It seems as if modern displays have all kinds of different labels: high definition, 3D, smart, 4K, 4K Ultra, the list goes on. The two most common labels are LCD and LED. What’s the difference between the two? Is there a difference? And does this difference make one or the other preferable for certain types of activities like gaming or graphic design?
All LED monitors are LCD monitors. But not all LCD monitors are LEDs. Kind of like all eagles are birds, but not all birds are eagles. While the names might be confusing to those wading through specs to find the best monitor, once you break it down it’s easier to understand than you think.
We’ll explain the tech and the naming conventions, and then highlight some HP monitors that might be the perfect fit for your needs. Let’s figure out exactly what LCD and LED monitors are and how to pick the right one for you.
Both types of displays use liquid crystals to help create an image. The difference is in the backlights. While a standard LCD monitor uses fluorescent backlights, an LED monitor uses light-emitting diodes for backlights. LED monitors usually have superior picture quality, but they come in varying backlight configurations. And some backlight configurations create better images than others.
Until 2014, plasma displays were the most commonly manufactured displays. But then the LCD took over. LCD stands for liquid crystal display. We’ll go over what that means in a minute. But first, it’s important to note that an LED also uses liquid crystals, so the name is somewhat misleading. Technically, an “LED monitor” should really go by the name, “LED LCD monitor.”
First, let’s go over how LCD and LED monitors utilize liquid crystals. The science behind this stuff features an incredibly complicated mix of optics, electrical engineering, and chemistry. But we’ll explain it in layman’s terms.
The key term here is “liquid crystal.” In high school, you might have been taught that there are three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. But there are some substances that are actually a strange blend of different states. A liquid crystal is a substance that has properties of both a solid and a liquid. When you get to the upper tiers of science, you begin to discover that everything you once knew is wrong.
Typically, the molecules in a liquid crystal are bunched up in a very dense and unstructured arrangement. But when the liquid crystal is exposed to electricity, the molecules suddenly expand into a very structured, interconnected shape[1].
Pixels are the basic building blocks of a digital image. A pixel is a small dot that can emit colored light. Your display is composed of thousands of pixels, and they’re in a variety of different colors to give you your computer interface and the webpage that you’re currently reading. It works like a mosaic, but each individual piece is much less noticeable.
Every pixel is composed of three color filters, which are called “subpixels.” There’s a red, blue, and green subpixel for every pixel[1].
Every pixel is composed of two glass sheets, and the outermost sheet has the subpixels. The liquid crystals are sandwiched between the two sheets.
LCD monitors have backlights behind the screen that emit white light, and the light can’t pass through the liquid crystals while they’re in their liquid arrangement. But when the pixel is in use, the monitor applies an electric current to the liquid crystals, which then straighten out and allow light to pass through them[2].
Every pixel has three separate backlights which can shine through the red, blue, or green color filter – that’s how a pixel can emit a specific color.
Here’s how an LCD is structured from the back (furthest from you) to the front (closest to you):
While both LCD and LED monitors make use of liquid crystals, it’s the backlighting that really makes them different from one another[2].
Standard LCD monitors employ “cold cathode fluorescent lamps,” also known as CCFLs as backlights. These fluorescent lights are evenly placed behind the screen so that they deliver consistent lighting across the display. All regions of the picture will have similar brightness levels.
LED monitors don’t use fluorescent lamps. Instead, they use “light-emitting diodes,” which are extremely small lights. There are two methods of LED backlighting: full-array backlighting and edge lighting.
Full-array backlighting
With full-array backlighting, the LEDs are placed evenly across the entire screen, similar to an LCD setup. But what’s different is that the LEDs are arranged in zones. Each zone of LED lights can be dimmed (also known as local dimming).
Local dimming is a very important feature that can dramatically improve picture quality. The best images are ones that have a high contrast ratio; in other words, images that have both very bright pixels and very dark pixels simultaneously.
When there’s an area of the picture that needs to be darker (a night sky, for instance), the LEDs in that region of the picture can be dimmed to create a truer black. This is not possible on standard LCD monitors, where the entire picture is lit evenly throughout.
With local dimming, the monitor can create more precise illumination, which results in greater picture quality.
