Commercial LED displays and TVs are visual display technology used in different settings. While they may look similar, there are critical differences between the two that make them better suited for non-parallel applications.
As you read on, you’ll learn the major differences between these products. And by the end of this article, you’ll be better able to decide whether to buy new display screens for your business or upgrade existing ones.
Utility
Commercial LED display screens and TVs leverage different design philosophies. Simply put, they are designed for other purposes and have distinct usage differences, even though they are both display output devices.
Commercial displays have a more comprehensive range of applications compared to TV screens. You can use LED screens both indoors and outdoors.
From displaying silent ads, menu boards, and outdoor advertisement boards to even DJ display booths, the possibilities are endless.
In contrast, TVs are designed mainly for indoor use. Their utility is limited to displaying traditional media like media from streaming services, DVDs, and satellite TVs.
You can also observe both products’ utility design philosophies in their optimal uptimes.
In most commercial LED display use cases, the screen will likely have a 24/7 365 days uptime. Meanwhile, indoor TVs would probably only see a few hours of uptime daily.
Display Screen Size
Commercial LED displays are available in much larger sizes than TVs.
While TVs are typically designed for home use and come in sizes up to 75 inches, commercial LED displays can be much larger, often measuring 100 inches or more.
The larger size of commercial LED displays makes them more suitable for use in large public spaces, such as sports arenas, convention centers, and shopping malls, where you might require long-distance visibility.
The same constraints do not limit commercial LED display sizing as consumer TVs, that manufacturers design for use in homes and private spaces.
As a result, commercial displays can be tailored to specific needs and built as modular displays that you can combine to create even larger displays.
Their larger size gives them several advantages over their consumer counterparts. For starters, larger displays provide better visibility, which makes them ideal for use in environments with large crowds.
Furthermore, commercial LED variants, such as panoramic displays or video walls, can create immersive viewing experiences.
That said, the larger commercial LED displays present some additional challenges.
You’ll find that larger displays are relatively more difficult to transport and install, and they take up more space. They are also more expensive than consumer televisions, which limits their use in smaller businesses or organizations.
Display Resolution
Another technological framework that differentiates commercial LED displays from consumer TV is display resolution.
There is a direct correlation between screen size and display resolution. A larger screen equals higher resolution. For instance, a 4k quality video is better served on a 64-inch TV than on a 32″ TV screen.
This is due to the former’s higher pixel density, which allows it to project high-definition images more effectively than the latter.
Because commercial LED displays are larger than consumer TVs, they can support a broader range of image/video resolutions, including HD (720p), 4K Ultra HD (2160p), and even 8K. (4320p).
In contrast, most consumer TVs typically have resolutions of 1080p or 4K.
As previously demonstrated, the higher resolution of commercial LED displays is achieved through smaller pixels and improved pixel density, resulting in sharper, more detailed images.
Higher resolutions can make a significant difference in the visual impact of content in applications such as advertising, digital signage, and presentations where you require high-quality images and videos.
It is worth noting, however, that higher resolutions may not be necessary or beneficial in all applications, particularly when the viewer is not positioned close to the display.
Display Brightness
The underlying tech framework of both commercial LED display screens and commercial TVs aims to optimize their utility design philosophy.
Manufacturers design commercial LED displays to operate in environments with high levels of ambient light, such as outdoor spaces, brightly-lit indoor spaces, or spaces with large windows.
The implication is that these display screens project their content at a noticeable brightness level even in the clutter of background brightness.
Display brightness is measured in nits. For context, the brightness of a single standard candle equals one nit.
Typical consumer-grade displays usually have a brightness of around 300-500 nits, while commercial-grade LED displays can have a brightness of up to 5000 nits or more.
Thanks to their high brightness rating, commercial LED displays can maintain image quality and visibility — easily readable from all angles — even in direct sunlight or other high-ambient light conditions.
Durability
Commercial LED displays are frequently exposed to water, dust, and extreme temperatures. As mentioned earlier also, they’ll most likely be running for extended periods all through the year.
To compensate for these extreme operating conditions, commercial LED display manufacturers have high durability in mind. The LED screens are built with studier materials to ensure a longer life cycle.
Commercial TV manufacturers, on the other hand, have more lax considerations regarding durability.
It’s not to say that they won’t last as long as a commercial LED screen. Only they are not built to work in the same operating conditions. They cannot withstand the same level of abuse as commercial LED display screens.
Take Away
There are as many differences as there are similarities between commercial LED displays and consumer TVs.
While you can substitute both products for one another in some use cases, it’s important to note that they represent two different schools of applications.
We hope you’ve learned one or two things about these differences, so you can easily distinguish which works best for you and your business.
