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Figuring out monitor screens can be tough, since the terminology (LED, LCD, OLED, etc.) is confusing unless you have a guide to sort it out. And since we live to be helpful, that’s exactly what this article is! Read on for an in-depth explanation of LED vs. LCD monitors, but the quick version is that, when it comes to gaming monitors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) hold every advantage over regular liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). What’s the catch? All LEDs also use LCD technology — they’re just better.
An LCD computer monitor uses a liquid crystal display to broadcast light and color on its screen.
This is going to get technical, but that’s what you’re here for, right? An LCD monitor starts with a backlit panel, which generates the light that eventually makes the image on the screen. That’s followed by two polarized filters with the liquid crystals in between. "PC Magazine” has a great visual representation if you want to check it out.
Think of the filters as a regular mail slot in a door, which only allows the mail to be inserted in at a horizontal angle. However, the second filter is a second mail slot, but it’s vertical instead of horizontal, meaning the mail can’t make it all the way through. The liquid crystals work like someone grabbing the mail after it passes through the first slot and turning it, allowing the mail to make it to the other side.
When electricity is applied to these crystals, they effectively rotate the light in between the filters, allowing light to burst through. The light is then processed through pixels, each containing red, green and blue sub-pixels which are mixed and matched to display any color as instructed by the monitor’s GPU (graphics processing unit).
Compared to what came before — namely, plasma screens — LCD is a sizable improvement. LCD monitors are brighter than plasma, which makes them easier to see in brightly lit rooms. They last significantly longer than plasma screens and are less likely to develop burn-in (pixels that become permanently discolored, leading to ghostly images on screen that don’t go away). However, LCD pixels can die, leaving minuscule black spots on your screen. Plus, normal LCD screens don’t look as clear or colorful when viewed at an angle. That’s not a big deal if you’re the one gaming, but if you have a pal sitting beside you, it could affect them.
An LED computer monitor uses light-emitting diodes to display light and color on the screen. LED is also a type of LCD technology.
LED still has a liquid crystal display, but the overall TV has been improved. The difference is in the backlighting that provides the monitor’s brightness, which passes through the polarized filter, liquid crystals, other polarized filter and finally the pixels. While older LCDs use fluorescent lighting, LED uses light-emitting diodes, which offer better, brighter light.
LED technology used to be more expensive than regular LCD, but since virtually all LCD monitors use LED technology or better (and have for years) it’s sort of a moot point. But the pros of LED lighting certainly outweigh the cons! They’re more energy-efficient, generate less heat and generally last a lot longer than old LCD monitors. LED offers brighter and darker colors, making for a richer viewing experience.
Lastly, LEDs can broadcast images more quickly than LCDs’ fluorescent lighting, which is a definite advantage for gamers. “LED monitors are superior to LCD monitors for gaming, especially fast-paced gaming, as they handle higher refresh rates, better response times, better blacks and better backlighting,” says Keith Mitchell, information technology professional and a self-professed avid gamer.
“LED is better equipped to handle high contrasts and resolutions of video games,” adds Junae Benne, author of “How to Become a Successful Video Game Journalist.”
Compared to normal LCDs, LEDs have no real downsides. But when it comes to the best video screen available, LED is no longer the leader — quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QLED) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) have regular LED beat.
LED is just a better version of LCD, and you’d be hard-pressed nowadays to find an LCD monitor that doesn’t use LEDs.
The industry standard for an LED lifespan is 100,000 hours, or 11.4 years. However, that figure is based on the idea of the LED being on the entire time, which means you would need to leave your monitor on continuously for over a decade. That seems unlikely to me, but you do you!
Opinions vary! “In terms of technology, OLED is the better of the two and blows the doors off LED,” says Mitchell. “OLED works in darker rooms, gives you better blacks, is as fast as LED, has better motion blur and overall gives you a better picture. LED is still much cheaper and still plenty fast for most people, but in my opinion, its days are slowly coming to an end.”
But OLED has a downside, too. “The difference between OLED and LED is that OLED has the chance to burn,” says Benne. “This means the game graphics can be burned into the screen and no matter what is displayed on the screen, there will be an imprint. In this case, LED offers better energy efficiency and more brightness. LED is the better option because there’s no chance of burn.”
Novastar Vx400 Vx600 Vx1000 AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.