LED Vs. LCD Monitor Review:
Let me begin this comparison between LED and LCD monitors with an explanation of fundamental differences between these two types.
Basic Difference
LED and LCD monitors are based on the same basic technology for image display, but differ in the kind of backlighting used. While these monitors use cold cathode fluorescent lamps for backlighting, the latter use light emitting diodes. This is the prime difference between the two display technologies. So LED monitors are in actuality, a type of LCD monitors, or an improvement over them.
Unlike CRT monitors that generate their own light through cathode ray incidence on fluorescent materials, LCD displays have to rely on external lighting, as their display is created through manipulation of light, passing through polarized liquid crystals. The backlighting affects picture quality substantially and light shed by LEDs offers superior picture quality, compared to LCDs.
This is because LEDs offer much more gradation in intensity and a larger light wavelength spectrum, giving a truer color quality. These types of monitors offer a better dynamic contrast ratio too. So if you compare LED and LCD monitors from a gaming perspective and other intensive graphic applications, LED monitors are surely better choices, as they provide vivid and more lifelike colors, with better gradation.
There are two types of LED backlighting techniques used. One is RGB dynamic LED and the other one is edge LED. The former type of backlighting uses LEDs placed behind the LCD TV or monitor screens, while the latter uses LEDs placed around the monitor rim, from where light is made to diffuse behind the screen. Since LEDs are placed around the rim on edge LED monitors, they can be a lot slimmer than conventional LCDs.
LED monitors cure one of the basic problems with LCD TVs, which is the inability to display true black colors. They can produce true black hues, by switching off LEDs entirely, increasing the 'blackness' quotient of black colors, providing better contrast in the process.
Power Consumption
LED monitors are a very recently introduced technology and they are preferred over LCD monitors, because of the amazingly rich picture quality and comfort of viewing. One more advantage that LED monitors have over LCD ones is the power consumption factor. LED monitors require a lot less power to operate than cold cathode fluorescent lamps. This property can be attributed to the inherently low energy needs of an LED.
LED monitors are also a lot softer on the eyes than LCD monitors which make them popular choices for people who work for long hours on their desktop computers. Their power consumption is as much as 40% lesser than conventional LCD monitors. They are also a lot more eco-friendly, because mercury is not used in their production. LEDs last longer than cold cathode fluorescent lamps, with little reduction in their power output over time, which makes these monitors long-lasting.
Cost
One major factor that has been holding back LED technology from reaching the masses is the high price factor. The manufacturing of these devices is a bit costlier currently, compared to LCD displays which have raised their overall price. However, the cost gap is slowly lowering with time, as the demand for the superior LED back-lit displays is on the rise, all over the world. Even laptop computers of today, come equipped with LED displays.
It will take time for the manufacturing costs of this technology to go down, but when it does, it will surely replace conventional LCD monitors in large numbers.