Edge lighting
Some LED monitors have edge lighting. This is where LEDs are placed along the edge of the screen rather than behind it. The LEDs can be placed:
There are no local dimming capabilities in edge-lighted displays, so they can’t create pictures that are as high-quality as those created by full-array LEDs. However, edge lighting enables manufacturers to create extremely thin displays that don’t cost as much to produce - and which are better for a tight budget.
When it comes to picture quality, full-array LED monitors are almost always superior to LCD monitors. But bear in mind that only full-array LEDs are superior. Edge-lit LEDs may actually be inferior to LCD monitors.
A full-array LED monitor should be your number one choice for gaming. Steer clear if its edge lighting. The problem with edge lighting is that you’ll have fewer optimal viewing angles with which to play games. That’s not an issue if you prefer to sit directly in front of the screen while you’re gaming. But if you like to kick back in your chair or view from different angles, you’ll find that an edge-lit LED loses visibility as you move away from the center viewing angle.
But even if you play while you’re directly in front of the monitor, edge-lit LEDs have more issues with glare than full-array LEDs do. That’s because of the uneven lighting (very bright around the edges, darker as you approach the center of the display). Because the pixels are evenly lit, LCD monitors tend to have better viewing angles and anti-glare than edge-lit LEDs.
Edge-lit LEDs do have two big advantages. If you have a very tight space in which to fit your monitor, you’ll like having an edge-lit LED because they’re usually thinner than the other types. They’re also less expensive to manufacture, which make them easier on the wallet.
When you’re shopping for a new display, don’t forget to review all of its specs. While the backlighting type is important, you should also take the resolution and refresh rate into account.
Resolution refers to how many pixels are displayed on the monitor. Remember, the more pixels you have, the more dynamic your composition of colors can be. The highest-quality monitors have resolutions of at least 1920 x 1080.
Refresh rate refers to how quickly your monitor updates the display with new information from your computer’s GPU. If you’re a gamer, it’s important that you get a monitor with a very fast refresh rate (30 Hz to 60 Hz) so you won’t suffer from screen tearing - a nasty visual effect that happens when your monitor can’t keep up the pace with the GPU.
Because LED monitors create better pictures than LCD monitors, nearly all of HP’s displays are built with LED backlights. When you’re browsing through the HP LED monitors, you might notice that some of them are equipped with either “IPS” or “AHVA” technology. These refer to the types of liquid crystal panels that are used. Both are fantastic, although they have some minor differences:
Still, many consumers believe that there is little to no discernible difference between the two[3].
You’ll also see that some monitors have “TN” LED backlights. This is the oldest form of liquid crystal technology. It’s still very effective, but TN panels are typically used in small, work-oriented monitors that are made to be mounted or used in the field.
These top-of-the-line HP LED monitors are among the best of the best. Give them a quick look if you’re in the market for a new display.
For the gamer
HP OMEN gaming monitors are built for the power PC gamer. One of the best gaming monitors for your rig is the
If you’re a digital illustrator, video editor, photo editor, or special effects wiz, you should give the HP EliteDisplay S270n 27-inch 4K micro edge monitor a look. When you’re creating digital art, you need the most expansive resolution and highest-quality color production possible, and that’s what you’ll get with this IPS-equipped monitor. The micro edge screen makes it easy to use dual monitors, but the 27-inch screen alone gives you a wide interface to work on.
For the working professional
If you’re a business person, try one our HP EliteDisplay monitors, like the HP EliteDisplay E243 23.8-inch monitor. The IPS LED display is gorgeous and will give you a crisp and clear picture no matter what software you’re using. The micro edges make it perfect for a dual monitor setup, and the 23.8-inch size is wide, but not too large to accommodate a second monitor or to fit into tighter workstations.
There are some up-and-coming technologies that are making LED displays even better. OLED and QLED displays are bound to become more commonplace in the future.
“OLED” stands for “organic light-emitting diode.” What makes an OLED unique is that each pixel has a light source that can be individually shut off. On an LED monitor, the only way to keep a pixel from emitting light is to keep the liquid crystal closed. It’s effective, but not perfect - a small portion of light will always seep through. On an OLED monitor, each pixel’s light can be entirely shut off so no light at all will emanate through the liquid crystal. These means you can get truer blacks, which means deeper contrast ratios and better image quality.
