Liquid-crystal display (LCD) has become one of the world’s most popular and widely used display technologies. It involves the use of illuminated liquid crystals to create and project an image. Benefits of LCD displays include, but are not limited to, reduced energy consumption, lightweight design, little-to-no refresh rate flicker, sharp images, and minimal heat production. But if you’re in the market for a new LCD device, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the specifications used to describe the technology.
Resolution
The resolution of an LCD display refers to its number of levels of which its performance feature is divided. Not to be confused with range or end-to-end output, resolution is essentially a function that allows the LCD display to work. Resolutions can vary drastically, but it’s important to note that higher resolutions tend to deliver better-looking images. Therefore, it’s best to stick with a high-resolution LCD display for the best possible display.
Spatial Performance
Also described as “dot pitch,” the spatial performance of an LCD display is the distance from one corner of the display to the opposite corner. The term was first used back to describe CRT televisions, but it has since made its way into other display technologies, including LCD.
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of an LCD display is the width-to-height ratio of the respective device. Some of the most common aspect ratios for LCD displays include 4:3, 5:4, and 16:9, with the majority of newer devices opting for the 16:9 ratio. Keep in mind, however, that many older televisions and computer monitors use a 4:3 aspect ratio. Movies and television shows are usually filmed in the 16:9 ratio, making it the de-facto standard among TV manufacturers.
Viewing Angle
The viewing angle is a measurement from when the LCD drops below the 10:1 ratio. When this occurs, certain changes begin to take effect, such as a change in color with bright colors turning dark and vise-versa. LCD viewing angles are somewhat restricted, although certain optical films may yield a 180-degree viewing angle.
Refresh Rate
The refresh rate of an LCD display refers to how many times the display “refreshes” new data per second. Generally speaking, it’s best to choose an LCD display with a high refresh rate, as this prevents stuttering and similar display problems.
Brightness
As the name suggests, brightness is used to describe how bright the display is. The liquid crystals within an LCD display don’t produce light themselves, rather they rely on some other source of illumination, such as a back light.