In recent years, liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) have largely replaced cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). From traditional desktop and laptop computers to smartphones, point-of-sale (POS) systems and more, countless display devices are powered by LCD technology. With that said, you can still find CRTs available for sale. For the best performance, as well as value, though, you should choose an LCD over a CRT for the five following reasons.
#1) Consumes Less Power
Although there are exceptions, most LCDs consume noticeably less power than their CRT counterparts. In fact, research shows LCDs consume about 25% less power, on average, than CRTs. Of course, several factors will affect how much power an LCD consumes — brightness settings, content, etc. Nonetheless, you can expect an LCD to consume less power than a similar-sized CRT, making it a smart investment.
#2) Low Profile Design
CRTs typically feature a thick and clunky design that’s particularly appealing. LCDs, on the other hand, support thin, low-profile designs. This alone is reason enough for many manufacturers to choose LCD technology for their respective display devices. Smartphones and tablets, for instance, almost always use LCD technology because of its low-profile design.
#3) Minimal Flicker
It’s not uncommon for CRTs to “flicker” during operation. If the content changes, for example, the display may flicker with alternating periods of brightness and darkness. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem with LCDs. The liquid pixels of which LCDs are comprised are able to retain their state during screen refreshes. As a result, LCDs don’t suffer from the same flicker problems as CRTs.
#4) Minimal Heat Production
Another reason to choose an LCD over a CRT is minimal heat production. All display devices produce heat during operation, and LCDs are no exception. Assuming the right backlighting is used, however, LCDs produce significantly less heat than their CRT counterparts. With less heat, LCDs are inherently safer to use than CRTs.
#5) High Resolution
Finally, LCDs support high resolutions — even higher than those supported by CRTs. It’s not uncommon for an LCD to have a maximum resolution of 4K pixels. Some LCDs even support up to 8K pixels. Theoretically, there’s no limit to the number of pixels an LCD can support, which is just one more reason to choose an LCD over a CRT.
Whether you’re purchasing a display device for consumer- or business-related purposes, you can’t ignore the benefits of LCD technology. When compared to CRTs, LCDs consume less power, offer low-profile designs, produce less flicker, run cooler and support higher resolutions.
