LED vs LCD digital signage: which is right for your business?
4 min read
"LED or LCD?" is one of the first questions people ask about digital signage, and the names don't help. Plenty of LCD TVs are sold as "LED TVs". Here's what actually differs, and how to pick.
How each one works
An LCD screen is a liquid crystal panel with a light behind it. The crystals block or pass light to form the picture. In most modern LCDs that backlight is made of LEDs, which is where the "LED TV" name comes from. It's still an LCD.
A direct-view LED screen has no separate panel. The LEDs themselves are the pixels. Thousands of red, green and blue LEDs are mounted on modules, and the modules join into cabinets to make a screen of almost any size. That's the kind of LED sign you see on roadside billboards, at stadiums and on trailers.
Side by side
| LCD | Direct-view LED | |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | Standard panels suit indoors; high-brightness models are made for windows | Indoor LED is bright; outdoor LED is built to stay readable in full sun |
| Sizes | Fixed panel sizes; bigger means tiling panels with visible joins | Modular, built to almost any size with no joins |
| Sharpness up close | Very sharp, even at arm's length | Depends on pixel pitch; fine pitch is sharp but costly |
| Outdoors | Needs a sealed, cooled enclosure and a high-brightness panel | Outdoor models are sealed and made for the weather |
| Repairs | A failed panel is usually replaced whole | Single modules can be swapped |
| Cost | Usually cheaper at smaller sizes | More competitive as the screen gets bigger |
When LCD makes sense
- Close viewing. Menu boards, reception screens and wayfinding that people read from a metre or two away. An LCD shows small text crisply at that distance for far less money than fine-pitch LED.
- Smaller sizes. Up to the size of a large TV, LCD is usually the cheaper way to get a sharp picture.
- Portable indoor signs. A free-standing LCD sign can be moved wherever it's needed. See our LCD digital sign, or rent one with the vertical LCD sign stand.
When LED makes sense
- Outdoors and in sun. Outdoor LED runs at 5,000 nits or more, well beyond most LCDs. That's what keeps it readable at midday. Read more in our brightness guide.
- Big screens. Once you're past the size of a large TV, LED avoids the joins of an LCD video wall, and the price gap narrows or reverses.
- Unusual shapes and sizes. LED cabinets can be arranged to fit a wall, a shopfront or a pylon, instead of the wall having to fit the screen.
- Mobile signs. Trailers and utes are almost always LED, because they're used outdoors and in daylight. See our trailers and utes.
- Viewing from further away. Once people are several metres back, a mid-range pitch looks sharp and costs much less than fine pitch.
Lifespan and upkeep
Both technologies last for years with sensible use. The difference is how they're fixed. If part of an LED screen fails, the faulty module can usually be swapped on site. When an LCD panel fails, the whole panel usually has to go, and for large screens that matters. How long do LED screens last? covers upkeep in more detail.
Common questions
Is an LED TV the same as an LED screen?
No. An LED TV is an LCD panel lit by LEDs from behind. A direct-view LED screen uses the LEDs themselves as the pixels.
Can I use a normal TV as an outdoor sign?
Not for long. A standard TV isn't sealed against the weather, can overheat in the sun, and isn't bright enough to read in daylight. Use a screen built for outdoor use.
Which lasts longer, LED or LCD?
Both last for years with sensible use. LED screens are easier to repair, because a single module can be swapped instead of the whole panel.
A quick way to decide
Ask three questions:
- Is it outside, or facing a sunny window? If so, lean towards LED.
- How close will people be? Within a couple of metres, and at a modest size, LCD is hard to beat on price.
- How big does it need to be? Past the size of a large TV, LED usually wins.
Still torn? Tell us the spot, the viewing distance and what you want to show, and we'll suggest the right option. In the meantime, browse our indoor screens and outdoor signs.