Which Type of Display Is the Typical Computer Monitor?

Monitors are essential to any computer system, whether it’s a desktop or laptop setup. With modern operating systems relying heavily on visual interfaces, we need a way to see what happens as we interact with them.

The Importance of Computer Monitors

Many monitor types are available, from budget-conscious to enormous curved displays. There’s much to consider between price, overall screen size, refresh rates, resolution, and intended use. After all, a 1080p HD monitor will do just fine for average computer-based tasks, but for something like video editing, digital art, or high-end gaming, it might be necessary to go up to 4K.

None of that applies to a monitor type; the variety is far less overwhelming. With more and more manufacturers moving away from CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors in favor of newer technologies, consumers are ultimately left with two primary choices: LCD or LED.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

You’re most likely to encounter LCDs when shopping around for a new computer or monitor. These models utilize an assortment of tiny “liquid crystals” in front of a light source to individually control each pixel shown on the screen, adjusting color and brightness as needed.

Said light source comprises a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) spread across the screen to provide a relatively even amount of light. Compared to the previously more common CRTs, this allows LCD screens to appear brighter (due to the backlighting) while using less energy. They also provide a sharper image overall and support higher resolutions than CRT monitors.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes)

LED monitors are very similar to LCDs—in fact, they’re a type of LCD—with the main difference being how they handle backlighting. A more typical LCD screen uses what amounts to a small fluorescent light, while LED screens use the diodes their name is derived from. These diodes allow for greater control over the display’s contrast by blocking more illumination from the monitor’s backlighting. This backlighting is also handled in two ways, depending on the LED monitor: Edge and Full-array lighting.

Edge lighting arranges the monitor’s LEDs around the edges of the display (just the bottom, the top, and bottom, the left and right, or on all sides), as the name implies. This tends to be used in more budget-friendly models due to lower production costs. It also means that the image won’t quite measure up to a full-array monitor due to the arrangement and lower number of LEDs overall.

Full-array lighting places LEDs over the display area, grouped into several “zones.” This approach allows the monitor to adjust the brightness of each zone individually for even deeper picture contrast. The more LED zones a monitor has, the higher the image quality, but that also typically equates to a higher overall MSRP.

This means a black screen—or black section on a screen—on an LED monitor will appear much deeper, while the same visual on an LCD may seem a bit brighter or even a little gray.