Television display technologies are important for us to get the best experience possible when we are using our technological devices to watch something or play games.
Every display technology has its own way of working, and they are better than their predecessors in different ways.
One of those display technologies is the LCD display. We will talk about what an LCD display is and explain it further.
What Is LCD Display?
Coming right after gas-plasma displays and light-emitting diode (LED) technologies, LCD is a panel display that uses liquid crystals to operate, different than light-emitting diodes in LED technologies.
LCDs are extremely common for use both for individuals and businesses as you can find them everywhere, from smartphones to televisions.
These can make the displays we are using way thinner than the CRT technology.
LCDs also use less electricity than their predecessors because instead of emitting the light like the LED technology, they block it and produce an image using a backlight.
LCDs have taken the place of LEDs extremely quickly, and now they are nearly everywhere on most technological devices with a screen.
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How LCDs Work?
There are millions of pixels within a screen display, and the quality of the display is generally the number of pixels on the screen.
This means that the higher the pixel and resolution number, the better the quality of the display screen.
These pixels mostly have three subpixels: red, blue, and green. By changing the subpixels in a pixel, you get millions of different colors.
Each display type controls these pixels differently in a display. With LCDs, these pixels are lit by a backlight, and they switch the pixels on and off electronically and polarize the light by using the liquid crystals.
In simpler terms, this means that LCDs can provide a smoother light in the screen display while using less electricity than their predecessors.
Some LCDs also have dual scanning; they can scan the entire grid twice, which gives a better and crisper view on your screen display.
There are a variety of LCD TV sizes available on the market, ranging from small-screen models that are ideal for bedroom viewing or kitchens to large-screen models that are perfect for living rooms or home theater setups.
The most popular LCD TV sizes are 32 inches, 40 inches, and 60 inches, although there are also larger and smaller options available.
LCD Types
- Twisted Nematic (TN): Twisted nematic LCD type has a low contrast ratio, color contrast, and fewer viewing angles. However, they are not expensive and have a high response time.
- In Panel Switching Displays (IPS): IPS panels have a better contrast ratio, color contrast, and viewing angles compared to TN panels.
- Vertical Alignment Panels (VA): These panels sit right between TN and IPS panels in terms of quality.
- Advanced Fringe Field Switching (AFFS): AFFS is one of the best LCD technologies in its color reproduction range when you compare it to other LCD types.
Types Of LCD TVs
Here are the three types of LCD TVs that you can find:
- Flat Screen LCDs: These are the most common type of TVs that you can find. The thinner Tv you go for, the more the price you will have to pay. These are popular because of the flexibility they offer in terms of planting them. They can be hung on the wall or can be mounted on a flat surface.
- Rear projection LCDs: In these types of LCDs, the image is sent from the back right to the front of the screen. This type of TV is usually heavy and is available in size 60″ or more.
- Front projection LCDs: Front projection LCDs are nothing but projectors. In this, the tv is nothing but a projector in the shape of a box. This projects an image onto a screen in the front and can be done on a screen size as large as 300 inches.
What To Consider Before Buying an LCD TV?
Here are a few things to consider before buying an LCD tv:
- Screen Size: TVs are getting larger and larger in size, so you should consider the size of your room and your sitting distance to pick the size that fits the best in your house.
- Viewing Angle: A big drawback of buying an LCD TV is that the clarity would remain good only as long as your viewing angle is under 30 to 45 degrees from the center on either side. If you shift more beyond this angle, then you will see blurry images. You can buy an OLED tv as it does not pose this issue.
- Smart TV: If you like to stream movies and shows online, then you should look for smart LCD tv. The best part is that there are various smart tv options available that support streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, etc.
- Sound Quality: Most LCD TVs come with built-in speakers, but they may not be as good. As such, you can always connect the tv to an external audio system.
LCD Vs. LED Display
Here are some factors to consider before choosing between an LCD & LED Tv are:
- Picture Quality: Some belief the picture quality of LED to be better than LCD, but it is hard to tell which one is better because both LED and LCD TVs use the same type of screen.
- Slim Frame: LED backlighting feature allows the LCD tv to be thin. But you can even find LED TVs that are only an inch thick.
- Color: When it comes to color, LED TVs are better since they offer more colors because they use RGB-LED backlighting.
- Energy Consumption: Because LED TVs use light-emitting diodes (LED) for backlighting, they are more energy efficient as compared to LCDs. You can, in fact, save 10-20% energy by using LED TV.
- Price: LED TVs cost more than LCD TVs. A good range of LED TVs starts at a price of $120, and LCD starts at a price of $100.
What Are The Benefits of LCD’s Over Other Displays?
LCDs are light and thin and consume less power, because of which it was possible to create folding laptops, thin TVs, etc.
It wiped out many of its competitors, including CRT monitors or Plasma tv.
But LCD had its own problems, such as poor viewing angles, slow response time, etc., which is why makers introduced OLED displays.
This new cutting-edge technology offers many features, including a better viewing angle, better color, a clear image, etc.
And so, if you are buying a Tv in this year, then switch to buying an OLED or QLED tv instead of an LCD tv.
LCD Vs. OLED
Why Should You Buy an OLED TV Instead of LCD?
The Verdict
To sum everything up, LCD technology is slowly taking over its predecessors, LED and gas-emitting screen displays.
LCDs work with liquid crystals and use less electricity while giving better color contrast and viewing experience in general, thanks to more color range and the way the pixels work with a backlight in the screen display.
LCDs are extremely common to find in most technological devices with a screen, and they have four different types depending on the quality you are looking for.
Some are cheap, and some are expensive, but they give you different quality.
FAQ’s
What is better LCD or OLED Tv?
OLED TVs are more advanced and better than LCD TVs.
One of the major differences between the two is that an OLED can turn completely black and thus bringing out the colors more and improving the viewing quality.
On the other hand, LCD cannot achieve true blackness, and the viewing quality is not that great.
Should I Buy an LCD or LED TV?
To find LCD TVs without LEDs is actually rare. When you go shopping for an LCD tv, you are more likely to find TVs listed as LEDs.
At the same time, you may also find Tv listed as LCD tv, but it is highly likely that they will have an LED panel in them.
So you can ask the supplier for more information on this and buy a tv accordingly.
Can I hang an LCD TV on a wall?
Yes, the majority of LCDs have a thickness that allows you to mount in on the wall or even on a counter.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.