Comparison of CRT, LCD, plasma, and OLED displays

Last updated

The following table compares cathode-ray tube (CRT), liquid-crystal display (LCD), plasma and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device technologies. These are the most often used technologies for television and computer displays. A less detailed comparison of a wider variety of display technologies is available at Comparison of display technology.

Technology
Parameter
CRT LCD Plasma OLED
Static contrast ratioFinite or infinite[ quantify ][ citation needed ]150 to 8100:1.[ citation needed ]Typically 1000 to 3000:1, Some models measured up to 20,333:1.[ citation needed ]Sony claims an OLED contrast range of 1,000,000:1. [1]
Peak luminosityDependent on the anode voltage and area of the scanning region.[ citation needed ]Dependent on the backlight and not the panel, typically 200–4000 cd/m2 [2] [3] 50–200 cd/m2[ citation needed ]100–1500 cd/m2 often significantly varying based on average picture level. [4] [5]
Color depth Unlimited gradations between colors due to being an analog technology. [6] 6 to 10 -bit per subpixel panels; smaller dot pitch, better detail[ compared to? ]. [7] [8] 6 to 8 -bit per subpixel panels[ citation needed ]8 to 12 -bit per subpixel. [9]
Response timeLess than 1 to 10 μs, but limited by phosphor decay time (around 5 ms). [10] [11] [12] 1–8 ms typical (according to manufacturer data), older units could be as slow as 35 ms[ citation needed ]Typically 2 to 10 μs, but limited by phosphor decay time (around 5 ms). [10] [13] Estimates varying from 1 to 10 μs. [14] [15]
Frame rate (refresh rate)60 to 85 Hz typically, some up to 200 Hz at reduced resolution, but not faster than input frame rate. [16] ).60 Hz typically, up to 540 Hz for some gaming monitors. [17] [18] 60 to 120 Hz, internally refreshed at 480 or 600 Hz. [19] 60 Hz typically. Up to 480 Hz. [20]
Flicker Perceptible on lower refresh rates (60 Hz and below) [21] Older (earlier than 2013) LCDs used PWM (strobing) to dim the backlight. However, since then many flicker free LCD computer monitors were introduced. As of 2016, TFTCentral retired their "flicker free monitor database" as most monitors introduced are advertised as being flicker free. [22] Does not normally occur due to a high refresh rate higher than FPS. [23] Does not normally occur at 100% brightness level. At levels below 100% flicker often occurs with frequencies between 60 and 255 Hz, since often pulse-width modulation is used to dim OLED screens. [24] [25] [ needs update ]
Risk of image persistence or burn-in High [26] Low [26] High [26] High [27] [ needs update ]
Energy consumption and heat generationHigh [28] Low [28]
Usually higher than LCD [29] OLED displays use 40% of the power of an LCD displaying an image that is primarily black as they lack the need for a backlight, while OLED can use more than three times as much power to display a mostly white image compared to an LCD. [30] [ needs update ]
Environmental influencesSensitive to ambient magnetic fields, which can adversely affect convergence and color purity.[ citation needed ]Prone to malfunctions on both low (below −4 °F, −20 °C) or high (above 113 °F, 45 °C) temperatures. [31] High altitude pressure difference may cause poor function or buzzing noises.[ citation needed ]Can have poor brightness, especially when most of the picture is white [5]
Electro-magnetic radiation emissionCan emit a small amount of X-ray radiation.[ citation needed ]Only emits non-ionizing radiation. [32] Emits strong radio frequency electromagnetic radiation. [33] None, although control circuitry may emit radio interference
SizeUp to 43 in (110 cm). [34] Up to 120 in (3.0 m). [35] Up to 150 in (3.8 m). [36] (152 in (3.9 m) experimental) [37] Up to 97 in (2.5 m) [38]
MaintenanceHazardous to repair or service due to high-voltage,
requires skilled convergence calibration and adjustments for geographic location changes.[ citation needed ] Glass display tube is evacuated and carries risk of implosion if improperly handled.
May be risky and expensive to repair due to complexity of the display; units with mercury CCFL backlight lamps are an environmental health hazard. [39] [40] Screen itself cannot be repaired if the gas used to generate images leaks. [41] Display itself cannot be repaired if it cracks and oxygen enters it due to failure of OLED encapsulation, which results in display failure.
OtherNo native resolution. Currently, the only display technology capable of multi-syncing (displaying different resolutions and refresh rates without the need for scaling). Display lag is extremely low due to its nature, which does not need to store image data before output, unlike LCDs, plasma displays and OLED displays. Extremely bulky and heavy construction in comparison to other display technologies. No longer produced. [42] [43] The LCD grid can mask effects of spatial and grayscale quantization, creating the illusion of higher image quality. [44] It is the cheapest display technology currently produced, with some entry-level models selling for less than $100.[ citation needed ]Screen-door effects are more noticeable than LCD when up close, or on larger sizes. New models are no longer produced. [45] Colored sub-pixels may age at different rates, leading to a color shift, although some models will scan pixels to even out wear and prevent this shift. Sensitive to UV light from direct sunlight. Is considered the highest quality but also the most expensive[ incomprehensible ] display technology currently produced,[ as of? ][ by whom? ] with TVs being available for $600. [46] [ citation needed ]

