LCD is a type of display that uses backlighting technology to illuminate pixels, and is mostly used as a display for electronic products such as computers, tablets, and TVs. Edge LED or direct LED, Which one is better for me? We will find out more in this article.
What is edge LED?
An edge LED is a display in which the LED beads are arranged at the edge of the display, with the LED beads facing the center and illuminating the pixels from the edge to the center.
Displays using edge LEDs usually have a light guide assembly, which assists the edge LEDs in spreading the light more evenly across the screen.
What is a direct LED?
A direct LED is a matrix of LED beads in rows and columns on the back of the display, illuminating the pixels on the screen to display the image.
This matrix form of LED lamp beads, pixel illumination range is more finely differentiated, when the brightness of the regional screen regulation, the precision control is more accurate.
Comparison of direct LED and edge LED
Local dimming technology
LED local dimming technology is a kind of regional brightness adjustment technology for backlight display, which improves the texture of the screen by adjusting the brightness of the shadow and highlight parts of the screen.
Due to the less light source points, edge LED display using LED local dimming technology to adjust a larger range, it is difficult to accurately control, the use of this technology to adjust the screen rendering effect is not good.
The matrix point light source of direct LED display is better adapted to LED local dimming technology, and the adjustment effect is better by adjusting the brightness of the point light source in the target area to strengthen the opposite of the shadow area and highlight area.
Image quality
Since the light source of the monitor using edge LED is in the form of a beam, emitting from the edge to the center, it may lead to uneven brightness of the screen image, and the overall texture of the image is degraded.
Monitors using direct LEDs have an even distribution of the light source, a more even screen brightness, and the overall color of the monitor screen is harmonious.
Although there is a light guide to optimize the uneven brightness of edge LED, the overall picture quality of direct LED monitor is more delicate and high-quality than that of edge LED monitor.
Brightness and Contrast
With the edge lighting characteristic of edge LED display, its single light source covers a wider range, but due to fewer light source points, the overall picture brightness of its display is lower.
Due to the larger brightness area of a single light source, edge LED displays have less precise picture brightness control in localized areas and lower contrast.
With the matrix light source of direct LED monitor, it has more light source points and higher brightness of the monitor. Moreover, the dot matrix light source of direct LED monitor can better control the relationship between light and dark in the picture, so its picture contrast is higher.
Viewing Angle
The angle of the light source allows viewers to view edge LED displays from the side, the color of the screen may be distorted, only in a more positive viewing angle, edge LED display viewing experience is better.
Direct LED displays have a wider viewing angle and can be viewed from most viewing angles.
Display Size
The side light source of edge LED monitor basically does not take up the volume of the monitor, so it can be designed as an ultra-thin and slim monitor, which is one of the main advantages of the edge LED monitor, the thin and light design of the edge LED monitor as a TV on the wall is more beautiful.
As for the direct LEDs designed at the rear, in order for the individual point light sources to illuminate a wider range, they must be farther away from the pixel points, so the panel of the direct LED monitor is thick and the overall volume of the display is larger.
Energy Efficient
There are more LED beads, which use more energy to emit light. Direct LED displays have more LED beads than edge LED displays, which use more energy, and between the two edge LED displays are more energy efficiency.
Durability
Whether it’s an edge LED monitor or a direct LED monitor, their base light source is dominated by LED beads, which are the most stable and longest-lasting beads on the market.
Therefore, both types of monitors are more durable, but edge LED monitors have fewer LED beads, and if a faulty LED bead occurs, it will have a greater impact on the overall picture of the edge LED monitor, and from this point of view, direct LED monitors are a little more durable.
Cost Consideration
From the perspective of the overall components of the display, direct LED display has more components, more complex process, so it is assembled by the labor cost and material cost is more expensive; edge LED display process is simple, simple materials, its cost is cheaper, easier to be accepted by most users.
Applications
direct LED monitors tend to be used in more commercialized application scenarios, which often require higher picture quality, such as business conference monitors, gaming-specific computer monitors, and so on.
Non-commercial profit occasions, such as hall instructions screen, rest area entertainment monitors, etc., the use of edge LED display can meet the playback effect, but also to save costs.
Which is better for me, direct LED or edge LED?
When choosing a display, we usually need to consider the budget and the purpose of the display.
Direct LED monitors have better picture quality and are more expensive, so if you are in a situation where you require higher picture quality and have a good budget, you are better off using a direct LED monitor.
If the display screen quality requirements are not high, such as ordinary campus lectures, hall public service video playback, etc., only need to display text, pictures and video, the information will be disseminated, for the viewing experience does not require, then cheaper edge LED display may be more in line with your needs.
Full Array LED Display and their differences
The light source arrangement of full array LED display and direct LED display is very similar, both of them illuminate the pixels by setting up rectangular dot-matrix LED light source on the back of the screen, but full array LED display has more LEDs on the back with denser distribution, which has a more precise control of the light and has better contrast and color.
Full array LED displays offer the best picture quality of the three, and are also the most expensive.
Other Display Types
LED Displays
LED displays are the highest performance displays on the market today. Each LED bead is able to emit light independently and autonomously, and LED displays provide a colorful, natural and realistic picture. It is different from LCD backlighting technology, as LCDs have a limited amount of brightness that can be achieved, whereas outdoor LED displays can usually reach 6,000 nits of brightness.
Mini LED
mini LED in the LCD based on the use of smaller LED units, in order to ensure a more accurate control of the display screen, currently on the market Samsung and Sony are vigorously developed mini LED display as a LED screen TV.
OLED
OLED is also a self-luminous display, its light-emitting principle is also the use of LED technology, and the design of a layer of organic materials as a light-emitting layer, this layer of organic materials can make the OLED contrast is higher, viewing angle is wider, the picture quality is better.
However, OLED material is more sensitive, the use of the process is prone to the risk of burning the screen, and its brightness does not reach the standard of outdoor viewing, only suitable for indoor use.
Conclusion
edge LED monitor brightness may not be uniform, but it is thinner and lighter and cheaper; direct LED monitor is bigger and more expensive, but it has better picture quality and truer color reproduction.
When choosing a monitor, it is not the case that a more complex process and better quality is the best choice. Rather, it’s a combination of more factors to consider.
