LED Display Technology

The Science Behind
Every Pixel

From surface-mounted diodes to next-generation MicroLED packaging, we decode the technologies that power world-class LED displays — so you can choose with confidence.

6
Core Technologies
10K+
Nits Outdoor
P0.5
Finest Pitch
IP68
Max Protection
Pixel Pitch
P0.5 – P16+
Full range indoor & outdoor
Lifespan
100,000 hrs
L70 rated LEDs
Refresh Rate
3,840 Hz+
Broadcast-grade, flicker-free
Packaging Technologies

LED Technology Explained

Each packaging method offers unique advantages. Understanding these helps match the right technology to your application, environment, and budget.

Most Widely Used

SMD — Surface Mount Device

SMD encapsulates three LED chips (R, G, B) into a single lamp bead, reflow-soldered onto the PCB. The dominant technology for over a decade due to its mature manufacturing and extensive supply chain.

Each pixel is discrete and individually replaceable. Minimum achievable pixel pitch is ~P0.9, constrained by the physical footprint of the lamp package and soldering points.

Pixel Pitch
P0.9 – P16+
IP Rating
IP20 – IP65
Brightness
800–10,000 nits
Repairability
Pixel-level ✓
✓
Mature, proven with the widest supply chain
✓
Individual pixel replacement — low repair cost
✓
Most cost-effective across all pitch ranges
✗
Exposed LEDs — susceptible to impact damage
✗
Limited to P0.9 minimum pixel pitch
Typical Use Cases
Outdoor BillboardsRental ScreensStage BackdropsSports ScoreboardsRetail SignageIndoor Lobbies
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
Fine Pitch Leader

COB — Chip on Board

COB bonds bare LED chips directly onto the substrate, eliminating the intermediate lamp-bead packaging. The entire surface is encapsulated with protective resin, creating a flat, seamless pixel area.

By skipping two manufacturing steps, COB achieves tighter pixel pitches and superior uniformity — preferred for fine-pitch indoor displays below P1.5.

Pixel Pitch
P0.6 – P2.0
IP Rating
IP40 – IP54
Viewing Angle
Up to 170°
Repairability
Module-level
✓
Superior uniformity and higher pixel density than SMD
✓
Better contrast ratio and wider viewing angles
✓
Sealed surface — resists dust and moisture
✗
No pixel-level repair — full module replacement
✗
Higher cost per m² than SMD
Typical Use Cases
Control RoomsBroadcast StudiosBoardroomsCommand CentersFine-Pitch Video Walls
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
Next-Gen COB

QCOB — Quantum COB

QCOB integrates quantum dot enhancement materials into the COB encapsulation layer, significantly improving color gamut coverage — achieving DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces.

The quantum dot layer converts primary LED emission to produce more saturated, accurate colors with exceptional uniformity — ideal for broadcast-grade and cinema applications.

Pixel Pitch
P0.7 – P1.8
Color Gamut
DCI-P3 / BT.2020
Viewing Angle
Up to 175°
Application
Broadcast / Studio
✓
Widest color gamut of all LED packaging technologies
✓
Superior color accuracy for broadcast and cinema
✓
Excellent uniformity — no color banding
✗
Premium price — highest cost per m²
✗
Module-level repair only
Typical Use Cases
Broadcast StudiosCinema LEDVirtual ProductionColor-Critical Displays
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
High Efficiency

Flip-Chip COB

Flip-Chip inverts the LED chip so electrodes face downward, contacting the substrate directly via bumps — eliminating wire bonding entirely for improved efficiency and reliability.

Better light extraction, superior thermal management (heat dissipates directly through the substrate), and longer lifespan compared to standard wire-bond COB.

Pixel Pitch
P0.6 – P1.5
Thermal
Excellent
Light Extraction
+15–20% vs COB
Lifespan
100,000+ hrs
✓
No wire bonds — fewer failure points, higher reliability
✓
Better thermal management — longer LED lifespan
✓
Higher luminous efficiency — lower power consumption
✗
Higher manufacturing complexity and cost
Typical Use Cases
Command CentersFine-Pitch Walls24/7 OperationsMedical Visualization
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
Next Generation

MIP — MicroLED in Package

MIP packages Micro LED chips (under 100 microns) into individual surface-mount units, bridging the gap between traditional SMD convenience and MicroLED performance.

One MIP package works across P0.5–P2.5, reducing complexity. Unlike COB, faulty MIP pixels can be individually replaced — combining the best of SMD and COB.

Pixel Pitch
P0.5 – P2.5
Peak Brightness
Up to 4,000 nits
Repairability
Pixel-level ✓
Protection
Resin-coated
✓
Ultra-fine pitch — P0.5 achievable
✓
Individual pixel replacement — best of SMD and COB
✓
Resin-coated — dust, moisture, shock resistant
✓
Works on existing SMD manufacturing lines
✗
Emerging technology premium on cost
Typical Use Cases
Ultra-Fine Pitch WallsXR / Virtual ProductionPremium BoardroomsImmersive LED
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
Protection Enhancement

GOB — Glue on Board

GOB is a protective enhancement applied over SMD modules — a transparent epoxy flood-coated over the entire module surface, filling gaps between LEDs to create a smooth, sealed surface.