There are two additional advantages. First, OLED monitors can be made even thinner than LED monitors because there’s not a separate layer of LEDs behind the pixels. Second, these monitors are more energy efficient because the pixels will only draw power when their light is turned on. One of the downsides, though, is that pixel burn-in will be more noticeable since some pixels will inevitably be used more than others[4].
“QLED” stands for “quantum light-emitting diode.” In a QLED monitor, each pixel has a “quantum dot.” Quantum dots are tiny phosphor particles that glow when you shine a light upon them[5].
Why would you need a glowing particle over each pixel? Because LEDs aren’t very good at emitting bright light. The brightest color is white. But an LED doesn’t emit white light – it emits blue light. Each LED is given a yellow phosphor coating to make it appear less blue and more white, but it’s still not true white. The “blueness” of LEDs negatively impacts the red, blue, and green colors on LED displays. LED monitors have automatic features that adjust the RGB colors to compensate for the blue light, but it can’t compensate for the weaker light intensity.
That’s where the quantum dots come in. The pixels are overlayed by a sheet of red and green quantum dots (there is no blue because blue light is already being emitted by the LED). When the light shines through the liquid crystals, the quantum dots glow, and you’re given a bright, vivid, and lovely spectrum of RGB colors.
QLED monitors are capable of creating pictures that are both dynamic and bright, and which have stellar contrast ratios.
Displays are a complicated science, right? But next time you’re shopping for monitors at the store or on our HP Store site, you’ll be a true expert and will be able to pick out exactly the right display for you.
[1] ExplainThatStuff.com; LCDs (liquid crystal displays)
[2] DigitalTrends.com; LED vs. LCD TVs explained: What’s the difference?
[3] GamersNexus.net; Display Panel Type Differences Defined – TN vs. IPS, PLS, VA, & More
[4] DigitalTrends.com; QLED vs. OLED TV: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
[5] DigitalTrends.com; What the hell are quantum dots, and why do you want them in your next TV?
The OLED vs LED monitor debate is real. These competing flat-panel display technologies both have unique qualities, and some potential drawbacks. How to choose which one will suit your needs? While OLED seems like the best bet for all, you might first want to get a clear idea of what you’re going to use the monitor for.
Keep reading to find out more about OLED vs LED flat-panel display technology comparison or explore ViewSonic Solutions for Creatives.
If you research computer monitor technology, or explore the monitors currently available on the market, the OLED vs LED monitor question will pop up sooner than later.
Despite sounding similar, OLED and LED monitors utilize fundamentally different technology to emit light so users can see images on their screen. Both OLED and LED technology have their plus points, as well as their potential drawbacks, so it’s important to get to grips with what each of the two technologies has to offer, along with the situations where one may be more desirable than the other.
This read will provide an in-depth exploration of OLED vs LED monitor technology, outlining how they work, the ways in which OLED and LED monitors differ from one another, and more. We will also provide information on who can benefit the most from each technology and why.
Understanding LED Monitor Technology
At present, LED monitor technology remains the most popular option that has proved itself reliable for many years. As the name indicates, LED monitors utilize light-emitting diodes to provide backlighting. This illuminates a liquid-crystal display, creating an on-screen picture.
One of the more potentially confusing aspects of monitor technology involves understanding the terminology surrounding LED and LCD displays. While these sound like competing technologies, they’re not, but this is a common misunderstanding. LED refers to the backlighting of the display, while LCD refers to the diodes that produce light on their own. All LED monitors also utilize LCD displays and LED backlighting, which is why they are sometimes described as LED/LCD.
LED does have some potential advantages over OLED. For instance, it can be less prone to issues like screen burn or image retention, where a display continues to show artifacts of a previous image. The backlighting means LED screens are capable of being brighter than OLED screens, and LED monitors are also generally more affordable too. Although LED contrast is weaker than with OLED, mini-LED is a relatively new technology, which helps to bridge this gap.
What is OLED?
It’s worth taking the time to understand precisely what OLED monitor technology is and how it works. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode. The main way in which OLED technology differs from what you would find in a more conventional LED/LCD monitor is that each pixel can autonomously emit light. This is because all pixels are linked to the electroluminescent layer, or the emission of light.
A conventional LED monitor uses light-emitting diodes to emit light when a current runs through it. This then provides the backlight for a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen and lights up the individual pixels, providing the image that a user sees. By contrast, with OLED technology, the pixels are not backlit. Instead, each individual pixel is able to turn on or off, meaning the display can be controlled down to the individual pixel.
