It wasn’t long ago when most TVs and display devices featured cathode ray tube (CRT) technology. Throughout the 1970s, 80s and beyond, most display devices contained millions of individual dots that glowed either red, green or blue when exposed to an electron beam. Known as CRT displays, they were the universal standard for creating display devices. Around the turn of the 21st century, however, CRT displays were largely replaced with other display technologies, specifically liquid-crystal display (LCD). So, why are LCDs better than CRT displays exactly?
Small, Low-Profile Design
If you grew up in the 1980 and 90s, you may recall the large, bulky design of TVs and display devices. This is because CRTs required a larger amount of space for their hardware components, resulting in boxy TVs. In comparison, LCDs can be manufactured in much smaller, lower-profile designs. Some LCDs are as little as 1 inch thick, allowing consumers to mount them on walls or place them in small spaces.
Lightweight
Because of their small, low-profile design, LCDs also weigh less than CRT displays. Some CRTs weigh just a few pounds, making them easy to carry and move. If you get tired of watching your LCD TV in the corner of your living room, for example, you can easily move it to a different area without a second set of hands.
Energy Efficient
LCDs consume less energy than CRT displays, making them ideal for energy-conscious consumers as well as business owners. According to ENERGY STAR, a typical LCD may consume one half to two-thirds. Why is this important? Well, lower energy consumption means a lower cost of usage. LCDs don’t consume as much energy as CRT displays, resulting in cheaper monthly utility bills for consumers and business owners.
Lasts Longer
All display devices have a finite lifespan. Eventually, one or more of a display device’s components will fail, at which point it must be repaired or replaced. LCDs, however, generally last longer than CRT displays. It’s not uncommon for an LCD TV to last for up to 100,000 hours. In comparison, a CRT display may last for just 50,000 hours.
No Glare
Virtually all LCDs are designed with a glass screen that minimizes glare. When a light — artificial or natural — strikes the surface of a CRT display, it can create a blinding glare that restricts visual clarity. But thanks to their glass screen, LCDs don’t suffer from this problem. They offer a crystal-clear image that’s protected from otherwise blinding glares.
