Comparison of display technology

{{further|Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays|History of display technology}}

{{Merge from|Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays|discuss=Talk:Comparison of display technology#Proposed merge of Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays into Comparison of display technology|date=December 2024}}

This is a comparison of various properties of different display technologies.

General characteristics

style="text-align: center;" class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
rowspan=2 \| Display technology ! rowspan=2 \| Screen shape ! colspan=2 \| Largest known diagonal ! rowspan=2 \| Typical use ! rowspan=2 \| Usable in bright room
(in) ! (cm)
{{rh}} \| Eidophor front projection \| Flat \| colspan="2" \|(limited only by brightness) \| TV \| {{no}}
{{rh}} \| Shadow mask CRT \| Spherical curve or flat \| 42{{cite web\|url=http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/2/161960.html\|title=DEAD MITSUBISHI 40-INCH TV. help!! - ecoustics.com\|publisher=}} \| 107 \| TV, computer monitor \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| Aperture grille CRT \| Cylindrical curve or flat \| 43{{Cite web \|last=Database \|first=C. R. T. \|date=2024-12-22 \|title=Sony PVM-4300 {{!}} CRT Database \|url=https://crtdatabase.com/crts/sony/sony-pvm-4300 \|access-date=2025-01-17 \|website=crtdatabase.com \|language=en}} \| 109 \| TV, computer monitor \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| Monochrome CRT \| Spherical curve or flat \| 30{{cite web\|url=http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html\|title=Monochrome CRT\|url-status=dead\|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091009163303/http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html\|archivedate=2009-10-09}} \| 76 \| TV, computer monitor, radar display, oscilloscope \| {{yes}}
{{rh}}\|Direct view Charactron CRT \| Spherical curve \| 24 \| 61 \| Computer monitor, radar display \| {{no}}
{{rh}} \| CRT self-contained rear-projection \| Flat lenticular \| 80{{cite web\|url=http://thejournal.com/articles/13021\|title=Self-contained Rear Projection CRT\|publisher=\|access-date=2007-11-04\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031125634/http://thejournal.com/articles/13021\|archive-date=2008-10-31\|url-status=dead}} \| 203 \| TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| CRT front projection \| Flat \| colspan="2" \|(limited only by brightness) \| TV or presentation \| {{no}}
{{rh}} \| Plasma display \| Flat \| 152{{cite web\|url=http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html\|title=Panasonic Develops World's Largest 152-Inch Full HD 3D Plasma Display - Headquarters News - Panasonic Newsroom Global\|publisher=\|access-date=2010-01-08\|archive-date=2010-01-10\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110212836/http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html\|url-status=dead}} \| 386 \| TV, computer monitor (In some early "portable" computers. They required too much power for battery-powered laptops){{Cite web\|url=https://www.retropaq.com/the-beginning/\|title=Gas Plasma Screen - Compaq Portable 386\|date=December 19, 2018}}{{Cite web\|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/3949/Compaq-Portable-386/\|title=Compaq Portable 386 - Computer - Computing History\|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}{{Cite web\|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2235/Toshiba-T3100-20/\|title=Toshiba T3100/20 - Computer - Computing History\|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}{{Cite web\|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0024.html\|title=T-5100-Computer Museum\|website=museum.ipsj.or.jp}} \| {{partial}}
{{rh}} \| LCD \| Flat \| 115{{cite web\|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tcls-huge-115-inch-tv-is-among-the-biggest-brightest-screens-ive-seen/\|title=TCL's Huge 115-inch TV Is Among the Biggest, Brightest Screens I've Seen\|publisher=CNET \|access-date=2024-01-09}} \| 292 \| TV, computer monitor \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| LCD self-contained rear-projection \| Flat lenticular \| 70{{cite web\|url=http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html\|title=LCD Rear Projection\|publisher=\|access-date=2007-03-16\|archive-date=2012-07-17\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717052154/https://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html\|url-status=dead}} \| 178 \| TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| LCD front-projection \| Flat \| colspan="2" \|(limited only by brightness) \| TV or presentation \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| DLP self-contained rear-projection \| Flat lenticular \| 120{{cite web\|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/08/ces-2007-optomas-50k-120-inch-set\|title=CES 2007: Optoma's $50k 120-inch Set\|first=Matt\|last=Casamassina\|date=8 January 2007\|publisher=}} \| 305 \| TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| DLP front-projection \| Flat \| colspan="2" \|(limited only by brightness) \| TV or presentation \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| LCoS self-contained rear-projection \| Flat \| 110{{cite web\|url=http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20060929/121684/\|title=JVC Develops 110-inch\|publisher=}} \| 279 \| TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| LCoS front-projection \| Flat \| colspan="2" \|(limited only by brightness) \| TV or presentation \| {{yes}}
{{rh}}\|Laser self-contained rear projection \| Flat lenticular \| 75{{cite web \|url=http://www.laservuetv.com/products.php \|title=Mitsubishi Electric LaserVue® - Products \|accessdate=2009-09-08 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825105355/http://laservuetv.com/products.php \|archivedate=2009-08-25 }} \| 191 \| TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| LED \| Flat \| 279.92{{cite web\|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-10000/largest-led-3d-tv/\|title=Largest LED 3D TV\|publisher=}} \| 711 \| Billboards, TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| SED \| Flat \| 55{{cite web\|url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/55-inch-sed-hdtvs-on-the-way-in-08/\|title=55-inch SED HDTVs on the way in '08\|date=3 October 2006 \|publisher=}} \| 140 \| Computer monitor, TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| FED \| Flat \| {{dunno}} \| {{dunno}} \| Computer monitor, TV \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| EPD (e-paper) \| Flat (flexible) \| {{dunno}} \| {{dunno}} \| Electronic paper \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| OLED \| Any, but most commonly flat rectangular with or without rounded edges, notch(es) and holes, circular, or curved (flexible){{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108122117/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I&gl=US&hl=en \|archive-date=2015-01-08 \|url-status=dead\|title=CES 2015 LG - Perfect Black, Perfect Color : Only in LG OLED TV\|last=LG Global\|date=7 January 2015\|publisher=\|via=YouTube}} \| 88{{Cite web\|url=https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-OLED88Z9PUA-signature-oled-8k-tv\|title=LG SIGNATURE Z9 88 inch Class 8K Smart OLED TV w/AI ThinQ® (87.6'' Diag) (OLED88Z9PUA)\|website=LG USA}} \| 223.52 \| Computer monitor, TV, Mobile phone \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| Telescopic pixel display \| \| \| \| \|
{{rh}} \| Ferroelectric LCD \| \| \| \| \|
{{rh}} \| 'mLED' LED \| Curved or flat \| ?? \| ?? \| Mobile phones, wearable electronics, VR displays, smartwatches, optical instruments, AR displays \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| QDLED{{cite web\|url=http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled\|title=Quantum Dots QDTV Displays from Nanoco Technologies\|publisher=\|access-date=2009-05-02\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714024145/http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled\|archive-date=2009-07-14\|url-status=dead}}{{cite web\|url=http://nanotechnology.unlv.edu/research.htm\|title=Nevada Nanotechnology Center - Research\|publisher=}}{{cite web\|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/LED-039-s-Outpower-QDLED-039-s-73412.shtml\|title=LED's Outpower QDLED's\|first=Gabriel\|last=Gache\|date=10 December 2007 \|publisher=}}{{Cite web \|url=http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html \|title=Ocean NanoTech research in QDLEDs \|access-date=2009-05-02 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429035543/http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html \|archive-date=2009-04-29 \|url-status=dead }} \| {{n/a}} \| {{n/a}} \| {{n/a}} \| {{n/a}} \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| IMOD \| Flat \| 1.2{{cite web\|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611074922/http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=2011-06-11\|title=Wireless Technology & Innovation - Mobile Technology - Qualcomm}} \| 3 \| Mobile phone{{cite web\|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf\|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080309043401/http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=2008-03-09\|title=IMOD}} \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) \| Flat / Box \| 196 \| 497.8 \| Presentation \| {{yes}}
{{rh}} \| Virtual retinal display \| Any shape \| {{n/a}} \| {{n/a}} \| Experimental, possibly virtual reality \| Depends on system

