Led and lcd difference. What is the difference between LED and LCD (LCD)

Modern TVs and monitors take up virtually no space - they have become so thin thanks to new technologies. Nowadays, it’s rare in any house that you won’t see the attribute of quiet evening leisure - LCD or. And if you just want to buy it, you probably have a question about LCD or LED - which is better? Let's figure it out.

LCD and LED TVs: the difference

In fact, the difference between LCD and LED is very small. Both types belong to modern technologies, which use a liquid crystal matrix, which consists of two plates. Between them are liquid crystals that change their position under the influence of electric current. When using special filters and a backlight, light and dark areas are highlighted on the surface of the matrix. If you apply color filters behind the matrix, a color image appears on the screen. What kind of backlight is used is exactly what distinguishes LCD from LED.

LCD monitors or televisions use backlighting with cold cathode fluorescent lamps contained in cathode ray tubes. They are located horizontally in the matrix. At the same time, the lamps in the LCD are constantly on, and due to the fact that the liquid crystal layer cannot dim the backlight completely, we see black on the screen as dark gray.

LED monitors are actually a subtype of LCD, but they use a completely different type of backlight - LED. In this case, the LEDs are located on the side or directly in large quantities. Since they can be controlled, that is, dimming or lighting certain areas, the image contrast of LED monitors or TVs is much higher than that of LCDs. In addition, color rendition is of better quality: you can watch your favorite movies and programs without distortion. By the way, the black color is really deep.

A significant difference between LCD and LED is the fact that the energy consumption of the latter is much lower. Thanks to LED backlight Electricity consumption when operating a TV and monitor is reduced by almost 40% compared to LCD. Moreover, the image does not suffer from this in any way!

U LED TVs and LCD comparison also lies in thickness. The use of LEDs allows us to produce ultra-thin LED monitors with a thickness of 2.5 cm.

But the advantage of LCD devices remains their prevalence and low cost compared to LED.

It's time to buy new TV? You are probably choosing between different technologies, and you are wondering what is the difference between LCD and LED? This means that you should definitely get acquainted with this article, which dots all the i's.

What is the fundamental difference between LCD and LED?

This is the main question for many people who are planning their home cinema. Just yesterday we were considering the possibility of purchasing a cathode ray tube (CRT) television or even a projector. And today we see other names: LCD, DLP, OLED, laser TVs. LED (light-emitting diode) TVs also appeared. Let's figure out what these letters mean and which of them indicate the best purchase.

LED TVs are also LCD TVs. Just a slightly different type. To be completely correct, the real name of this technology is “LED-backlit liquid crystal televisions,” but this is too long a name and most people simply won’t remember it, so we usually only see three letters - “LED.”

Liquid crystals are used to control the brightness of individual dots on both types of TV screens. Without going into details, such a display consists of two sheets of polarizing material, between which there is a solution of liquid crystals. When an electric current passes through liquid crystals, they become ordered, which changes their ability to transmit light. You can imagine each such crystal as a shutter, which can be open or closed.

Thus, both LED and LCD TVs use LCD technology. You may ask: “So what? Are they no different from each other? There is a difference and it lies in the way the backlight is generated - the light that has to pass through the liquid crystals. This is how LCD differs from LED. While regular LCD TVs use a fluorescent lamp as the light source, LED TVs use a series of small LEDs that turn electricity into light more efficiently.

Advantages of LED

TVs that have, among other characteristics, the abbreviation LED, have a number of advantages.

Firstly, LEDs can be significantly smaller than fluorescent lamps, which means the matrix has a smaller size and weight. As a result, the thickness of the entire TV can fit into one inch.
Secondly, LED TVs are more energy efficient. But most importantly, they can produce deeper blacks, which gives the picture extra depth.
Several fluorescent lamps are used to illuminate the entire screen and cannot be turned off in specific areas. At the same time, to create a completely black color, we need to completely turn off the backlight. LED displays have this ability, in which you can “turn off” individual pixels and areas of the image.

This results in deeper blacks and increased contrast. Let's imagine that the starry sky is displayed on the screen. It should be almost completely filled with black, and only a few points (stars) have high brightness. Traditional LCD screens are not capable of displaying such images efficiently. And if it is possible to completely turn off the backlighting of entire areas in the image, then it will greatly benefit. As a result, we see a truly black sky, on which only a few points glow.

Don't waste your money

I would like to warn buyers that not all LED TVs have this ability. If those LED models TVs that can turn off the backlight in local areas are comparable in image quality to plasma ones, while those that can illuminate only the entire field with LEDs at the same time are very close to conventional LED TVs. Therefore, having figured out how LCD and LED TVs differ, you should remember that the latter can also produce images of very different quality. Before you shell out a considerable amount of money for an LED TV, you should make sure that it has the advantages described above.

