View source for Comparison of display technology

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{{further|Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays|History of display technology}}

{{Merge from|Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays|discuss=Talk:Comparison of display technology#Proposed merge of Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays into Comparison of display technology|date=December 2024}}
This is a comparison of various properties of different display technologies. 

== General characteristics ==

{| style="text-align: center;" class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Display technology
! rowspan=2 | Screen shape
! colspan=2 | Largest known diagonal
! rowspan=2 | Typical use
! rowspan=2 | Usable in bright room
|-
! (in)
! (cm)
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Eidophor]] front projection
| Flat
| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Shadow mask]] [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]]
| Spherical curve or flat
| 42<ref name=crt>{{cite web|url=http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/2/161960.html|title=DEAD MITSUBISHI 40-INCH TV. help!! - ecoustics.com|publisher=}}</ref>
| 107
|  [[Television|TV]], [[computer monitor]]
| {{yes}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Aperture grille]] [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]]
| Cylindrical curve or flat
| 43<ref>{{Cite web |last=Database |first=C. R. T. |date=2024-12-22 |title=Sony PVM-4300 {{!}} CRT Database |url=https://crtdatabase.com/crts/sony/sony-pvm-4300 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=crtdatabase.com |language=en}}</ref>
| 109
|  [[Television|TV]], [[computer monitor]]
| {{yes}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Monochrome]] [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]]
| Spherical curve or flat
| 30<ref name=crt12>{{cite web|url=http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html|title=Monochrome CRT|url-status=dead|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091009163303/http://www.earlytelevision.org/dumont_ra119.html|archivedate=2009-10-09}}</ref>
| 76
|  [[Television|TV]], [[computer monitor]], [[Radar|radar display]], [[oscilloscope]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}}|Direct view [[Charactron]] [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]]
| Spherical curve
| 24<!--{{fact}}-->
| 61
| [[Computer display|Computer monitor]], [[Radar|radar display]]
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]] self-contained rear-projection
| Flat [[Lenticular lens|lenticular]]
| 80<ref name=crt3>{{cite web|url=http://thejournal.com/articles/13021|title=Self-contained Rear Projection CRT|publisher=|access-date=2007-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031125634/http://thejournal.com/articles/13021|archive-date=2008-10-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 203
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[CRT projector|CRT front projection]]
| Flat
| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)
| [[Television|TV]] or presentation
| {{no}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Plasma display]]
| Flat
| 152<ref name=plasma>{{cite web|url=http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html|title=Panasonic Develops World's Largest 152-Inch Full HD 3D Plasma Display - Headquarters News - Panasonic Newsroom Global|publisher=|access-date=2010-01-08|archive-date=2010-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110212836/http://panasonic.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/en100107-11/en100107-11.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 386
| [[Television|TV]], [[computer monitor]] <br />(In some early "portable" computers. They required too much power for battery-powered laptops)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retropaq.com/the-beginning/|title=Gas Plasma Screen - Compaq Portable 386|date=December 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/3949/Compaq-Portable-386/|title=Compaq Portable 386 - Computer - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2235/Toshiba-T3100-20/|title=Toshiba T3100/20 - Computer - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0024.html|title=T-5100-Computer Museum|website=museum.ipsj.or.jp}}</ref>
| {{partial}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[LCD television|LCD]]
| Flat
| 115<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/tcls-huge-115-inch-tv-is-among-the-biggest-brightest-screens-ive-seen/|title=TCL's Huge 115-inch TV Is Among the Biggest, Brightest Screens I've Seen|publisher=CNET |access-date=2024-01-09}}</ref>
| 292
|  [[Television|TV]], [[computer monitor]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[LCD projector|LCD self-contained rear-projection]]
| Flat [[Lenticular lens|lenticular]]
| 70<ref name=LCD2>{{cite web|url=http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html|title=LCD Rear Projection|publisher=|access-date=2007-03-16|archive-date=2012-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717052154/https://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/television/microdisplay/3lcd/release/9365.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 178
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[LCD projector|LCD front-projection]]
| Flat
| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)
| [[Television|TV]] or presentation
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Digital Light Processing|DLP]] self-contained rear-projection
| Flat [[Lenticular lens|lenticular]]
| 120<ref name=DLP>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/08/ces-2007-optomas-50k-120-inch-set|title=CES 2007: Optoma's $50k 120-inch Set|first=Matt|last=Casamassina|date=8 January 2007|publisher=}}</ref>
| 305
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Digital Light Processing|DLP]] front-projection
| Flat
| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)
| [[Television|TV]] or presentation
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Liquid crystal on silicon|LCoS]] self-contained rear-projection
| Flat
| 110<ref name=LCoS>{{cite web|url=http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20060929/121684/|title=JVC Develops 110-inch|publisher=}}</ref>
| 279
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Liquid crystal on silicon|LCoS]] front-projection
| Flat
| colspan="2" |(limited only by brightness)
| [[Television|TV]] or presentation
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}}|[[Laser video display|Laser]] self-contained rear projection
| Flat [[Lenticular lens|lenticular]]
| 75<ref name=LASERVUE>{{cite web |url=http://www.laservuetv.com/products.php |title=Mitsubishi Electric LaserVue® - Products |accessdate=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825105355/http://laservuetv.com/products.php |archivedate=2009-08-25 }}</ref>
| 191
| [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[LED display|LED]] 
| Flat
| 279.92<ref name=LED>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-10000/largest-led-3d-tv/|title=Largest LED 3D TV|publisher=}}</ref>
| 711
| [[Billboard]]s, [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Surface-conduction electron-emitter display|SED]] 
| Flat
| 55<ref name=SED>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/55-inch-sed-hdtvs-on-the-way-in-08/|title=55-inch SED HDTVs on the way in '08|date=3 October 2006 |publisher=}}</ref>
| 140
| [[Computer display|Computer monitor]], [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Field-emission display|FED]]
| Flat
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| [[Computer display|Computer monitor]], [[Television|TV]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Electrophoretic display|EPD]] (e-paper)
| Flat (flexible)
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| [[Electronic paper]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Organic light-emitting diode|OLED]] 
| Any, but most commonly flat rectangular with or without rounded edges, notch(es) and holes, circular, or curved (flexible)<ref name=flexibleOLED>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108122117/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n940egpuK2I&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2015-01-08 |url-status=dead|title=CES 2015 LG - Perfect Black, Perfect Color : Only in LG OLED TV|last=LG Global|date=7 January 2015|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref>
| 88<ref name="OLED88 8K">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-OLED88Z9PUA-signature-oled-8k-tv|title=LG SIGNATURE Z9 88 inch Class 8K Smart OLED TV w/AI ThinQ® (87.6'' Diag) (OLED88Z9PUA)|website=LG USA}}</ref>
| 223.52
| [[Computer display|Computer monitor]], [[Television|TV]], [[Mobile phone]]
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Telescopic pixel display]]
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Ferroelectric liquid crystal display|Ferroelectric LCD]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Micro-LED|'mLED' LED]]
| Curved or flat 
| ??
| ??
| [[Mobile phone]]s, wearable electronics, VR displays, smartwatches, optical instruments, AR displays
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Quantum dot display|QDLED]]<ref name=oled-display.net>{{cite web|url=http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled|title=Quantum Dots QDTV Displays from Nanoco Technologies|publisher=|access-date=2009-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714024145/http://www.oled-display.net/technology/qdled|archive-date=2009-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=unlv.edu>{{cite web|url=http://nanotechnology.unlv.edu/research.htm|title=Nevada Nanotechnology Center - Research|publisher=}}</ref><ref name=softpedia>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/LED-039-s-Outpower-QDLED-039-s-73412.shtml|title=LED's Outpower QDLED's|first=Gabriel|last=Gache|date=10 December 2007 |publisher=}}</ref><ref name=oceannanotech>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html |title=Ocean NanoTech research in QDLEDs |access-date=2009-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429035543/http://www.oceannanotech.com/technologies.html |archive-date=2009-04-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Interferometric modulator display|IMOD]] 
| Flat
| 1.2<ref name=Mirasol>{{cite web|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611074922/http://www.qualcomm.com/common/documents/brochures/MCL1053_Bichrome_1.2_landscape_v2_new.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-11|title=Wireless Technology & Innovation - Mobile Technology - Qualcomm}}</ref>
| 3
| [[Mobile phone]]<ref name=imod>{{cite web|url=http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080309043401/http://www.qualcomm.com/technology/imod/media/pdf/IMOD_Technology_Overview_WP.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-09|title=IMOD}}</ref>
| {{yes}}
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Laser Phosphor Display]] (LPD)
| Flat / Box
| 196
| 497.8
| Presentation
| {{yes}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Virtual retinal display]]
| Any shape
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| Experimental, possibly [[virtual reality]]
| Depends on system
|}

