Why Large Format Display (LFD) Is Not Always Better For Businesses
Digital display technology is evolving at rocket speed. More and more businesses are now using various digital displays in their business operations and advertising campaigns. Some of the digital displays used are digital signages, digital kiosks, video walls, and LED displays. While the underlying features and the cost effectiveness are some of the main factors that businesses take into consideration, screen size is important too when it comes to buying the right digital displays. In fact, according to numerous surveys, most people prefer large screens.
A question always arises when it comes to buying a large display. The business has to decide whether to buy a large format display (LFD) or other displays that are constructed by using multiple smaller displays. In this article, we will talk about large format displays and why LFD is not always the better choice.
What Is LFD?
LFD is commonly known as Large Format Display. Not every display with an ultra-large screen is an LFD. To be categorized as an LFD, the display must have only one single screen. Some examples are digital signages and interactive smartboards.
Video walls and LED displays are not considered large format displays. They might look like a single large screen. However, if you look closely at the screen, you can find that the screen is made of separate smaller displays. These displays are tiled and combined to create one single large screen. To display any digital content, a video controller or a processor is needed to allow a single image to be displayed across all smaller screens.
On the other hand, an LFD can display image content easily once the device is powered and is connected to an appropriate input source such as a media player or computer.
How large can an LFD get?
Most people are fond of ultra-large screens. Larger images and videos look awesome all the time. Generally, large format displays can have screen sizes ranging between 32 inches and 86 inches. Due to the market demands, some manufacturers even introduce enormous screen sizes such as 98 and 110 inches.
For example, our VEXO™ Smart Interactive Panel is a large format interactive display that comes in a wide range of screen sizes such as 65”, 75”, 86”, 98” and 110”. In addition to the interactive smartboard, our VEXO™ Digital Signage also provides screen size options such as 32”, 43”, 49”, 55”, 65”, 75” and 85”.
LFD with a large screen size can be a great option for any application that has a large audience size. Since there are no obvious bezels or seams due to tiled displays, a single large screen can bring images to life with a superior and undisrupted viewing experience. Besides, an LFD is always a better choice when it comes to equipping the display with an interactive feature. A single screen can provide a more intuitive and touch-sensitive interactive experience when compared to a combined screen that has bezels or seams.
Why LFD is not always the best?
A single large screen can be great for some but not all applications. As the screen size gets larger, both the cost and the weight will get higher too.
A 110” LFD can be very expensive. Although the large screen can provide an extraordinary viewing experience, does the benefit really outweigh the cost for your business? Have you compared the price between a 110” LFD and a video wall of the same size? It is highly possible that a video wall of the same size has a lower cost than a 110” LFD.
Besides, an LFD that is too large can make the installation more difficult. Delivering and lifting a 110” LFD can be a very daunting task. It is very heavy, and it also increases the risk of accidental damage to the display during delivery and installation. The huge carton box of the LFD can also cause unexpected inconveniences such as entering a doorway or an elevator.
In terms of screen maintenance, if something is wrong with the LFD’s screen, the whole large screen needs to be repaired or replaced. Unlike replacing the single large screen of an LFD, replacing only the faulty displays of a video wall or an LED screen could be easier and cheaper.
Another disadvantage of an LFD is that it is less flexible when it comes to customizations. We can always view an LFD as a ready-made product. What we see is what we get. An LFD has a fixed size and shape. If you want to increase the screen size of your LFD, it is impossible unless you buy a new LFD with a larger screen. Besides, unlike LED screens or video walls which are modular and customizable, it is also impossible to change the shape of your LFD.
Hardware upgrade is also an issue for an LFD. While you can always upgrade firmware or any updates of an LFD, upgrading hardware will be complicated. Depending on the models or brands, some LFDs have only integrated components that are not meant to be replaced or removed easily. If that is the case, the only way for you to get an up-to-date display with all the newest features is to buy a new LFD.
Conclusion
Whether it is an LFD, a video wall, or an LED screen, there is no such thing as the perfect display for business. Each digital display has its advantages and disadvantages. LFD or large format display can be a great display in most situations. However, as a wise businessman, how you use the display effectively and appropriately is more important than the display itself.
