The Benefits of LED over LCD:
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When it comes to shopping for a TV there are plenty of considerations which need to be made. From the size of the screen to the design of the unit and its positioning in the room, TVs require a lot of forethought. Naturally the display will be a prime area of focus – but why should you choose an LED display over an LCD?
What is an LED TV?
An LED television is simply a TV that uses LEDs (light emitting diodes) to light the display. The LEDs replace the CCFLs (cold cathode fluorescent lamps) that had previously been used in LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs.
It’s worth pointing out that an LED TV is essentially an LED-lit version of an LCD TV. It still uses a liquid crystal display but the term LED TV is now used for a TV with this form of lighting. In contrast, an LCD TV refers in general terms to the older style of TV that uses fluorescent lamps. LED lighting can also be used in computer monitors.
So, what are the benefits of an LED TV over an LCD one? Is it all just hype or are there genuine advantages? The best way to determine what the central differences are is to look at how the two different types of technology compare with each other in a number of critically important areas.
Save on energy bills
First of all, it is important to stress that LED TVs uses a lot less power – anywhere between 30% to 40% less – than a comparable, old-style LCD display. This could add up to considerable savings on energy bills over the lifetime of a TV set and this is also better for the environment, as it ultimately helps you to significantly reduce your carbon footprint. For a business that may have dozens of computer screens active for five days or more over the course of a week, switching to LED can have even more of an impact.
A better contrast and reproduction of colour
An older style LCD TV tends to use just one CCFL or fluorescent lamp to backlight the whole screen. An LED TV can use hundreds of LEDs, all of which can be individually controlled. This is especially important when it comes to extremes of light and shade – in other words, contrast. A single fluorescent light previously had problems creating areas of black, unless the whole screen was black, as light from other parts of the screen would ‘bleed through’ to the supposedly black areas.
By contrast – pun intended – individual LEDs can be switched off while others are going at full tilt right next to each other on the same panel, creating the greatest possible contrast. The quality of light emitted by LEDs is also generally thought to reproduce colours more accurately and to produce more natural and vivid on-screen images. If you haven’t experienced the difference in picture quality yet, try an LED TV and you should really be able to see the difference.
Slimming down
Some LED TV designs feature LEDs arranged around the edge of the screen. They send their light across the back of the screen until it is bounced towards the viewer by appropriately angled mirrors. This is allowing manufacturers to build increasingly slim housings for their TVs.
