Here are the Different Types of Display Screens: LCD, OLED, MicroLED, E-Paper, PDP, CRT, and More
Have you been wondering about the different types of display screens that are available? Well you have just landed in the right place as this article will be taking you through them, from the modern ones to those that were used in the older times. Dive into all of them right below.
LCD and its Variations
‘LCD’ which stands for ‘Liquid Crystal Display’ makes use of a backlight, and this light passes through a layer of liquid crystals and color filters to create images. The liquid crystals are responsible for allowing and blocking the light, which thereby helps in the formation of images. To note, the older LCD screens used Cathode Fluorescent Lamps or CCFLs as the backlight.
The ‘LED’ display is the modern version of LCD, and it stands for ‘Light Emitting Diode’. Thanks to LEDs used within it, in comparison to CCFLs, the display will offer better contrast, brightness, and energy efficiency. ‘Mini-LED’ display is another variation and it equips many tiny LEDs for more dimming zones, higher brightness, and better contrast.
‘QLED’ or Quantum Dot LED display is another LCD variation, and it is an enhanced LED-backlit LCD display. A layer of quantum dots are used within it, which enhances both the color brightness and volume to provide even vibrant and accurate colors.
OLED and its Variations
Regarding the ‘OLED’ display, it stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode and unlike the above mentioned LCD display and its variations, it does not require a backlight. As indicated by its name, there are organic light-emitting diodes which light up when electric current passes through them. Perfect Blacks, infinite contrast, faster response times, and thin and flexible designs are revealed to be its notable key features.
‘AMOLED’ (Active-Matrix OLED) and ‘QD-OLED’ (Quantum Dot OLED) are two of its variations. In AMOLED, TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) and capacitor are used to control each pixel for better performance and faster switching. On the other hand, the QD-OLED display combines a quantum dot color filter layer to the OLED light source – for perfect Blacks as well as great contrast. Thinking about pOLED? It is almost the same as AMOLED and instead of glass substrates, it uses plastic substrates for more flexibility.
Other Emerging and Older Displays
Speaking of other displays, MicroLED is an emerging display technology which similar to OLED uses microscopic inorganic LEDs as its individual pixels. Along with the major benefits of OLED display, it promises higher brightness, no burn-in risks, and greater longevity.
PDP (Plasma Display Panel) and CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays are older display types. The former got replaced majorly by LCD/LED displays, and it consisted of noble gases like xenon and neon which when electrified turns into plasma and emit light to create images. About the latter, it is the oldest display technology that uses electron guns to fire beams on phosphor-coated screens in order to create images. The CRT was majorly used in the old bulky TVs and monitors.
Also to add, E-Paper or E-Ink display is something that is currently in use and it tries to mimic ink on physical paper. Low power consumption is its major advantage, along with excellent readability under direct sunlight.