References

  1. "GEEK OUT: The Non-Technical Technical Guide to Sony OLED Monitors". ProVideo Coalition. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. "Peak Brightness of TVs: Max luminosity and HDR highlights". RTINGS.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  3. "GDS Launches 4,000cd/m2 High Bright LCD Displays for Full Outdoor Applications". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  4. LG G3 MLA OLED Review - LG's Answer to QD-OLED!, 4 April 2023, retrieved 2023-05-12
  5. 1 2 Baker, Simon (2022-05-27). "OLED Dimming Confusion - APL, ABL, ASBL, TPC and GSR Explained". TFTCentral. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  6. Weadock, Glenn E. (2001). Upgrading your home PC. San Francisco, CA: Sybex Inc. p. 131. ISBN   978-0-7821-2960-1. CRT monitors work with analog signals and can manage as many different gradations of color as the video adapter can throw at them.
  7. "What is Samsung's SUHD?". CNET. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  8. "COP 3502 Introduction to Computer Science" (PDF).
  9. "4K HDR  what is it, and what's the different between 8,10, and 12-bit HDR?". dgit.com. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  10. 1 2 "Plasmas - Pros & Cons". 2017-01-12. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  11. Thomas Thiemann (27 August 2009). "An investigation of the test process used to date for determining the response time of an LCD monitor, known as input lag". prad.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  12. Damjanovski, Vlado (2014). "Displays". CCTV. pp. 212–253. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-404557-6.50006-9. ISBN   978-0-12-404557-6. The persistence of the majority of CRTs used these days is around 5 ms. This is a bit more complicated with color CRT monitors since not all the phosphors have the same persistence (the blue phosphor has the shortest), but they are all around 5 ms.
  13. "Plasma response times". www.ihdtvreview.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  14. "LG 55EM9700 | OLED-Info". www.oled-info.com. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  15. Pino, Nick; Porter, Jon; Leger, Henry St (2 March 2023) [25 September 2018]. "OLED TV: what you need to know". TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  16. Armstrong, M; Flynn, D; Hammond, M; Jolly, S; Salmon, R (September 2008), High Frame-Rate Television (PDF), British Broadcasting Company
  17. "Gaming at 540Hz: Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP Review". TechSpot. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  18. Greenwald, Will (29 August 2022). "TV Refresh Rates Explained: 60Hz, 120Hz, and Beyond". PCMAG. PC Magazine. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  19. "What is 600 Hz Sub Field Drive?", Retrieved April 2013
  20. "Asus' 480Hz OLED gaming monitor just won CES". Digital Trends. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  21. "CRT Monitor Flickering?". Archived from the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  22. Baker, Simon (19 May 2016). "Flicker Free Monitor Database". TFTCentral. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  23. "Possible Causes for a Flickering LCD TV Screen". It Still Works.
  24. "Pulse-width modulation (PWM) in OLED displays | OLED-Info". www.oled-info.com.
  25. Schmitt, Florian (6 June 2019). "Analysis: DC Dimming vs. PWM – Can you dim AMOLED displays without the flickering?". Notebookcheck.
  26. 1 2 3 Gordon, Whitson. "Is "Burn-In" Still an Issue on TVs and Monitors?". Lifehacker. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  27. John Archer. "The OLED Screen Burn Debate - Everything You Need To Know". Forbes . Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  28. 1 2 Tom's Hardware: Power Consumption Benchmark Results for CRT versus TFT LCD "Benchmark Results: Different Brightness Testing"
  29. "LCD vs Plasma TVs". Which?. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  30. Stokes, Jon (2009-08-11). "This September, OLED no longer "three to five years away"". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  31. "Support | Samsung US". Samsung Electronics America.
  32. "Do TVs emit harmful radioactive rays?". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  33. "Plasma TV -- Mother of All RFI Producers". www.eham.net. Retrieved 9 October 2025.[ unreliable source? ]
  34. Robertson, Adi (February 6, 2018). "Inside the desperate fight to keep old TVs alive". The Verge.
  35. "Sharp's new 120-inch 8K display features 2,048 dimming zones, a 120Hz refresh rate, and more". TechSpot. 11 September 2020.
  36. Dugan, Emily (8 January 2008). "6ft by 150 inches  and that's just the TV". The Independent. London.
  37. "World's biggest TV: Panasonic's 4K2K 3D 152-inch Plasma". January 12, 2010.
  38. "LG's Wireless 97-Inch OLED TV Is Full of Surprises". CNET. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  39. "HP Notebook PCs  Diagnosing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) for Damage". 2017-01-12. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  40. "LCD and LED TV Care Guide; How to clean and maintain an LCD or LED Television". 2016-01-11. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  41. "Plasma Repair Answers". Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  42. "What means Native Resolution? - AfterDawn". www.afterdawn.com.
  43. "Meleeiton.me". Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  44. D'Zmura, Michael; Shen, Tsae-Pyng J.; Wu, Wei; Chen, Homer; Vassiliou, Marius S. (17 July 1998). "Contrast gain control for color image quality". Proceedings of SPIE. IS&T/SPIE Conference on Human Vision and Electronic Imaging III. Vol. 3299. San Jose, CA. pp. 194–201. doi:10.1117/12.320111.
  45. "Plasma Television Guide". 2012-04-26. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  46. "LG OLED TV Reliability". LG Egypt. Retrieved 2023-05-12.