The short answer
- Our brightest standard panel is the 18.5 inch at 400 nits. Our dimmest is the 23.8 inch at 250. Bigger does not mean brighter.
- If you are mounting in portrait, avoid the 17.3 and 18.5 inch units when people will view from the side. Their narrow 60 degree angle moves to one side when you rotate.
- The 17.3 inch has the lowest contrast in the range at 600:1. Dark slides will look flatter on it.
- These units are deep, at 51.5 to 70 mm. If you need slim, either recess them into the wall or buy a different product.
The whole range, side by side
| Size | Pixels | Nits | Contrast | Angle L / R / U / D | Depth (mm) | Touch options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.1 in | 1280 x 800 | 300 | 1000:1 | 85 / 85 / 85 / 85 | 53.5 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 11.6 in | 1920 x 1080 | 300 | 1000:1 | 85 / 85 / 85 / 85 | 51.5 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 13.3 in | 1920 x 1080 | 300 | 1000:1 | 85 / 85 / 85 / 85 | 57.0 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 15.6 in | 1920 x 1080 | 300 | 800:1 | 85 / 85 / 85 / 85 | 70.0 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 17.3 in | 1920 x 1080 | 300 | 600:1 | 80 / 80 / 60 / 80 | 67.0 | Capacitive |
| 18.5 in | 1920 x 1080 | 400 | 1000:1 | 89 / 89 / 60 / 80 | 67.0 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 21.5 in | 1920 x 1080 | 300 | 1000:1 | 89 / 89 / 89 / 89 | 63.0 | Capacitive, Resistive |
| 23.8 in | 1920 x 1080 | 250 | 1000:1 | 89 / 89 / 89 / 89 | 67.0 | Capacitive, Resistive |
From the spec sheet for each size. Every touch option is an alternative to None, which is the default in our builder.
All of them share the same computer, the same 12 to 36 V DC input, the same -10 to 60 °C operating range and the same ports. Only the panel and the case differ, which is why the numbers above are the ones worth reading.
Brightness
Brightness is given in nits, and a standard panel here runs from 250 to 400. That covers a normal indoor room. The hard case is daylight falling on the glass, or a screen placed in front of a window so the viewer looks into the light.
A sunlight-readable option raises brightness on every size, and an auto-brightness sensor is available on every size from 11.6 inches up. It is an option for bright rooms and glass walls. It does not make the unit suitable for use outside. The spec table we work from does not give a nit figure for the option, so ask us for the number on the size you want before you rely on it.
Our advice for a bright room: hold a phone or a laptop at full brightness where the screen will go, and look at it from where the viewer stands. If that is hard to read, take the option or move the sign.
Contrast
Contrast tells you how far apart white and black sit on the panel. Most of the range is 1000:1. The 15.6 inch is 800:1 and the 17.3 inch is 600:1. On a menu with dark text on a light background you will hardly notice. On a dark, moody slide you will, because blacks look gray in a bright room. If your artwork is mostly dark, choose a 1000:1 panel.
Viewing angle, and what rotation does to it
Sellers quote viewing angle as one number when they can. Ours are four numbers, left, right, up and down, because the four are not always equal.
Turn a screen to portrait and its up and down angles become its left and right. So a 17.3 or 18.5 inch unit in portrait gives you only 60 degrees on one side. In a corridor where people walk past from both directions, one direction gets the worse picture. The 10.1, 11.6, 13.3 and 15.6 inch units are 85 degrees all round, and the 21.5 and 23.8 inch units are 89.
The side you lose depends on which way you rotate. If you are stuck with one of these two sizes, rotate so the narrow side faces the wall.
Commercial screen or a TV
For a large screen in a dry office, a TV is a defensible choice, and we will not tell you otherwise. For small commercial signs, these are the differences to check:
- Warranty. AVIXA reports that consumer warranties generally do not cover commercial use, and that many say so in their terms. Read the one for the set you have in mind. Ours is 3 years, parts and labor.
- Temperature. Look up the operating range of any set you consider. These units are rated -10 to 60 °C.
- Mounting. See whether the set publishes a cut-out size. All of these do.
- Restart. After a power cut, does the set return to your sign by itself? Test it.
Hours of use
Some sellers print hours-per-day ratings on signage screens. We publish no duty-cycle rating for these units, because no such rating is on their spec sheets. If your sign has to run every hour of every day, tell us on your quote request before you order.
The player can blank the screen outside set hours. It shows black at minimum brightness: the app cannot switch the backlight off. A sign that only needs to run during opening hours should use that setting.
Where this is the wrong choice
- Screens over 24 inches. Larger indoor screens are a crowded market with good choices. We do not sell in it.
- A slim wall-hung look. At 51.5 to 70 mm deep, these sit well off a wall unless you recess them. Many other signage screens are slimmer.
- One-cable installs. There is no PoE. You need a power feed.
- Anywhere outside, or in washdown areas. These units are not rated for outdoor use, and IP65 covers the front face only.
- 4K artwork. Panels are 1920 x 1080, or 1280 x 800 on the 10.1 inch.
Questions
What is the difference between a digital signage display and a TV?
A signage display is sold for commercial use, usually with a commercial warranty, and often with a built-in player. Consumer TV warranties generally do not cover commercial use, so read the terms before you decide.
How many nits do I need for indoor digital signage?
A normal room is fine with the 250 to 400 nits of our standard panels. Bright rooms and glass walls may need the sunlight-readable option. Test by holding a bright phone where the screen will go.
Are these displays rated to run all day and night?
We publish no duty-cycle rating for these units. If your sign has to run every hour of every day, tell us on your quote request before ordering.
Can I plug a laptop into these displays?
No. HDMI is an output on these units. They run their own computer and player.
Why are these displays so deep?
The computer and the panel share one metal case. Units run 51.5 to 70 mm deep, and a flush cut-out puts most of that behind the wall.
Planning information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules differ by place: check codes and permits with your local authority and your licensed trades.