This fundamental difference in technology can also describe OLED as being ’emissive’, while LED/LCD technology is instead described as ‘transmissive’. Therefore, despite the two names sounding similar, OLED and LED technology work in completely different ways.
The Benefits of OLED Technology
With a basic understanding of what OLED monitor technology is, let’s explore some of its most prominent benefits and learn how an OLED monitor might be a better bet than an LED/LCD display for both work and home use.
Deeper Blacks
One of the most noticeable differences when working with an OLED display — instead of an LED display — is the stark appearance of the color black. As an OLED monitor lights individual pixels, rather than relying on a backlight, these pixels can be turned off entirely, and this produces a pure black color and a higher contrast with white.
The backlighting in LED monitors means they cannot block light out entirely. When black is shown on an LED monitor, you’re actually seeing dark gray. This can also cause a ‘halo’ effect in certain situations, like when white text moves across a black background.
Improved Viewing Angles
Despite recent improvements to LED/LCD displays, generally, OLED monitors offer superior viewing angles. This means that the display will not be distorted or negatively impacted by the angle you view it from. This is a huge change because with some LED monitors you have to sit directly in front of them to see a clear and accurate picture.
With OLED monitors, the absence of backlighting and the thinness of the display panels help to ensure that the picture looks clear and accurate from different angles. Improvements to viewing angles can be especially beneficial if you are going to be using a dual monitor setup for work, as you will likely need to position yourself between both screens.
Easy Transportation
Another significant benefit associated with OLED monitors — often overlooked before the purchase — is their physical properties. The internal components of OLED monitors and televisions are made of plastic, organic layers which are thinner and lighter than their LED/LCD crystalline counterparts.
The lightweight nature of OLED technology means that an OLED monitor is likely to weigh less than an equivalent-sized LED monitor, making it easier to transport, carry, and mount. At the same time, the materials used within OLED monitors are also more flexible, which may mean that the monitors are less likely to suffer lasting damage while in transit. Given these upgraded physical properties, it’s not surprising to see that OLED is becoming increasingly popular on portable monitors. The greater color performance makes these models perfect for all photographers and video makers who need to proof their shots on field.
Less Blue Light Emissions
Another benefit associated with OLED’s ability to completely dim pixels is the lower levels of blue light emitted by these monitors. In some cases, the reduction in blue light can result in half as much blue light being emitted when compared to LED/LCD panels. In short, this means OLED monitors are better for your eyes.
It’s important to reduce blue light as much as possible, as it’s high energy visual light with the potential to be harmful. In fact, it’s a major contributing factor to eye strain experienced when looking at a computer monitor for too long. Long-term, it can also contribute to headaches and eye fatigue while negatively impacting sleep quality.
Reduced Power Consumption
As OLED monitors allow pixels to be controlled on an individual level, this means that individual pixels can be turned off completely, leading to reduced power consumption when compared to LED monitors with high brightness settings. This can be especially advantageous in settings like offices and schools, where a number of monitors may be needed.
OLED technology is also more environmentally friendly at production level, and this is primarily because it does not utilize the greenhouse gas, nitrogen trifluoride.
Faster Response Times
Another major plus point of OLED technology is its faster response time thanks to low input lag. In other words, with LED/LCD technology there’s less delay between you performing an action using your mouse or keyboard and that same action presenting itself on the screen.
When considering the need for fast response time, it becomes evident how integral it is especially in reducing input lag and motion blur. In general, LED monitors are more prone to these problems than OLED monitors.
Monitor Panel Types: A Comparison
A comparison between an OLED vs LED monitor would not be complete without learning about other monitor panel types that exist. Here’s what they are, how they work, and what they have to offer.
In-Plane Switching Panels (IPS)
In-plane switching, or IPS panels, are the LED panel type most associated with great color display. The switching nature of the molecules in the liquid-crystal display helps to provide excellent clarity. Those panels also allow for a wider variety of viewing angles without distorting the image.
One potential downside to IPS panels, when compared to OLED and Twisted nemantic (TN) panels, is the slower response times. This is unlikely to be an issue with most ways the monitors are used, but if ultra-fast input response times are needed, the two other options mentioned above are likely to be better choices.