Major technologies are [[cathode-ray tube|CRT]], [[LCD]] and its derivatives ([[Quantum dot display]], [[LED backlit LCD]], WLCD, OLCD), [[Plasma display|Plasma]], and [[OLED]] and its derivatives (Transparent OLED, PMOLED, AMOLED). An emerging technology is [[Micro LED]]. Cancelled and now obsolete technologies are [[Surface-conduction electron-emitter display|SED]] and [[Field emission display|FED]].

== Temporal characteristics ==
Different display technologies have vastly different temporal characteristics, leading to perceptual differences of motion, flicker, etc.
[[File:Display technology temporal characteristics.gif|center|750px|Sketch of some common display technologies' temporal behaviour]]

The figure shows a sketch of how different technologies present a single white/grey frame. Time and intensity is not to scale. Notice that some have a fixed intensity, while the illuminated period is variable. This is a kind of [[pulse-width modulation]]. Others can vary the actual intensity in response to the input signal.

*Single-chip DLPs use a kind of "chromatic multiplexing" in which each color is presented serially. The intensity is varied by modulating the "on" time of each pixel within the time-span of one color. Multi-chip DLPs are not represented in this sketch, but would have a curve identical to the plasma display.
*LCDs have a constant (backlit) image, where the intensity is varied by blocking the light shining through the panel.
*CRTs use an electron beam, scanning the display, flashing a lit image. If interlacing is used, a single full-resolution image results in two "flashes". The physical properties of the phosphor are responsible for the rise and decay curves.
*Plasma displays modulate the "on" time of each sub-pixel, similar to DLP.
*Movie theaters use a mechanical shutter to illuminate the same frame 2 or 3 times, increasing the flicker frequency to make it less perceptible to the human eye.

== Research ==
Researchers announced a display that uses silicon metasurface pixels that do not require polarized light and require half the energy. It employs a transparent conductive oxide as a heater that can quickly change the pixels. The pixels are 100 times thinner than liquid crystal. Response times are under 1 millisecond. They claim that the metasurface array could replace the liquid crystal layer in today's displays, eliminating the need for production technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ridden |first=Paul |date=2023-02-23 |title=Meta-display concept could retire LCD panels in big-screen TVs |url=https://newatlas.com/electronics/electrically-programmable-silicon-metasurfaces/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=New Atlas |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Computer monitor]]
* [[Large-screen television technology]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Display technology}}

[[Category:Display technology]]
[[Category:Technological comparisons|Display technology]]