However, even if you buy an LED TV that cannot dim separate areas, you will still get
a number of advantages. The TV will be lighter and thinner, which means this model will be easier to mount on the wall. It consumes less electricity. The picture is more vibrant than with a conventional LCD. However, I consider all these advantages only as free add-on to the main thing. If your budget is limited, and therefore a plasma TV is not considered as an option, then an LED TV can replace it. Otherwise, I would recommend choosing "plasma". They may be too power hungry and they may look bulkier, but the picture quality on their screen can't be beat by any other type of TV. I recommend choosing a regular LCD screen only if you don’t have enough money for other options.

Liquid crystal television models today do not surprise anyone, and they can be found in almost every modern apartment. However, if you have just decided to exchange your old TV for a new one, then when choosing a model you may be faced with the fact that the word LED will be indicated in its name or characteristics. You've probably heard about these types of displays, but before you make your choice in favor of an LED or LCD model, you should understand how one technology differs from another.

Device of LCD and LED TVs

Represent two transparent panels with electrodes between which crystals are located in liquid form. Such crystals are arranged in a certain order in order to be able to transmit a picture. Also LCD monitors have filters that create a polarizing effect and color filters to create a color image. In addition, TVs created using this technology have a backlight lamp, which is located at the back of the screen. This lighting is called CCFL.

Ice TVs have exactly the same production technology, only instead of a conventional cold cathode lamp, they use LED lighting. That is, a large number of small LEDs are located on the sides of the screen or along its entire perimeter at the back.

As a result, we come to the conclusion that the only difference between these TV models is the type of screen backlight.

What is better anyway?

To decide which one TVs will do For you, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics that each of these TV models has.

Color rendition much better on ice screens, since LEDs allow you to create more bright colors And more shades.
Black level and contrast also much better in panels with LED backlight. This is due to the fact that the overall backlight of the TV will make the black pixels not dark enough, causing the contrast and black levels to be lower than those of an LCD TV.
Energy efficiency. LCD TVs do not consume much less electricity than LED-backlit models, so deciding which one is better in this regard is difficult.
Price LED TVs on at the moment is still higher than that of conventional LCD models with the same diagonal and interface.
Viewing angle. Previously, this was significant, since older LCD models had matrices that could not provide a sufficient viewing angle and when viewing the TV from a certain angle, it looked too dark, or simply distorted the colors. Modern models no longer have this problem, and you can safely buy them. However, the winner in this category can be called an LED TV, since even in the very first models the viewing angle was at least 160 degrees.
Fast response is currently the same in both technologies. However, if you decide to save money and buy old model LCD TV, you may encounter a low response speed, which is why the picture may have a so-called “trail” when watching a fast-moving video, for example “Formula 1”.
Interface In TVs of both one and the other, the technology is the same. There is support both here and there game consoles, connectors such as MHL, USB, HDMI and so on.
Durability. LEDs last much longer than conventional lamps, which means your LED display will last longer.
Dimensions. Ice TVs are noticeably thinner than conventional LCD displays. This is due to the fact that the LEDs are located around the perimeter of the monitor, and not behind it, so they take up less space.

Conclusions

Technologically, there is no difference between LCD and LED TV, but judging by the characteristics, LED technology still better. Therefore, when choosing a TV model, you should start from your own requirements for this device and preferences.

So, if you are going to install the TV near the wall, then you can safely choose an LCD TV model, since you will only see it from the front, which means its thickness will not be significant.

If you want to enjoy a bright, contrasting image and like to watch TV in the evening with dim lights, then it is better to choose a model with LED backlighting, as it has better color rendering and black depth, judging by the characteristics.

Also, LED TVs will look better if you want to place the screen on the wall using a bracket. This way it will protrude much less, which will look better.

However, if ideal color rendition and the thickness of the TV are not particularly important for you, or you do not want to spend a lot of money, then you can choose one of modern models LCD displays. To the naked eye there will be virtually no difference.

I remember once upon a time plasma TVs occupied the dominant market share. It was even fashionable to say “plasma” and boast about its presence: “ I bought plasma», « I have a large plasma at home"etc. Now this is already a thing of the past. Technologies are changing in all areas - Nokia once produced the best mobile phones. And now the concept " mobile phone» has almost been eliminated by touchscreen smartphones.

The peak popularity of plasma also began to be eclipsed over time, namely when a more profitable alternative appeared - the LCD panel. With distribution last expenses for plasma production have become relatively unprofitable. In addition, a key role was played by the ongoing trend to make technology more compact, thinner, lighter, and more practical. With plasma, all these manipulations are difficult to implement. Therefore, LCD TV manufacturers are now capturing the predominant market share.

The title of this article is: “What is the difference between LCD and LED?” But its topic is not so much about the differences, but about finding out the correctness of the statement this issue. To find out, let's first consider what LCD is and what LED is.

