COB and IMD are two different LED display technologies used in COB LED displays and IMD LED displays respectively. Let’s understand the difference between the two in detail.
What is COB LED display?
COB LED display is a type of display that incorporates COB LED technology. Among other things, COB LED technology reduces gaps and saves space, enabling even smaller pixel pitches.
What is IMD LED display?
IMD LED display is a kind of display that incorporates IMD LED technology. IMD LED technology is further upgraded on the basis of SMD LED technology, which improves the structural stability of LED display.
The working principle of IMD LED technology is to integrate 2, 4, 6 or more groups of RGB LED beads into a single package structure or unit, which is a high-speed SMD small integrated package technology, and the most commonly used is the package structure of 4 groups of RGB LED beads.
Differences between COB vs IMD LED display
Pixel Pitch and Resolution
In LED display, the center distance between LED beads is called pixel pitch. The smaller the pixel pitch, the higher the pixel density and the higher the resolution, the better the high definition display for the viewer. Even when viewed from a close distance, the details of the LED display can be seen clearly.
The pixel pitch of COB LED display can be less than 1mm, while the pixel pitch of IMD LED display is usually more than 1mm. Comparing the two, it can be seen that the pixel pitch of COB LED display is smaller than that of IMD LED display, which can bring a higher quality picture to the audience.
Brightness
The brightness is related to the size of the LED beads in the LED display. When the LED beads are small, the brightness of the LED display is limited, resulting in the overall brightness of the LED display is not very high.
When the LED display beads are larger, the beam of light that can be emitted is larger, and the overall brightness of the LED display will be significantly increased.
COB LED displays are manufactured with smaller LED beads in order to achieve a smaller pixel pitch. IMD LEDs, on the other hand, are manufactured with regular LED beads, so the overall brightness of a COB LED display will be lower than the overall brightness of an IMD LED display.
In order to let you better understand the difference between their brightness, we also did a brightness test on COB LED display and IMD LED display: the brightness of COB LED display is in the range of 500~1000cd/m2, while that of IMD LED display is in the range of 1000~5000 cd/m2.
Compared with the two values, it is obvious that IMD LED display is brighter. The brightness of IMD LED display is higher.
Contrast ratio
The ratio between the brightest and dimmest parts of an LED display is called the contrast ratio. The level of contrast will be related to the size of the pixel density.
The higher the pixel density, the more layers there are between the brightest and darkest parts and the higher the contrast. The smaller the pixel density, the harder the transition between the brightest and darkest parts, and the lower the contrast.
From the above, we can know that the pixel density of COB LED display is larger than that of IMD LED display, therefore, the contrast ratio of COB LED display is higher than that of IMD LED display, which can bring viewers a more delicate and layered display picture.
Color Accuracy
The color accuracy is related to the lamp beads of LED display, COB LED display has 3 different color light sources in the lamp beads, while IMD LED display has 4 different color light sources in the lamp beads. Therefore, IMD LED display has higher color accuracy than COB LED display, and is more capable of bringing viewers a more natural, vivid, and lifelike display image.
Durability
Durability actually refers to the life of the LED display in different environments, IMD LED display uses SMD technology, which makes the LED light-emitting chips exposed, and is easily affected by external factors, resulting in failure or damage, and the durability will be poorer.
COB LED display LED light-emitting chips have a layer of resin on the surface, which can make the LED light-emitting chips not be affected by water molecules and dust in the air. At the same time, this resin can improve the ability of COB LED display to resist collision, greatly enhancing the durability of COB LED display.
Maintenance Cost
In terms of maintenance cost, the repair cost of IMD LED display will be lower than that of COB LED display.
The reason is that IMD LED display has 2 times the number of LED light-emitting chips, so when IMD LED display is damaged, the damaged LED beads can be extracted, so that the whole LED module does not need to be replaced.
The whole surface of COB LED display module is cured by resin, so it is impossible to replace individual LED beads, only the whole LED module can be replaced, so the maintenance cost of COB LED display is higher.
Viewing Experience
IMD LED display and COB LED display can provide the same visual range, but in terms of viewing experience, COB LED display will be much better than IMD LED display.
The reason is that COB LED display has the performance of surface light source, can carry out independent light emitting, reduce the refraction of light, to effectively inhibit the emergence of moiré, so that the screen, whether it is viewed in the reality of close-up viewing or through the cell phone, will not produce a sense of vertigo, which can effectively alleviate the audience’s eyes caused by prolonged viewing of the feeling of fatigue. The IMD LED display does not have this function.
Cost
In terms of manufacturing cost, IMD LED display manufacturing process is very mature, with a complete assembly line, its manufacturing cost will be lower. The small pitch design of COB LED display requires a very complex process, the manufacturing process will be more difficult, and its manufacturing cost is higher.
In terms of material cost, COB LED display will require more LED lamp beads than IMD LED display, and COB LED display has requirements on the size of lamp beads, so the price will be higher than the price of IMD LED display. Overall, the price of IMD LED display will be much cheaper than COB LED display.
Application
COB LED display is mainly used in indoor scenes. For example, in the conference scene, it is mainly used in LED video wall and conference all-in-one machine. It can provide high-definition and detailed images for staff and leaders, which greatly improves work efficiency.
In shopping centers, it will be seen in some window displays and indoor billboards. It can attract the attention of consumers and further promote their consumption.
IMD LED display is mainly used in outdoor scenes. For example: on the performance stage, it will be used as a background screen to integrate with the performers, showing colorful images to the audience, providing the audience with a consistent audio-visual experience.
On large billboards, it is mostly used on single or double column billboards, allowing viewers to see the content clearly under direct sunlight, deepening the impression of the advertised brand, and guiding pedestrians to consume.
COB LED display vs IMD LED display: How to choose?
If you have a very large budget and need high definition images, COB LED display will be your best choice, which will bring you clearer and more detailed images.
If you want a more affordable LED display, then IMD LED display will not disappoint you, although it does not have the same high definition as COB LED display, but it can provide you with higher brightness and more colorful images.
