combine and releases energy which is termed as photon or unit of light.
The frequency and color of the light are determined by the amount of photon released from the diode. The types of LEDs that we discussed earlier are then processed into the LED chip and then this chip is installed in the electrical package to direct the desired lights.
What is an LCD? And Types of LCD?
LCD is an abbreviated form of Liquid Crystal Display. It uses liquid-filled crystals to display images in an electronic display device. They are commonly used in TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, and tablets.
Types of LCD
Unlike LEDs, LCD technologies use backlights to project images. Here are three major backlighting sources in an LCD display.
1: Cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) – This a lighting system used in electronic display devices (TVs, monitors) to create backlighting. They turn ON instantly and have a long life span. CCFL is less power consuming but not better than LEDs.
2: WLED – White Light Emitting Diode is a term associated with TV LCD display. These LCD types are a source of backlight and are used in place of CCFL in many modern displays.
WLED has good color gradation, uniform brightness, and long life and is less energy-consuming.
3: RGB LED Array – Red-Green-Blue LED is another type of backlighting used in an LCD display. These primary colors are combined to generate endless color combinations. Altogether, the RGB LED array offers better contrast, brightness, and color gradation. Moreover, they are highly energy-efficient and enduring.
How does it work?
When it comes to an LCD display, there are four major elements that work together to form an image on the screen. If you look closely at an LCD screen you will find thousands of RGB dots. These dots combine to form a pixel and thousands of pixels combine to make a picture.
Now, if you split one pixel, you will find those four major elements that we mentioned in the first paragraph:
- Backlight
- Polarizer Sheet
- Liquid Crystals
- RGB color filters
When the light leaves from the backlight source, it travels through the polarizer sheet. Between the polarizer sheets, lies another crucial element called liquid crystals which assist the light to travel through the polarizer sheet and fall into the RGB color filer.
The monitor adjusts the amount of electricity that flows in each color filter to project the desired image. This is how an LCD display works.
Differences between LCD and LED?
Here is a table to comprehend the differences between an LED and an LCD.
| Features | LED | LCD |
|---|---|---|
| Response Time | They have a better response time. | Slower then LED. |
| Power Consumption | LED consumes less power than LCD. | LCD is a bit of energy-consuming in comparison to an LED. |
| Output Quality | Better picture quality than LCD. | LCD also delivers good picture quality but lower than LED. |
| Viewing Angle | Clarity in all viewing angles. | Clarity is limited to a 165-degree angle, beyond this angle, the picture distorts. |
| Screen Thickness | They come with a sharp edge screen and slim built. | LCDs’ screens are thicker than LED screens. |
| Size | LED does not support small profile screen sizes. | LCD supports small-large profile screen size. |
| Cost | LED is costlier than LCD. | They are cheaper than LCD. |
| Lifespan | Higher than LCD. About 100,000 hours | Lower than LED. About 60,000 hours. |
Which one is better: LCD or LED TV?
If you have been reading all the information above, you may have figured out which technology is a clear winner. Considering all the specifications of both LED and LCD, LED has proven to be better than an LCD.
Therefore, if you are looking for an upgrade in your television, it is advisable to opt for an LED screen. Here are some advantages of an LED TV to convince you furthermore:
- Lightweight, thinner, and compact in terms of dimensions and portability.
- Clearer picture quality than LCD TVs.
- Better dimming and backlight.
- LED TVs use less power, hence low electricity bills.
The only downside of an LED TV that we can assess is the higher price.
What is the ideal TV size?
The ideal TV size may depend on three main factors – your budget, viewing distance, and total audience in the room. There is no hard and fast rule when buying a desire television screen size, but the below-mentioned information can help.
1: Viewing Distance
To calculate an ideal TV size all you need to do is estimate your viewing distance in inches and divide it by 2.
VIEWING DISTANCE (in inches)/2 = IDEAL TV SIZE
Let’s see an example:
Suppose your viewing distance is = 10 feet or 120 inches.
Divide 120 by 2 and you will get 6. This digit (60 inches) is your ideal TV size.
2: Audience in the room
Another factor that could determine the ideal size of your television is the crowd watching TV in the room. Follow the table below to get the idea.
NOTE: TV screen size is measured diagonally i.e. corner to corner and the screen surrounding bezel are excluded.
| Viewing Distance in feet | TV Screen Size (inches) - Full HD | Perfect For |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 | 30” to 36” | Bedroom, Office, and Kitchen. |
| 6 to 8 | 40” to 48” | Best choice for small-medium rooms. |
| 9 to 11 | 50” to 60” | Medium - Big Family |
| 12 to 15 | 60” to 72” | Gamers and Sports Enthusiasts. |
| 15 to 17 | 72” to 85” | Cinema like experience |
It is important for you to keep in mind that TV screen size will vary if you switch to higher technologies like Ultra HD, 4K, and 8K. To get the best experience follow the old saying – “The Bigger the better.”
Conclusion
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) are two major technologies ruling the electronic display field. In this article, we have talked about how an LED and LCD while being such dominant inventions could be different in various aspects.
By learning their working principles, advantages, and disadvantages, we were able to conclude that LED technology is better than LCD technology. In addition to that, we discussed how to calculate an ideal TV size for your room or family. Consider reviewing the table above to learn more.
We hope this article was comprehensive enough to explain the differences between LCDs and LEDs. Good Luck!