Who still didn’t know - LCD is that same LCD panel. For example, a gas-discharge display (which is what plasma is) is based on a phosphor, which creates light radiation accompanied by ultraviolet rays. In turn, the LCD display forms an image using liquid crystals along with filters and polarized light. Unlike LCD, plasma does not require backlighting, since each of its cells is a separate light source. In the case of liquid crystal displays, the image simply will not form without a backlight, from which polarized light passes through.

There are two types of LCD panel backlights:

CCFL – cold cathode fluorescent lamp;
LED – light emitting diodes.

So we found out. LED is not a type of display, it is a type of LCD backlight. Therefore, asking the question: “Which is better – LCD or LED?” is obviously wrong. In articles devoted to the topic of differences between LED and LCD, there is a comparison of CCFL and LED backlights, and not LCD and LED. That's it.

So what is the difference between LED and LCD? ...more precisely, from CCFL?

If you approach the nearest passerby and ask if he knows what a CCFL or cold cathode is, then he will probably either ask again or his answer will be negative. This is not surprising, because now you almost never see an LCD display with a cold cathode. The advantages of CCFL backlighting include, perhaps, only the uniformity of illumination. In other respects, it loses to LED backlighting: CCFL does not allow the production of thin panels and, on top of that, is less economical in terms of energy consumption.

The terms “LED” or “light emitting diodes” are often used in everyday life, especially among smartphone users. In addition, they have become widespread led light bulbs, known for their energy-saving properties.

It is foolish to put CCFL and LED on the scale - any manufacturer of TVs, as well as smartphones, tablets and other “screen” equipment will give preference to LED backlighting. Who would refuse to produce thin panels that are in demand today? Why offer consumers a TV with a lower-quality image? And finally, who would choose a TV with high power consumption? LEDs not only consume less energy, but also provide a higher maximum brightness.

Perhaps, now the question as to which TV is better to buy - LED or LCD CCFL, disappears. Even if you wanted to buy a cold cathode TV, you would have to try hard to find one. And at the same time remain satisfied with the purchase.

Types of LED backlight

There are two types:

Edge;

Edge-LED backlighting involves placing diodes around the perimeter, that is, along the edges of the matrix (Edge from English “edge”), and therefore it is also called edge. Located along the edge of the matrix, the light of the diodes, hitting the diffuser, is scattered over the entire area. Due to the edge location of the light sources, the illumination is uneven. In addition, Edge-LED does not provide rich blacks. But energy consumption is significantly reduced. And along with it, heat consumption.

RGB-LED provides for the placement of diodes throughout the matrix. Consequently, we get a more uniform illumination and, in addition, it is also colored, while Edge is white. RGB is based on red, green and blue. The peculiarity of this type of backlight is the ability to turn off (allows you to get an absolutely black color) and, conversely, glow a certain color(makes the image bright and saturated).

Edge is a more economical option, so it is in demand among consumers. Aesthetes choose RGB-LED - here the color rendition is better and the illumination is more uniform. In principle, in both cases the consumer wins - any LED backlight will definitely perform better compared to electroluminescent lamps.

Besides this, there is also technology WRGB, which was developed by LG. WRGB is based on four-color pixels - along with green, red and blue there is also a white subpixel. Consequently, the image looks more realistic, since the matrix is able to display more diverse shades.

Does LCD LED have any competitors?

We found out what the difference is between LED and LCD CCFL TVs and in what ways the former are superior to the latter. But is LCD LED is the best solution on the market? If we look at the catalog, we will see that almost the entire assortment is filled with LCD TVs with LED backlighting:

Based on the figure, the second most common type is OLED. Yes, compared to LCD, there are significantly fewer TVs with OLED panels. The reason for this was the fact of innovation in the field of televisions. As a rule, new things are treated with caution and it is clear why: not many people have had time to try the innovation, so it is not entirely clear what it is and what it is eaten with. In addition, the cost is far from disappointing:

Benefits of OLED

Like plasma, each OLED panel cell is a separate light source, so there is no need for a backlight. A positive consequence of this, as well as the absence of rotating molecules, was high contrast and low response time(as in the case of plasma). Due to the backlight, the LCD cannot boast of perfect black color - the light leaks out and the tint becomes more gray and sometimes even purple. OLED, on the other hand, delivers searing blacks, reflecting the high contrast of organic panels.

If we compare OLED with Edge-LED LCD (matrix illumination around the perimeter, and not over the entire area), then in terms of uniformity of illumination Organic LEDs are winning again. If the entire screen is darkened to black, lighter areas will be visible in some places, which is especially noticeable at night. OLED TVs do not have this problem.

Another advantage of organic LEDs is wide angles review. No matter what angle you look at the TV from, the color reproduction and brightness level will be preserved. However, LCD LED TVs also have something to answer - for example, IPS matrix, characterized by viewing angles up to 178 degrees. But you can’t call it ideal either, since another LCD matrix is still in demand - TN+film. In its case, viewing angles can hardly be called wide, but compared to IPS, TN+film best time response is literally instantaneous.