5 Things to Consider When Choosing a SAW Touchscreen

Feb 1, 2021

Are you looking to buy a surface acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreen? SAW touchscreens have become a popular alternative to capacitive touchscreens. Characterized by their use of ultrasonic waves, they are able to accurately and effectively identify touch commands. Not all SAW touchscreens are the same, however. There are several things you should consider when choosing a SAW touchscreen.

#1) Size

Like with other touchscreens, SAW touchscreens are available in a variety of sizes. Some of them have a larger display interface than others. You can find SAW touchscreens ranging from 8 inches to 23 inches in diameter. What size should you choose exactly? It ultimately depends on how you intend to use it. Some applications require a large touchscreen, whereas others require a small touchscreen.

#2) Display Resolution

You should consider the display resolution when choosing a SAW touchscreen. All touchscreens have a display. Resolution refers to the number of pixels within the display. SAW touchscreens are available in high-resolution displays. Some of them have a resolution of 4096 x 4096. With a high-resolution display, they produce crystal-clear images.

#3) Surface Treatment

Because they use a glass top layer, SAW touchscreens are often treated with a superficial coating. While invisible to the naked eye, this coating or surface treatment offers several benefits. For starters, it eliminates glare. Glass is reflective. When struck by light, it will reflect some of the light to produce a glare. Fortunately, SAW touchscreens are often treated with a coating to protect against glare. At the same time, this coating wards off oils so that fingerprints are less common.

#4) Longevity

Something else to consider when choosing a SAW touchscreen is longevity. In other words, how long will it last? SAW touchscreens generally have a longer lifespan than other types of touchscreens. This is because they don’t use a mechanical method of operation. Rather, SAW touchscreens use ultrasonic waves, which are sound waves, to detect touch commands. Many SAW touchscreens are capable of lasting for 50 million or more touch commands.

#5) Backlighting

Don’t forget to consider backlighting when choosing a SAW touchscreen. Because they feature a display, SAW touchscreens need backlighting. Backlighting is the lighting system that’s responsible for illuminating the pixels so that a touchscreen — or a display device — can produce visible images. There are different types of backlighting used in SAW touchscreens, though. Some of them use electroluminescent (EL) backlighting, whereas others use light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting.

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