Twisted Nemantic Panels (TN)
Twisted nemantic (TN) panels are the oldest LED/LCD technology and they have some significant disadvantages. For instance, viewing angles are extremely limited, meaning that unless you are directly in front of your monitor, the image may look distorted or incomplete.
TN panels remain popular, however, with certain users because they provide extremely fast response times what makes them an excellent choice for competitive gaming. On top of it, while color presentation is not going to be as good as with many of the alternatives, TN panels still perform very well in terms of pure brightness.
Vertical Alignment Panels (VA)
Vertical alignment (VA) panels were created sometime after TN panels to make up for some of TN technology’s shortcomings. In particular, VA panels offer superior color accuracy than TN panels, with vastly improved viewing angles.
Their contrast ratios are also superior to TN panels, although nowadays they do not meet the high contrast ratio levels produced by OLED monitors. Additionally, while VA panels are better than TN technology in most regards, they are more expensive and have slower response times, which may make TN panels a preferred choice for consumers.
Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED)
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens are the only screens in this comparison that do not use backlights. Instead, the pixels on the display panel can be illuminated or switched off on an individual basis, resulting in monitors that deliver excellent picture quality. OLED displays are also energy efficient and thin, allowing for great viewing angles.
The incredible color accuracy — especially in terms of presenting pure blacks — can be extremely valuable for all kinds of users. The main disadvantage of OLED technology, however, from a consumer perspective, is the price, as an OLED monitor is likely to be more expensive than an LED/LCD monitor of a similar size and build.
OLED vs LED Monitor Technology: Which is Right for You?
Equipped with an understanding of how OLED and LED monitor technology works, and the plus points associated with different panels types, let’s explore which type will match user needs in different situations. Here are some suggestions for several common computer monitor uses.
Photographers, Designers, Content Creators
If you are working in a field like photography, graphic design, or content creation where color accuracy really matters, an OLED monitor is likely to be the best option available. As we’ve mentioned before the individual illumination of pixels can deliver greater contrast and color accuracy, so crucial to visual artworks.
Controlling the illumination of pixels on an individual level can help to avoid some of the problems caused by LED/LCD technology, such as the ‘halo’ effect appearing around images or text. The superior viewing angles available with OLED monitor technology also open the possibility of a dual monitor setup. And as OLED monitors now also come in portable format, they can even follow creatives on the field for maximum accuracy while shooting.
Video Game and Esports Players
Although personal preference and budget are factors here, PC gamers and esports players often opt for LED monitors with either TN or IPS panels. Despite TN monitors offering fairly limited viewing angles and average color presentation, the advantages include very low response times, extremely rapid refresh rates, and low input lag, all of which can help gamers, especially at the elite level, where marginal differences can affect performance.
In most cases, IPS panels will provide lower refresh rates than TN, which may not make them ideal for competitive gaming, but these panels are popular for casual gaming use, as they provide superior color presentation to TN panels, resulting in improvements to the visual quality of games. IPS monitors also offer fairly good response times, and the viewing angles are superior to TN, which can be good for local multiplayer gaming.
Casual Home Use and Office-Style Work
For casual and home use, it’s likely that either IPS or VA panels will be the best all-round option, especially when factoring in price and performance. IPS display panels are capable of the kind of color accuracy and viewing angles that deliver a positive user experience. VA panels have slow response times, so may not be ideal for gaming, but they offer good color production and contrast ratios without costing the same as an OLED computer monitor typically will.
Work-based usage can be harder to provide clear advice for, because it will depend on the nature of the work. Generally, IPS can be considered a good all-rounder, although VA panels are also well-suited to simple office work. If the work involves designs, relies on color accuracy, though, or would benefit from lower power consumption, OLED monitors may be the superior choice, but this needs to be balanced against the higher price point.
Final Thoughts
The OLED vs LED monitor comparison focuses on two competing forms of flat-panel display technology. In many ways, OLED has emerged as the gold standard of display technology, combining energy efficiency, superior viewing angles, and excellent color accuracy, even if the more expensive pricing is a potential downside.
Nevertheless, LED/LCD displays still have their benefits, including superior brightness and a lower price point. In general, the decision over whether to purchase an OLED or LED monitor will depend on factors like your budget, the tasks you are going to be using the monitor for, and the level of color accuracy you’ll need.
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy reading about the Color Management Checklist for Digital Artists or explore which ColorPro monitor would be the best fit for you.
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