style="text-align: center;" class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

rowspan=2 | Display technology

! rowspan=2 | Screen shape

! colspan=2 | Largest known diagonal

! rowspan=2 | Typical use

! rowspan=2 | Usable in bright room

(in)

! (cm)

{{rh}} | Eidophor front projection

| Flat

| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)

| TV

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Shadow mask CRT

| Spherical curve or flat

| 42{{cite web|url=http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/2/161960.html|title=DEAD MITSUBISHI 40-INCH TV. help!! - ecoustics.com|publisher=}}

| 107

| TV, computer monitor

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Aperture grille CRT

| Cylindrical curve or flat

| 43{{Cite web |last=Database |first=C. R. T. |date=2024-12-22 |title=Sony PVM-4300 {{!}} CRT Database |url=https://crtdatabase.com/crts/sony/sony-pvm-4300 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=crtdatabase.com |language=en}}

| 109

| TV, computer monitor

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Monochrome CRT

| Spherical curve or flat

| 30{{cite web|url=http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html|title=Monochrome CRT|url-status=dead|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091009163303/http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html|archivedate=2009-10-09}}

| 76

| TV, computer monitor, radar display, oscilloscope

| {{yes}}

{{rh}}|Direct view Charactron CRT

| Spherical curve

| 24

| 61

| Computer monitor, radar display

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | CRT self-contained rear-projection

| Flat lenticular

| 80{{cite web|url=http://thejournal.com/articles/13021|title=Self-contained Rear Projection CRT|publisher=|access-date=2007-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031125634/http://thejournal.com/articles/13021|archive-date=2008-10-31|url-status=dead}}

| 203

| TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | CRT front projection

| Flat

| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)

| TV or presentation

| {{no}}

{{rh}} | Plasma display

| Flat

| 152{{cite web|url=http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html|title=Panasonic Develops World's Largest 152-Inch Full HD 3D Plasma Display - Headquarters News - Panasonic Newsroom Global|publisher=|access-date=2010-01-08|archive-date=2010-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110212836/http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html|url-status=dead}}

| 386

| TV, computer monitor
(In some early "portable" computers. They required too much power for battery-powered laptops){{Cite web|url=https://www.retropaq.com/the-beginning/|title=Gas Plasma Screen - Compaq Portable 386|date=December 19, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/3949/Compaq-Portable-386/|title=Compaq Portable 386 - Computer - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2235/Toshiba-T3100-20/|title=Toshiba T3100/20 - Computer - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}{{Cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0024.html|title=T-5100-Computer Museum|website=museum.ipsj.or.jp}}

| {{partial}}

{{rh}} | LCD

| Flat

| 115{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tcls-huge-115-inch-tv-is-among-the-biggest-brightest-screens-ive-seen/|title=TCL's Huge 115-inch TV Is Among the Biggest, Brightest Screens I've Seen|publisher=CNET |access-date=2024-01-09}}

| 292

| TV, computer monitor

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LCD self-contained rear-projection

| Flat lenticular

| 70{{cite web|url=http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html|title=LCD Rear Projection|publisher=|access-date=2007-03-16|archive-date=2012-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717052154/https://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html|url-status=dead}}

| 178

| TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LCD front-projection

| Flat

| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)

| TV or presentation

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | DLP self-contained rear-projection

| Flat lenticular

| 120{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/08/ces-2007-optomas-50k-120-inch-set|title=CES 2007: Optoma's $50k 120-inch Set|first=Matt|last=Casamassina|date=8 January 2007|publisher=}}

| 305

| TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | DLP front-projection

| Flat

| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)

| TV or presentation

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LCoS self-contained rear-projection

| Flat

| 110{{cite web|url=http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20060929/121684/|title=JVC Develops 110-inch|publisher=}}

| 279

| TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LCoS front-projection

| Flat

| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)

| TV or presentation

| {{yes}}

{{rh}}|Laser self-contained rear projection

| Flat lenticular

| 75{{cite web |url=http://www.laservuetv.com/products.php |title=Mitsubishi Electric LaserVue® - Products |accessdate=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825105355/http://laservuetv.com/products.php |archivedate=2009-08-25 }}

| 191

| TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | LED

| Flat

| 279.92{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-10000/largest-led-3d-tv/|title=Largest LED 3D TV|publisher=}}

| 711

| Billboards, TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | SED

| Flat

| 55{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/55-inch-sed-hdtvs-on-the-way-in-08/|title=55-inch SED HDTVs on the way in '08|date=3 October 2006 |publisher=}}

| 140

| Computer monitor, TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | FED

| Flat

| {{dunno}}

| Computer monitor, TV

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | EPD (e-paper)