Significantly improves impact resistance and moisture protection at a fraction of the cost of migrating to COB, while maintaining pixel-level repairability of SMD.

Base Technology
SMD + Coating
IP Rating
Up to IP65
Impact Resistance
High
Cost vs COB
Lower
✓
Much better protection than standard SMD
✓
Maintains SMD pixel-level repairability
✓
Cost-effective upgrade from standard SMD
✓
Ideal for LED floors and interactive installations
✗
Resin removal needed for repair — more complex
Typical Use Cases
LED Floor DisplaysRental ScreensInteractive InstallsMuseumsHigh-Traffic Spaces
Performance Profile
Resolution
Durability
Repairability
Cost Efficiency
Environment Guide

Indoor vs Outdoor

The installation environment fundamentally shapes every technical specification — from brightness and pixel pitch to IP ratings and structural design.

Indoor LED Displays

Controlled Environments

Typical Brightness
500 – 1,500 nits
Common Pixel Pitches
P0.6 – P4.0
IP Rating Required
IP20 – IP40
Viewing Distance
1 – 15 metres
Preferred Technology
COB, QCOB, Flip-Chip
Refresh Rate
3,840 Hz+ recommended
Operating Temperature
0°C – 40°C
VS
Outdoor LED Displays

Open Environment

Typical Brightness
5,000 – 10,000 nits
Common Pixel Pitches
P3.0 – P16.0
IP Rating Required
IP65 – IP68
Viewing Distance
10 – 200+ metres
Preferred Technology
SMD (GOB for close range)
Refresh Rate
1,920 Hz+ recommended
Operating Temperature
-20°C – 60°C
Interactive Tool

Pixel Pitch Calculator

Enter your parameters to receive a recommended pixel pitch, technology, and IP rating for your project.

Recommended Pixel Pitch
P3.9mm
Min. Viewing Distance
3.9m
Brightness Range
5,000+nits
Recommended Technology
SMD
IP Rating Required
IP65
Knowledge Hub

Everything You Need to Know

Deep-dive guides on every aspect of LED display technology. Click any topic to expand the full explanation.

📐

Pixel Pitch Explained

What it means, how to calculate it, and the 10× rule for viewing distance.

Fundamentals
☀️

Brightness & Nits

How to read brightness specs, nits vs lumens, and the right level for your environment.

Specifications
🔄

Refresh Rate & Scan Mode

Why refresh rate matters for cameras, broadcasting, and flicker-free viewing.

Performance
🌑

Contrast Ratio

Static vs dynamic contrast, true black performance, and why it often matters more than brightness.

Image Quality
🛡️

IP Ratings Demystified

What each IP number means, and which rating you need for indoor, outdoor and wet environments.

Protection
🎛️

Control Systems

NovaStar, Colorlight, Linsn — how sending cards, receiving cards, and processors work.

Systems
Quick Reference

LED Display Glossary

Pixel Pitch (P)
Distance in mm between centres of adjacent pixels. Smaller pitch = higher resolution and closer minimum viewing distance.
Nits (cd/m²)
Unit of luminance. 1 nit = 1 candela per square metre. Higher nits = visible in brighter ambient light.
Refresh Rate (Hz)
How many times per second the display updates. 3,840 Hz+ prevents banding in camera footage.
IP Rating
Ingress Protection. First digit = dust (max 6), second = water (max 8). IP65 = dust-tight + water jets.
Scan Mode
Fraction of LEDs driven at once. 1/4 scan = 25% on simultaneously. Affects brightness and flicker.
Contrast Ratio
Ratio of maximum white to minimum black luminance. Higher contrast = richer blacks and more vivid images.
Viewing Angle
Half-angle at which brightness drops to 50% of peak. Typically 120°–170°. Wider = better off-axis visibility.
Driver IC
Integrated circuit controlling LED current per channel. Determines uniformity, PWM depth, and grey-scale.
Receiving Card
Board inside each LED cabinet receiving signal from the sending card and driving the LED modules.
Grey Scale
Number of brightness steps per colour channel. 16-bit (65,536 steps) produces smooth gradients.
Pixel Density
Number of pixels per square metre. P1.95 ≈ 262,144 px/m². Higher density = sharper at close range.
L70 Lifespan
Hours until LED output drops to 70% of original brightness. 100,000h L70 = ~15 years at 18h/day.
Applications

Built for Every Environment

🏟️

Stadiums & Arenas

Perimeter boards, scoreboards, and ribbon displays with up to 10,000 nit peak brightness

📺

Broadcast Studios

Ultra-fine pitch virtual sets, XR stages and chromakey-free backgrounds

🏢

Corporate Lobbies

Impactful reception walls, meeting room displays and wayfinding systems

🛣️

Outdoor Advertising

Roadside billboards, building facades and transit advertising

🛒

Retail & DOOH

Window-facing, in-store promotions and digital out-of-home networks

🎪

Events & Rental

Concert stages, festivals, exhibitions and fast-deploy touring screens

🏥

Healthcare

Wayfinding, patient information systems and medical visualization

🎓

Education

Lecture theatres, campus boards and interactive learning walls