Last week, a customer who is a terminal device told me roast they had ordered a batch of 15.6 inch screens with a resolution of 1920× 1080, the parameters look quite beautiful.
After installing the results on the device, users gave feedback of "the words are a bit blurry" and "looking tired". He was particularly puzzled: even though it was FHD full HD, why wasn't it clear?
I asked him, 'Have you compared 2K screens of the same size?'? ”
He paused for a moment and said, "Isn't the higher the resolution, the clearer it is
This misunderstanding is too common when purchasing LCD screens. Today, let's spend a few minutes discussing this matter thoroughly,Is it the resolution that determines whether the screen is clear or not?
1、 What is PPI? Explain all the formulas clearly
First, give a precise definition: PPI (Pixels Per Inch), which translates to the number of pixels per inch. Simply put, it refers to how many pixels are packed within 1 inch of the diagonal of the screen. The higher the value, the finer the picture, and the less grainy it is.
The calculation formula looks like this:
PPI=√ (horizontal pixel²); Vertical Pixel&Sup2; ) ÷ Screen inch size (diagonal)
It may seem a bit complicated, but there are actually only two steps:
First, use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate how many pixels are on the diagonal
Divide by the inches of the screen again
For example, a 15.6-inch, 1920× A 1080 laptop screen with approximately 2203 diagonal pixels, divided by 15.6, PPI≈141。
What is a good screen? Under the same size, the higher the PPI, the clearer it is, and under the same PPI, the larger the size, the wider the field of view.
2、 The misconception that many people fall for: Resolution ≠ Clarity
Many purchasing friends are accustomed to using resolution to measure the quality of a screen. Seeing '4K' makes you feel advanced, while seeing 'FHD' makes you feel ordinary. This judgment method is inaccurate without considering the size.
The core logic is in one sentence:Resolution determines the total number of pixels, while PPI determines whether these pixels can be squeezed or not.
For example, you will understand:
A 65 inch 4K TV (3840× 2160), isn't the resolution high enough? But its PPI is only around 67 when calculated.
And the 15.6-inch 1080P laptop just now has a PPI of 141, with a fineness more than twice that of a TV. The pixels of the TV are larger, so when you look closer, there is naturally a grainy feeling.
Here's another real data from our company's product line:
Same 1920× 1080 resolution:
13.3-inch laptop screen → PPI approximately 166
15.6-inch laptop screen → PPI approximately 141
21.5-inch monitor screen → PPI of approximately 102
27 inch monitor screen → PPI approximately 81
Did you see the problem? Both are FHD, with twice the fineness difference between the 13.3-inch and 27 inch sizes.
If you use a 27 inch FHD to make an office monitor that requires close viewing, users will definitely feel that it is "not clear enough". This is not a resolution issue, it's because PPI was not selected correctly.
So remember this sentence: Resolution determines how much you can see, PPI determines whether what you see is clear or not.
3、 How many PPI should be selected for different scenarios? Here are a few reference values for you
Since PPI is so crucial, what values should be considered when making purchases? Based on our Saishida product line and the actual scenarios of B-end customers, here are a few references:
The size range of laptops (13-16 inches) is PPI's "comfort zone". FHD (1920× 1080) has a PPI of about 166 at 13.3 inches and about 141 at 15.6 inches, both of which are levels where the naked eye cannot see the graininess.
If pursuing ultimate delicacy, you can consider 16 inch 2560× 1600 (2.5K), PPI is about 188, and the image precision has reached another level.
Both 13.3-inch FHD and 15.6-inch FHD are covered in our product line, allowing for flexible selection based on cost budget.
The size range of the monitor (21.5-27 inches) is prone to tipping over. The PPI of a 21.5-inch FHD is about 102, which is relatively good for playing; But when it comes to the 27 inch FHD, it's only 81, and up close, you can clearly see the pixels.
If making an office monitor, it is recommended to have at least 23.8-inch 2K (PPI about 123) or 27 inch 4K (PPI about 163); If you are making an esports monitor, high refresh rate is more crucial than ultra-high PPI.
Our 27 inch FHD with 160Hz solution is typical, and players want smoothness, not just pixel count.
Devices such as advertising machines/industrial screens (18.5-32 inches) typically have a longer viewing distance and less stringent PPI requirements. The PPI of an 18.5-inch FHD is about 119, and a 32 inch FHD is about 69. If placed in a subway station or shopping mall, the audience can watch from two to three meters apart, which is completely sufficient.
But if it is a close interaction scenario such as a cashier or self-service terminal, one must be cautious.
We have a customer who runs a self-service ordering machine and initially selected a 21.5-inch FHD. Later, we found that when the customer looked closely at the menu, there was a noticeable graininess. After upgrading to a 21.5-inch 2K, the feedback was much better.
In summary, the closer the viewing distance, the higher the requirements for PPI.
4、 Besides PPI, there are also these things worth paying attention to
After discussing PPI, let's talk about the changes happening in the industry, which will also be helpful for your selection.
Mini LED backlighting is becoming mainstream. It is not panel technology, but the backlight method of LCD.
Using smaller and more LED beads for backlighting results in higher brightness, deeper black field, and wider color gamut.
Industry data shows that the penetration rate of Mini LED backlight in high-end TVs and laptops is rapidly increasing. If you are working on high-end monitors or professional monitors, this direction is worth paying attention to.
The high refresh rate track is diverging. On the esports monitor side, 165Hz is mainstream but the price competition is fierce; 60Hz is still the mainstay in office and industrial scenarios.
When defining a product, think carefully: Are your users counting pixels or frame rates?
5、 What can Da Neng do for you during the competition?
After discussing so many theories and trends, put them into practice.
As a manufacturer of LCD display modules, Saishida's core capability is four words: customized service. Sizes range from 10.1 to 32 inches, with full coverage and resolutions from HD to 4K. The key is to choose the right PPI based on your specific usage scenario, rather than blindly pursuing high resolution.
For customers who make laptops, we have coverage for both 13.3-16 inch FHD and 2.5K; For clients who specialize in monitors, we recommend 23.8-inch 2K for office use and 27 inch FHD with high refresh rate (such as 144Hz or higher) for esports.
For advertising machines and terminal devices, flexible matching based on viewing distance is recommended. For close interaction scenarios, a high PPI scheme is suggested, and for long-distance displays, it can be appropriately relaxed.
Screen selection is not about checking the parameter table, but about counting where your users are watching, what they are watching, and how long they are watching.
Say a few words afterwards
Returning to the client at the beginning. Later, we helped him switch to a 15.6-inch 2K screen (2560× 1440), and the PPI increased from 141 to 188. The user feedback was "much clearer". The cost hasn't increased much, but the experience has been greatly improved.
Many times, it's not that your product is not good enough, it's that a key parameter was not selected correctly.
PPI is such a parameter that may not be noticeable, but it directly determines the user's first impression of the product after receiving it. I hope this article can help you feel more confident when choosing a screen next time.
If you are selecting a display solution, please feel free to leave a message or send a message to chat. When it comes to screen selection, if one person doesn't fall into the trap, the entire project benefits.
About Saishida
Shenzhen Saishida Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in the field of LCD display modules, with products covering 10.1-32 inches, serving B-end manufacturers such as monitors, laptops, advertising machines, and terminal devices. Customized services, from parameter matching to solution implementation, one-stop solution for your display needs.
#LCD Screen # LCD # LCD Display Module # PPI # Resolution # Screen Clarity # LCD Screen Procurement # Mini LED # Display Module # Customization