| Flat (flexible)

| {{dunno}}

| Electronic paper

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | OLED

| Any, but most commonly flat rectangular with or without rounded edges, notch(es) and holes, circular, or curved (flexible){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108122117/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2015-01-08 |url-status=dead|title=CES 2015 LG - Perfect Black, Perfect Color : Only in LG OLED TV|last=LG Global|date=7 January 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}

| 88{{Cite web|url=https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-OLED88Z9PUA-signature-oled-8k-tv|title=LG SIGNATURE Z9 88 inch Class 8K Smart OLED TV w/AI ThinQ® (87.6'' Diag) (OLED88Z9PUA)|website=LG USA}}

| 223.52

| Computer monitor, TV, Mobile phone

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Telescopic pixel display

{{rh}} | Ferroelectric LCD

{{rh}} | 'mLED' LED

| Curved or flat

| ??

| Mobile phones, wearable electronics, VR displays, smartwatches, optical instruments, AR displays

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | QDLED{{cite web|url=http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled|title=Quantum Dots QDTV Displays from Nanoco Technologies|publisher=|access-date=2009-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714024145/http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled|archive-date=2009-07-14|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://nanotechnology.unlv.edu/research.htm|title=Nevada Nanotechnology Center - Research|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/LED-039-s-Outpower-QDLED-039-s-73412.shtml|title=LED's Outpower QDLED's|first=Gabriel|last=Gache|date=10 December 2007 |publisher=}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html |title=Ocean NanoTech research in QDLEDs |access-date=2009-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429035543/http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html |archive-date=2009-04-29 |url-status=dead }}

| {{n/a}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | IMOD

| Flat

| 1.2{{cite web|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611074922/http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-11|title=Wireless Technology & Innovation - Mobile Technology - Qualcomm}}

| 3

| Mobile phone{{cite web|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080309043401/http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-09|title=IMOD}}

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Laser Phosphor Display (LPD)

| Flat / Box

| 196

| 497.8

| Presentation

| {{yes}}

{{rh}} | Virtual retinal display

| Any shape

| {{n/a}}

| Experimental, possibly virtual reality

| Depends on system

Major technologies are CRT, LCD and its derivatives (Quantum dot display, LED backlit LCD, WLCD, OLCD), Plasma, and OLED and its derivatives (Transparent OLED, PMOLED, AMOLED). An emerging technology is Micro LED. Cancelled and now obsolete technologies are SED and FED.

Temporal characteristics

Different display technologies have vastly different temporal characteristics, leading to perceptual differences of motion, flicker, etc.

File:Display technology temporal characteristics.gif

The figure shows a sketch of how different technologies present a single white/grey frame. Time and intensity is not to scale. Notice that some have a fixed intensity, while the illuminated period is variable. This is a kind of pulse-width modulation. Others can vary the actual intensity in response to the input signal.

Single-chip DLPs use a kind of "chromatic multiplexing" in which each color is presented serially. The intensity is varied by modulating the "on" time of each pixel within the time-span of one color. Multi-chip DLPs are not represented in this sketch, but would have a curve identical to the plasma display.
LCDs have a constant (backlit) image, where the intensity is varied by blocking the light shining through the panel.
CRTs use an electron beam, scanning the display, flashing a lit image. If interlacing is used, a single full-resolution image results in two "flashes". The physical properties of the phosphor are responsible for the rise and decay curves.
Plasma displays modulate the "on" time of each sub-pixel, similar to DLP.
Movie theaters use a mechanical shutter to illuminate the same frame 2 or 3 times, increasing the flicker frequency to make it less perceptible to the human eye.

Research

Researchers announced a display that uses silicon metasurface pixels that do not require polarized light and require half the energy. It employs a transparent conductive oxide as a heater that can quickly change the pixels. The pixels are 100 times thinner than liquid crystal. Response times are under 1 millisecond. They claim that the metasurface array could replace the liquid crystal layer in today's displays, eliminating the need for production technology.{{Cite web |last=Ridden |first=Paul |date=2023-02-23 |title=Meta-display concept could retire LCD panels in big-screen TVs |url=https://newatlas.com/electronics/electrically-programmable-silicon-metasurfaces/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=New Atlas |language=en-US}}

References

Category:Display technology

Display technology

Comparison of display technology

General characteristics

Temporal characteristics

Research

See also

References