Which Is Better: LED or LCD Monitor?

LED means Light Emitting Diode, and LCD means Liquid Crystal Display. Technically, these are the same in that they have 2 layers of polarized glass through which liquid crystals block and pass light to display images on the screen. 

We must consider several things before deciding which display screen is better for your use. Once we understand the difference between the two displays, we will be better equipped to make this decision. We will also take a look at the pros and cons of each display monitor.

LEDs are a subset of LCDs as both use Liquid Crystal Display to pass and block light on the screen. The only difference is the type of light used to create colors, which we will discuss in detail. We will also take a look at some LCD vs. LED FAQs.

LCD Monitors

Liquid Crystal Display monitors have a layer of liquid crystals encapsulated between two layers of polarized glass. Electric current is used to align the crystals in the liquid to pass or block light depending on the picture displayed. LCD monitors do not produce light and traditionally used CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) backlights, but newer models also use LED backlighting for light emission.

Pros and Cons of an LCD Monitor

Although most LCD monitors use LED lighting these days, we will look at CCFL-based LCD monitors and discuss their pros and cons.

Look at the pros of CCFL LCD monitors.

• Since the CCFL technology is old, LCDs are generally cheaper than LEDs.
• Available in a vast range of resolutions.

Here are the cons of CCFL LCD.

• Consumes way more energy compared to LED monitors.
• Short lifespan.
• Thicker because of the CCFL lighting. 
• Repairing is complex and not sometimes not even possible.
• Not available in 4k or above resolution.

LED Monitor

LED monitors are LCDs since they also use the Liquid Crystal Display. The main difference is that LEDs use Light Emitting Diodes to light up the screen, unlike the CCFL used in LCDs. You can think of these diodes as tiny bulbs that shine a light on the screen to produce a picture.

LEDs can be divided into two main types.

• OLEDs: In Organic Light Emitting Diode monitors, each pixel on the screen has its light and color, which results in an ultra-clear and sharp image.
• QLEDs: In Quantum Light Emitting Diode, phosphorescent crystals (quantum dots) are used to produce pictures with optimal color saturation.

Pros and Cons of LED Monitor

Let’s examine some pros and cons of using a LED monitor/TV.

Here are the pros of a LED monitor.

• Unlike CCFL, LEDs use no mercury, which is good for you and the environment.
• LED technology is more energy efficient.
• This technology generates little or no heat.
• LEDs usually last longer, with an average lifespan of 10 years.
• These monitors have a fast refresh rate.

Here are the cons of LED monitors.

• High risk of image retention.
• Way more expensive compared to LCDs.
• Some LEDs have restricted viewing angles.

Which One Is Better?

Full-array LED monitors are always the best choice. They produce superior quality images with realistic colors and without any lag. So these should be your first choice. 

Only choose LCD if you are not concerned with image quality, for example, when you need to buy monitors for a security room where picture quality is the least concern. 

Even if you consider budget, LEDs are the smart choice as they will save you money in the long run with their energy-efficient technology. Also, they have a longer lifespan compared to LCDs, which saves money on buying new monitors every now and then.

Frequently Asked Questions